The Best Sushi Restaurants in Houston (2024)

Between casual neighborhood haunts and exclusive omakase-only restaurants, sushi is well-represented in Houston. Discerning chefs are lauded for optimizing their relationships with fishmongers from around the globe to ensure Houstonians are treated to the freshest of the fresh. And the creative liberties that many chefs take to produce dynamic menus, which break free from tradition, make eating sushi in Houston even more of a thrill. Whether it’s delicate pieces of sashimi or tightly packed maki rolled to perfection, consider this list of the top sushi restaurants in Houston.

The Best Sushi Restaurants in Houston (1)

Katami

Montrose

Katami is the impressive new follow-up to Kata Robata, long regarded one of Houston’s best sushi restaurants. Helmed by four-time James Beard Award nominated chef Manabu “Hori” Horiuchi, Katami pairs sushi and Wagyu with an extensive sake program in a moody space that includes a dedicated bar, 12-seat sushi counter and patio. As is the case at Kata Robata, chef Hori takes pride in offering the freshest catches possible — 80% to 95% of the fish is caught off the coast of Japan approximately 20 hours before it’s served.

2701 W Dallas St

MF Sushi

Museum District

MF Sushi is situated on a quiet street in Houston’s picturesque Museum District and has been considered among the city’s special occasion sushi restaurants for more than a decade. Enjoy à la carte offerings or splurge on the omakase experience and witness the talents of chef Chris Kinjo from across the restaurant’s flush sushi counter. MF Sushi loyalists looking for even more seafood delights should check out the restaurant’s sister concept, MF Seafood, newly opened in Autry Park.

1401 Binz St #100

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The Best Sushi Restaurants in Houston (3)

Uchi

Montrose

Before opening the doors to such lauded restaurants as Uchiko, Uchiba and Loro Smokehouse, Hai Hospitality opened Uchi in Austin, and it remains the crown jewel of the budding restaurant group. Today, there are six Uchi locations across the country, including one in Montrose. Known for its signature non-traditional approach to Japanese cuisine, some of Uchi’s standout dishes include the hama chili, Wagyu tataki and a fried milk dessert that’s not to be missed.

904 Westheimer Rd

The Best Sushi Restaurants in Houston (4)

Azumi

River Oaks

Like its sister concept Loch Bar, which is located next door, Azumi offers River Oaks District visitors a luxe destination to seek sustenance in-between roaming the area’s boutiques. Along with a broad range of sashimi, nigiri and maki, Azumi showcases heartier plates like miso black cod, Wagyu short rib and yakisoba noodles. Opt for a seat at the sushi bar or take to the patio on pleasant weather days — the dining room spills onto two outdoor terraces that offer prime people watching.

4444 Westheimer Rd Suite G130

The Best Sushi Restaurants in Houston (5)

Aya Sushi

Bellaire

Situated in one corner of the Bellaire Triangle, Aya Sushi is a neighborhood gem suitable for a fast and easy lunch or a more involved date night. Chef Yoshi Katsuyama, a veteran of Uchi, is at the helm, and his vibrant personality is as much of a draw as the menu of fresh fish flown in from Japan. With a penchant for wearing pink, he shines from his perch behind the sushi counter, specifically when leading an omakase experience, which is worth the splurge. Expect tastings like tiger prawn from Kumamoto and shabu shabu served with A4 Wagyu shoulder.

5407 Bellaire Blvd Suite A

The Best Sushi Restaurants in Houston (6)

Uptown

Like its name suggests, Hidden Omakase is discreetly located in a Galleria-area retail strip mall in a space disguised as a comic book store from the outside. The restaurant boasts an 18-seat sushi counter and offers only two seatings per evening from Thursday to Sunday, making it one of the most exclusive sushi destinations in town. Chef Marcos Juarez oversees the culinary preparations and is responsible for dishes like bluefin tuna sashimi, corn coconut curry and smoked salmon with miso butternut puree. For a similar vibe, consider visiting Hidden’s sister concepts — Sushi by Hidden offers express omakase experiences in Rice Village and Norigami is a handroll bar in West U.

5353 W Alabama St #102

The Best Sushi Restaurants in Houston (7)

Roka Akor

Greenway

Roka Akor is situated on the street level of luxury highrise 2929 Weslayan and offers a standout sushi and robata experience in the Greenway area. The expansive, light-filled space is fitting for large group gatherings, with a dedicated bar and lounge, plus a sushi and robata counter where all of the kitchen action is on full display. Start with the crispy rice spicy tuna before choosing from the day’s selection of sashimi, and don’t sleep on robata-grilled vegetables like sweet corn with miso butter.

2929 Weslayan St Suite 100

Neo

Montrose

This exclusive omakase-only restaurant with 13 seats is located inside the Glass Cypress clothing boutique in Montrose. Like an intimate dinner party, guests gather around the counter where they are treated to up to 20 courses prepared with seasonality in mind. Dishes vary, from cold somen noodles presented in akami dashi to different species of bluefin tuna sourced at the peak of their season.

