The World's Top 100 Sushi
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Rank 1. Sushi Sho
Omakase Sushi
Three Michelin stars and a no-photos policy, which tells you everything: this is an omakase counter where the point is to actually pay attention. The chef ages, cures, and even adjusts the seasoned rice to suit each piece of fish, which sounds obsessive until you taste it. The hinoki wood counter seats a handful of people who all look like they've been saving up for this, because they probably have.
- Michelin Guide 3 Stars
- Vogue 2026 · A Definitive Guide to the Best Omakase in New York City
- The New York Times 2026 · #11 · The 100 Best Restaurants in New York City
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Rank 2. Sushi Hyun
Omakase Sushi
Sushi Hyun is a Michelin-starred omakase counter where the formality of the ritual somehow gives way to something that feels like a really good dinner party. The hinoki wood counter is ancient and immaculate, the seafood is sourced with near-obsessive care, and the chef's infectious enthusiasm makes the whole thing feel personal rather than ceremonial. Waits for a reservation are long, but the room is small enough that every piece of food gets real attention.
- Air Canada 2025 · Best Design · Best New Restaurants
- Michelin Guide 1 Star
- Air Canada 2025 · Top 10 · Best New Restaurants
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Rank 2. Sumibiyaki Arashi
Yakitori Japanese
Fourteen seats, one chef, a glowing charcoal grill, and a Michelin star earned faster than most places find their footing. Sumibiyaki Arashi is a yakitori omakase counter where chicken, in every imaginable cut, is treated with the kind of reverence usually reserved for much fancier proteins. The room is calm and close, the crowd leans in over the Douglas fir counter looking very much like people who planned this dinner months ago, because they did.
- Canada's 100 Best 2025 · #1 · Best New Restaurants
- Michelin Guide 1 Star
- Air Canada 2025 · Top 10 · Best New Restaurants
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Rank 2. Masa
Sushi
Masa Takayama's omakase counter is about as close to a religious experience as sushi gets, which tracks given what you'll pay for it. The hinoki wood counter seats a handful of people who have planned very far ahead, and the room runs with the quiet precision of people who genuinely mean it. Foie gras nigiri and meltingly tender abalone are the kinds of moves that sound absurd until they aren't. Two Michelin stars.
- Forbes Travel Guide Forbes Five Star
- Michelin Guide 2 Stars
- World Culinary Awards 2025 · Nominee · North America's Best Japanese Cuisine Restaurant
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Rank 2. Sushi Nishinokaze
Edomae Sushi
An eight-seat omakase counter in Mile End that earned a Michelin star in its first year, which should tell you something. The chef trained in Tokyo and applies serious edomae technique to both imported Japanese fish and exceptional local seafood. The rice alone is apparently a whole thing. Expect a quiet, minimalist room full of people who booked weeks out and are absolutely not talking above a whisper.
- Michelin Guide 1 Star
- Canada's 100 Best 2025 · #5 · Best New Restaurants
- Air Canada 2025 · Finalist · Best New Restaurants
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Rank 6. Sushi Nakazawa
Sushi
Daisuke Nakazawa is the kind of name New York sushi people say with quiet reverence, and his Michelin-starred omakase counter on Commerce Street earns every bit of it. Ten seats, no menu, just a procession of immaculate nigiri where the rice and fish hit in a way that's hard to explain and easy to remember. Prices are steep but friendlier than most places this serious, so the counter fills with people who know exactly what they're doing.
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Rank 6. Sushi Noz
Sushi
Two Michelin stars and a chef who treats every piece of nigiri like it might be his last. Sushi Noz is an intimate omakase counter on the Upper East Side, and it genuinely feels like you've been invited into someone's very serious, very beautiful home. The kimono-dressed staff bow you out at the end, which sounds theatrical but somehow just feels right. Book carefully, since specific dates and times matter here.
- Michelin Guide 2 Stars
- AAA Four Diamonds
- Vogue 2026 · A Definitive Guide to the Best Omakase in New York City
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Rank 6. Mujō
Sushi
Michelin-starred omakase in West Midtown, and it actually feels fun rather than intimidating, which is harder to pull off than it sounds. The U-shaped cypress counter seats a small crowd of people who booked weeks out and are very pleased with themselves about it. The chef's take on omakase is loose and inventive without losing the thread, and dessert is genuinely worth saving room for.
- Michelin Guide 1 Star
- James Beard Awards 2026 · Nominee · Best Chef: Southeast · J. Trent Harris
- Esquire 2023 · The Best New Restaurants in America
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Rank 9. Soseki
Omakase Sushi
A Michelin-starred omakase tucked into Winter Park, which is already a fun twist on expectations. Ten counter seats face a stage-lit pass where the chef works through a progression of modern sushi that leans on local Florida produce in ways you wouldn't predict. The crowd is date-night serious, everyone leaning in, phones face-down. The food earns that attention, from delicate nigiri to a dessert course that refuses to be an afterthought.
