The best sushi restaurants in America

What is it? Despite the ubiquity of dragon rolls and cavalcades of warm rice, the L.A. sushi scene is full of Edomae-style restaurants, with quite possibly no better example than Sushi Kaneyoshi. Hidden away in a Little Tokyo basement, it’s an elegant and minimalist space with a traditional 12-seat sushi counter serving approximately 20 pieces of sushi, sashimi and a few cooked dishes prepared using traditional Edomae techniques.

Why we love it: A meal here possesses that rare transportive power, the kind that whisks you out of regular life into an immaculate world of bleached wood, pristine plates of fish, and ochoko cups of clean-drinking sake before releasing you back onto the streets of Little Tokyo to go blissfully on your way.

Time Out tip: Bring cash for the parking attendant if you plan to park on-site, and try to be on time; the 7pm nightly seating doesn’t begin until all diners are present.

Address: 111 S San Pedro St, Suite B1, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Opening hours: Wed-Fri 7pm

Expect to pay: $300 for the omakase course

What is it? A sleek, minimalist omakase counter and lounge where chef Daisuke Nakazawa, of Jiro Dreams of Sushi fame, serves 20 bites of exquisite fish over the course of two hours.

Why we love it: When we first visited Nakazawa’s eponymous spot in the West Village, we weren’t sure we’d ever really had salmon, snapper and fatty tuna before, not like this, not with flavors, textures and temperatures that have been perfected and then, unbelievably, improved upon. It’s a revelation. 

Time Out tip: This isn’t a walk-in situation. Reservations at Sushi Nakazawa book 14 days in advance and are released online daily at noon EST. However, summer seems to have slowed the influx of crowds a bit, and it’s sometimes possible to snag a reservation for a same-day dine. 

Address: 23 Commerce St, NY 10014

Opening hours: Daily from 11:45am–2pm and 5–10pm.

Expect to pay: Omakase at the counter is $190, it’s $160 in the chic dining room, and a sake pairing is $120–$150.

What is it? Nestled in Downtown’s Little Tokyo neighborhood since 1980, Sushi Gen has turned into a cult favorite for L.A.’s sushi aficionados. It’s a wonderfully serene, wood-paneled old-school sushi bar setting serving standout sashimi, nigiri and gunkan pieces topped with fresh halibut, fatty tuna, sea urchin, monkfish liver and oysters.

Why we love it: The $26 sashimi lunch special that invites you to glut your taste buds on fresh halibut, fatty tuna, sea urchin, scallops and oyster with a side of rice. It’s the perfect happy medium between an eye-poppingly expensive omakase and questionably cheap sushi.

Time Out tip: The lines are massive, and Sushi Gen doesn’t accept reservations—prepare to wait a bit. 

Address: 422 E 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Opening hours: Tue–Fri, 11am–2pm, 5–8:30pm; Sat 4–8:30pm

Expect to pay: Most dinner plates run between $30 and $52; lunch is slightly less expensive, with plates clocking in between $20 and $40.

What is it? Bold and ambitious chef Otto Phan left Austin, Texas, to come to Chicago to create the city’s best sushi. He fulfills those aspirations every night at his nondescript Logan Square restaurant, which is also one of the most expensive experiences in town.

Why we love it: Those who can secure a seat are treated to a front-row view of Phan slicing raw fish and serving it on extra-large rice grains that have been seasoned with aged red vinegar. You’ll pay a pretty penny, but Kyoten’s omakase provides some of the finest bites money can buy, made with luxurious products flown in from Japan.

Time Out tip: Don’t skip the sake pairing option at Kyoten—it’s $70 for four servings. Chef Phan is known for his sake pairings, and each pour enhances the flavors of the sushi.

Address: 2507 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Opening hours: Wed–Sun 6:30–11pm

Expect to pay: Priced at $440-$490 per person (inclusive of service), depending on the day, it's an expensive meal, but the menu pulls out all the stops.

What is it? Located in a sign-free building in Little River, Ogawa isn’t a Japanese restaurant exactly. It’s a chunk of Japanese soil, an embassy, a slice of culture. That’s true with the vibe, in that it can be somewhat awkward yet humbling, and of course, with the food, a long evening of sushi and hot dishes that all display a downright obsession with being authentically Japanese.

Why we love it: Sushi chef Masayuki Komatsu's quiet observation of his diners' preferences. Don’t be surprised if you find a last-minute substitution of tuna in an uni handroll after skipping the uni in a previous course. 