1711 Indiana St, Houston

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The Best Sushi Restaurants in Houston (2024)

FAQs

What do the chefs say when you walk into a sushi restaurant? ›

Upon entering a restaurant, customers are greeted with the expression "irasshaimase" meaning "welcome, please come in". The waiter or waitress will ask you how many people are in your party and then lead you to your table.

What is the best sushi restaurant name? ›

Sushi Restaurant Names
Zen Garden SushiBento Box BlissSakura House
Tokyo DriftWasabi WaveRice & Roll
Geisha's DelightKoi Pond CuisineMiso Hungry
Kyoto KitchenRamen RepublicShogun's Table
Tsunami TastesSake & SpiceTempura Treasures
2 more rows

What is the best thing to get at sushi? ›

The Best Sushi for Beginners
  • Philadelphia Roll – Salmon, avocado, and cream cheese.
  • King Crab Roll – King crab and mayonnaise.
  • Boston Roll – Shrimp, avocado, and cucumber.
  • Spicy Tuna Roll – Tuna and spicy mayo.
  • California Roll – Imitation crab, avocado and cucumber.

What is the sushi when the chef picks? ›

Omakase sushi is often referred to as a bit more of a luxury as most omakase sushi places are quite expensive and tend to be found in high-end sushi restaurants. Omakase sushi is a "chef's choice" course/tasting menu that usually consists of the best of what they have, as well as seasonal sushi and sashimi.

What is considered impolite to do in sushi restaurant? ›

Top 10 Things To Never Do At A Sushi Restaurant
  • Don't Touch The Sushi With Your Hands. ...
  • Don't Dip The Sushi In Soy Sauce. ...
  • Don't Add Wasabi To Your Soy Sauce. ...
  • Don't Eat The Ginger. ...
  • Don't Use Your Chopsticks To Point. ...
  • Don't Stick Your Chopsticks In Your Rice. ...
  • Don't Pass Food From One Set Of Chopsticks To Another.

Should I tip the sushi chef? ›

If you are truly impressed with your meal, however, some sushi bars will set out a special jar for you to tip the sushi chef. But perhaps the best tip is a happy “domo arigato” (thank you for the meal). Or alternatively, you could try to buy you and your sushi chef some sake and down it together.

What is the most ordered sushi? ›

1. California Roll- By far the most popular sushi roll. The California roll contains cucumber, crab, and avocado.

What is the most expensive sushi called? ›

On 8 August 2023, Japanese restaurant Sushi Kirimon entered the Guinness World Records list for the world's most expensive sushi. The price? USD 2,475 for 20 pieces of sushi. The course, named Kiwami Omakase, mostly consists of pieces of nigiri — thinly sliced raw fish placed on a ball of rice.

Which sushi should I try first? ›

Salmon or Tuna Roll

For this reason, they are some of the best sushi rolls for beginners who are afraid to try anything too complex. If you already know that you like salmon, ordering a salmon roll is a safe start. Consider making it a salmon avocado roll or a salmon mango roll to introduce more flavors!

What is the healthiest sushi to make? ›

Sashimi, vegetable rolls, salmon and avocado rolls, and rainbow rolls are just a few examples of healthy sushi options.

What is the most commonly eaten sushi? ›

In our hit list of sushi types, nigiri and gunkan zushi occupy all top spots. According to our survey results, Maguro (tuna; nigiri) is by far the most frequently eaten sushi type.

What do sushi chefs say when you leave? ›

When you leave a sushi restaurant, it's common for Sushi Chefs to express their gratitude for your visit. They may say "Arigatou gozaimashita", which means "Thank you very much" in Japanese. This polite expression of gratitude acknowledges your patronage and conveys appreciation for your dining experience.

What do they say when you walk into a sushi restaurant? ›

When you enter restaurants and shops, you will hear all the staff say "irasshaimase" to say hello to the customer. Don't be afraid, the staff don't wait for any reply, but you can say thank you with a nod and a smile.

What is the hardest sushi to make? ›

What are the hardest sushi to make for a master sushi chef? I think it's Shinko. (Konosirus punctatus, commonly known as gizzard shad - "Edo" (Tokyo) style nigiri and most Popular in Tokyo region, or Edo Style Sushi Restaurants in Japan.

What do you say when you enter a sushi bar? ›

Irasshaimase!” is a Japanese phrase that stands for “welcome” and is traditionally used to greet guests as they enter a particular place 🎎✨ . .

What do they say when you walk out of a Japanese restaurant? ›

Finally, as you are walking out of the restaurant, you can say “Gochisousama deshita” in the general direction of the kitchen.

What do they say when you go to sushi train? ›

Irasshaimase! It doesn't directly translate but it pretty much means, "Welcome! Please come in!" In Japan you'll hear this or a variation of it in pretty much every store or restaurant you walk into.

What is the correct response to irasshaimase? ›

There's no need to say it, for example, to someone entering your house, although you could say the less formal irasshai (いらっしゃい) to an arriving house guest. And when you hear irasshaimase? The correct response is not to respond except with a polite nod of acknowledgement.

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