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Rank 9. Okeya Kyujiro
Omakase Japanese
Omakase with a Michelin star and a genuine sense of theater, and not in a cheesy way. The curtain literally drops at the stroke of your seating time, hosts arrive in traditional dress, and somewhere between the live music and the Buddhist chanting you'll realize this is unlike any Japanese dinner you've had. The fish flies in from Japan, the courses keep coming, and the room feels like a secret ritual. Dress up.
- AAA Four Diamonds
- Michelin Guide 1 Star
- Vancouver Magazine 2025 · Silver Medal · Restaurant Awards: Best Upscale
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Rank 11. Sushi Masaki Saito
Omakase Sushi
The most transporting omakase in Toronto, set behind a marble staircase and a hinoki wood counter that feels genuinely sacred. Fish comes straight from Japan, the nigiri rice is warm and seasoned with aged vinegar, and the whole thing costs a serious amount of money, which the room full of quietly reverent regulars clearly decided was fine. Masaki Saito holds a Michelin star and runs the counter like he's hosting a dinner party, keeping the mood warm rather than hushed.
- Michelin Guide 1 Star
- World Culinary Awards 2025 · Nominee · North America's Best Japanese Cuisine Restaurant
- Canada's 100 Best 2026 · #52 · Best Restaurants
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Rank 11. Mr. Tuna
Sushi
- Food & Wine 2024 · Tuna Sashimi Tasting · Best Dishes Our Editors Ate This Year
- Food & Wine 2025 · Jordan Rubin · Best New Chefs
- Food & Wine 2025 · The Top 15 US Restaurants
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Rank 11. Shingo
Sushi
A Michelin-starred omakase tucked into Coral Gables, where the fish flies in from Japan and the rice is seasoned with the kind of care most restaurants reserve for the whole menu. The 14-seat counter feels generous for the format, and the chef works it like he has something to prove, which at this level is exactly what you want. Expect a dressed-up, quietly reverent crowd who definitely googled the chef beforehand.
- AAA Four Diamonds
- Michelin Guide 1 Star
- Miami New Times 2024 · Best Omakase · Best of Miami New Times
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Rank 11. Kadence
Omakase Sushi
Eight seats, one Michelin star, zero pretension. Kadence is an omakase counter where the chef works right in front of you, and the whole thing feels more like being cooked for by a friend than sitting for an exam in fine dining. The progression runs from small dishes and sashimi through a careful nigiri sequence, with a fish ramen somewhere in the middle that earns genuine affection. Bring someone you actually want to talk to.
- Michelin Guide 1 Star
- Time Out The 20 best restaurants in Orlando
- Eater The 38 Best Restaurants in Orlando
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Rank 11. Hayakawa
Sushi
Tucked into an office building, this Michelin-starred omakase counter seats just a handful of people per seating, which tells you everything about the level of attention you're getting. The chef runs a tight, personal room with real warmth, moving through seasonal small courses before landing on generous Hokkaido-style nigiri. The crowd tends toward people who planned this dinner weeks ago and are absolutely fine with that.
- Michelin Guide 1 Star
- James Beard Awards 2024 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Chef · Atsushi Hayakawa
- The Infatuation #5 · The 25 Best Restaurants In Atlanta
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Rank 11. Shota Omakase
Omakase Sushi
A Michelin-starred omakase counter tucked away near Domino Park, where the chef actually talks to you. He'll tell you where the fish came from, why he chose that particular rice, and how long it took to track down the right aged soy. It feels less like a performance and more like a really good dinner with someone who knows everything about fish. The crowd is small by design, dressed like they did their research.
- Michelin Guide 1 Star
- Time Out 2026 · The 45 best restaurants in NYC right now
- James Beard Awards 2026 · Semifinalist · Best Chef: New York State · Cheng Lin
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Rank 17. Sushi Kaneyoshi
Sushi
Finding Sushi Kaneyoshi is half the adventure, tucked into a basement in Little Tokyo where you'd genuinely never expect it. Once you're inside, though, it's all calm wood and quiet intention, and the omakase earns its Michelin star without breaking a sweat. The chef makes some of the pottery himself, which tells you everything about the attention to detail here. Dress like you respect the room.
- Michelin Guide 1 Star
- Time Out #16 · The 40 best restaurants in Los Angeles you need to try right now
- Los Angeles Times 2025 · #24 · The 101 best restaurants in Los Angeles
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Rank 17. Craft Omakase
Omakase Sushi
A Michelin-starred omakase counter tucked quietly into a Rosedale strip mall, which is exactly the kind of low-key setup that makes the meal feel like a discovery. The chefs let the fish lead while adding just enough creative flourishes to keep things interesting rather than precious. Plan on a full evening, show up a few minutes early for the welcome cocktail, and leave your expectations flexible.