Time Out tip: If you go, it’s impossible to say what you’ll eat or how many courses you’ll get. The owner, Alvaro Perez Miranda, says they tailor each night’s menu to who’s coming, changing it up based on preferences,  allergies and even special requests. Being flexible is key. 

Address: 7223 NW Second Ave, Miami, FL 33150

Opening hours: Tue–Sat, 6-9pm

Expect to pay: $395 for the omakase course

What is it? A Michelin-starred dual-counter omakase bar in Williamsburg run by chef-owner Cheng Lin, who’s worked in the prestigious kitchens of Sushi Seki, Blue Ribbon and ITO Tribeca under Chef Masa Ito and Chef Kevin Kim. Expect 18 courses of spectacular sushi. Fun fact: the restaurant is named after a Japanese comic book called “Shota No Sushi” about a young man’s passion for sushi. 

Why we love it: Chef Lin is ready to feed and educate you, readily sharing how his bluefin tuna is sourced within a 10-kilometer radius of Southern Japan and why three months is the perfect time to age ponzu sauce. It all culminates in a one-of-a-kind, transportative experience that will get you moving to Domino Park, time and time again.

Time Out tip: The rice preparation is different from most standard U.S. sushi spots. Chef Lin changes the type of vinegar used in the rice depending on the fish and course, which can be surprising for some diners. 

Address: 50 S 3rd St, Brooklyn, NY 11249

Opening hours: Mon–Sat 6pm, 8:30pm

Expect to pay: Shota offers two omakase experiences: the premium omakase for $195 per person and the gentei omakase served by Chef Lin for $255 per person.

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What is it? A modern and earthy Japanese den in a former 1920s bungalow from chef Tyson Cole, who became the first American itamae to receive a James Beard Award for Best Chef. Expect high-touch Japanese bites that include seven types of uni, five types of bluefin, and a robust sake menu. 

Why we love it: Chef Cole’s menus change often and range widely enough to appeal to novices as well as connoisseurs, who can compare, say, three different kinds of sea urchin while their warier companions sample tempura-fried pumpkin alongside a robust list of sakes and skin-contact wines

Time Out tip: Grab one of Uchi’s takeout boxes for a fancy treat-yourself meal in the privacy of your own home. They come in three different sizes with increasing numbers of courses.

Address: 801 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704

Opening hours: Sun–Thu 4–10pm; Fri, Sat 4–11pm

Expect to pay: The omakase menus vary according to market prices that day, but most of the à la carte items on the menu run from $8 to $50.  

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What is it? An intimate, 14-seat omakase bar that brings seriously spectacular sushi to the table, in a laid-back, unintimidating way. It’s one of the hardest reservations to get in Nashville, mostly due to the quality-to-price ratio: $75 for fourteen courses of exceptional fish flown in from Japan and Spain. 

Why we love it: Eating at Kase feels like crashing a friend’s bumpin’ dinner party—except this friend can really throw down on some fish. The room is small, but instead of feeling stuffy and pretentious like some other omakase experiences, Kase is approachable. Fun, actually. There’s 2000s hip hop piping through the room, service catering to your every beverage whim and sushi chefs who are having just as much fun as the diners.

Time Out tip: Get there early to enjoy a pre-dinner drink at Kase’s Japanese cocktail bar—it’s officially the smallest bar in Tennessee. 

Address: 707 Porter Rd, Nashville, TN 37206

Opening hours: Tue–Sun 5–9pm 

Expect to pay: The 14-course omakase menu is $75 per person—a veritable steal.  

What is it? Nashville isn’t the only city with a Sushi Bar to call its own. The omakase chain has a few locations scattered throughout the country, including Miami and Austin. But Sushi Bar seems to have perfected their formula in Music City, with a luxe, speakeasy setup and 17 courses that take advantage of the Toyosu Market in Tokyo—the chefs at Sushi Bar have their fishmongers on speed dial. 

 Why we love it: The thoughtful and often experimental pieces of nigiri, sashimi, and rolls—like shrimp topped with dehydrated rice pears, red ribbon sorrel, and ponzu, and yellowjack that slaps the tongue with sliced serrano and bright citrus.

Time Out tip: Sushi Bar offers supplements to your meal for an extra cost. They’re pricey and will quickly hike up your bill, so skip them. Besides, the 17 courses are more than filling enough.

Address: 610 Magazine St, Nashville, TN 37203

Opening hours: Wed–Sun, 5–11pm 

Expect to pay: The omakase menu is $185 per person with an additional 22 percent service charge added to the bill.