- Michelin Guide 1 Star
- Texas Monthly 2025 · #1 · Texas’s Best New Restaurants
- The Austin Chronicle 2024 · #2 · Best of Austin - Taylor Tobin's Top 10
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Rank 17. Masayoshi
Edomae Sushi
A Michelin-starred omakase counter where the chef treats every piece of nigiri like it deserves its own spotlight, which honestly it does. The best seat is at the counter watching it all unfold, though the tables are equally good eating. BC's local catch drives the menu, handled in a precise Edomae style that makes the fish taste more like itself. Everyone in the room is quietly having a moment they'll talk about later.
- Michelin Guide 1 Star
- World Culinary Awards 2025 · Nominee · North America's Best Japanese Cuisine Restaurant
- Vancouver Magazine 2026 · Honourable Mention · Restaurant Awards: Best Omakase
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Rank 17. Noz 17
Omakase Sushi
Seven seats, one cypress counter, and a Michelin star make Noz 17 one of the more quietly serious sushi omakase rooms in the city. The chef moves through the progression with real precision, letting the fish and rice do the talking while everyone else in the room does their best to look like they eat like this all the time. It's an intimate, unhurried experience that earns its price, starting around $195.
- Michelin Guide 1 Star
- Vogue 2026 · A Definitive Guide to the Best Omakase in New York City
- Eater The Best Sushi Restaurants in Manhattan
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Rank 17. Yoshino
Sushi
A Michelin-starred omakase counter where the chef relocated from Japan specifically to open this, which already tells you something. The room is spare and precise, the kind of place where everyone leans forward and speaks quietly. Expect cooked courses that nod to French technique before moving into traditional Edomae nigiri. Serious sushi people in the room, zero casual drop-ins, and a reservation that takes some planning to land.
- Michelin Guide 1 Star
- Vogue 2026 · A Definitive Guide to the Best Omakase in New York City
- Eater The Best Sushi Restaurants in Manhattan
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Rank 17. Jōji
Sushi
Tucked into the base of One Vanderbilt, this Michelin-starred omakase counter is a genuinely quiet room steps from Grand Central, which is either ironic or genius depending on how you feel about commuters. The fish comes largely from Tokyo's Toyosu Market, the rice is blended and vinegared with real care, and the luxury ingredients are plentiful enough to make your eyes water along with your wallet. Suits and serious sushi people, mostly.
- Michelin Guide 1 Star
- Vogue 2026 · A Definitive Guide to the Best Omakase in New York City
- Eater The Best Sushi Restaurants in Manhattan
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Rank 23. Morihiro
Sushi
The chef here is a genuine LA sushi legend, and his Michelin-starred omakase on Sunset earns the reputation. It follows a cha-kaiseki structure, so you'll ease through composed dishes before the nigiri begins, the pacing deliberate and unhurried. He mills his own rice and throws his own ceramics, which sounds like a lot, but in context it just feels like someone who cares about every inch of the meal. The crowd knows exactly where they are.
- Michelin Guide 1 Star
- Los Angeles Times 2025 · The 101 Best Restaurants in California
- Los Angeles Times 2025 · #7 · The 101 best restaurants in Los Angeles
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Rank 23. Icca
Omakase Sushi
Tucked behind a cocktail bar in Tribeca, this Michelin-starred omakase counter feels like somewhere you have to know about to find. The chef sources fish entirely from Japan and keeps the nigiri classic and restrained, but the courses around them show real range. The room is small, the pacing unhurried, and the crowd tends toward people who treat dinner as the actual plan for the evening, not a precursor to it.
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Rank 23. Shoushin
Edomae Sushi
Shoushin is a Michelin-starred omakase counter on Yonge where the chef delivers a genuine masterclass in Edomae sushi, the old Tokyo style where the rice and the aging of the fish matter as much as the cut. The hinoki wood counter seats a small, quietly reverent crowd who know better than to check their phones. First-timers get a gentler introduction, but the longer menu is where things get serious. Rare sakes, no shortcuts.
- World Culinary Awards 2025 · Nominee · World's Best Japanese Cuisine Restaurant
- Michelin Guide 1 Star
- World Culinary Awards 2025 · Winner · North America's Best Japanese Cuisine Restaurant
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Rank 23. Sushi Nakazawa
Sushi
Tucked into the back of the Waldorf Astoria, this Michelin-starred omakase room is the kind of place where everyone at the counter is quietly trying to look like they do this all the time. Twenty courses of immaculate nigiri, paced over a couple of unhurried hours, with rice seasoned so precisely it almost feels personal. Splurge for a counter stool over a dining room table if you can. It costs more, but watching the chefs work is half the point.
- Michelin Guide 1 Star
- Washingtonian 2026 · #48 · 100 Very Best Restaurants
- Washingtonian Where to Eat Near the National Mall
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Rank 23. Omakase at Barracks Row
Japanese
A 14-seat omakase counter in Capitol Hill that holds a Michelin star and earns every bit of it. The chef sources fish directly from Tokyo's Toyosu market, so each piece of nigiri arrives with a whole origin story attached. The room is intimate enough that the team treats every course like a small ceremony. Regulars tend to wear that slightly reverent look of people who already know what's coming and can't wait anyway.
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Rank 23. Sushi Sakuta
Sushi
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Rank 23. KOSAKA
Omakase Sushi
A Michelin-starred omakase tucked into the West Village, where the counter seats twelve and the mood is quiet enough that you can actually hear yourself think. The chef runs the room with real confidence, and the fish gets out of the way of itself, though you'll occasionally find a small, well-placed surprise underneath a slice. The crowd dresses for it, because you absolutely should too.
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Rank 23. SOICHI
Sushi
A Michelin-starred sushi spot tucked into a neighborhood you'd never expect, which is kind of the whole charm. The chef works the room like he's hosting a dinner party, but the omakase is dead serious, with nigiri that's precise and clean without being fussy about it. The crowd is mostly locals who feel very smug about knowing this place exists, and honestly, they've earned it.
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Rank 32. Bar Miller
Sushi
A Michelin-starred sushi counter on the Lower East Side that doesn't take itself too seriously, which is somehow exactly what makes it work. The omakase here leans into North American seafood and local sourcing, so expect regional fish you wouldn't normally see at a sushi spot. The room is tiny, colorful, and relaxed, with the kind of crowd that did their research but still shows up in sneakers.
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Rank 32. Tatsu Dallas
Sushi
Ten counter seats in a converted gin building, and a Michelin star to justify the patience it takes to land one of them. This is a proper edomae omakase, meaning the chef decides everything, the fish progresses from delicate to bold across roughly 14 pieces, and every bite is quietly, seriously perfect. The room runs like a meditation, so show up on time and let the ritual do its thing.
- Michelin Guide 1 Star
- Dallas Observer 2024 · Best Omakase · Best of Dallas
- D Magazine 2024 · Best Omakase · Best of Big D
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Rank 34. o ya
Sushi
- AAA Four Diamonds
- James Beard Awards 2026 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Restaurant
- Boston Magazine 2025 · #8 · Top 50 Restaurants in Boston
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Rank 34. Sushi Inaba
Sushi
A Michelin-starred omakase counter hidden inside another restaurant, which is exactly as insider as it sounds. The chef ages his fish and works with cuts most sushi spots wouldn't attempt, and the results are quietly stunning. One seating a night, a handful of seats, and reservations that vanish fast, so plan accordingly. The crowd is small by design, which means the room feels less like dinner and more like being let in on something.
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Rank 36. Hamamoto
Sushi
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Rank 36. Silvers Omakase
Omakase Sushi
A Michelin-starred omakase tucked into Santa Barbara with barely enough seats to fill a dinner party. Everyone sits down together, which gives the whole thing a quiet, communal energy that big-city sushi temples rarely pull off. The chef mills his own rice and dry ages the fish, so the care is real, not decorative. Expect nigiri that changes constantly, a knockout uni course, and house-made sorbet to close. Dress up a little.
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Rank 36. Katami
Japanese
- Texas Monthly 2024 · #1 · Texas’s Best New Restaurants
- James Beard Awards 2026 · Semifinalist · Outstanding Chef · Manabu Horiuchi
- Houston Chronicle #15 · Houston’s Top 100 Restaurants
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Rank 36. Kōsen
Sushi
Kōsen is a Michelin-starred omakase spot in Tampa that earns its star without any of the usual theater. The room goes dark and minimal, skipping the blonde wood sushi cliché, and the food follows a similar logic: precise, traditional, and quietly confident. The crowd leans date-night and special-occasion, dressed up just enough to feel the room. Book ahead, show up hungry, and let the chef do the talking.
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Rank 36. noda
Sushi
Hidden behind a cocktail lounge called Shinji, this eight-seat Michelin-starred omakase feels genuinely secretive, like you've been let in on something. The half-moon counter is dark and close, and the crowd dresses accordingly. The chef is precise and unhurried, which somehow makes the whole room feel calm. The sake list and vintage Champagne situation are serious enough to make the pairing half the point.
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Rank 36. Sushi Mizumi
Sushi
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Rank 36. Nozawa Bar
Sushi
Tucked behind a Sugarfish in Beverly Hills, Nozawa Bar is its own thing entirely, a Michelin-starred omakase counter that seats just enough people to feel like you got into something. The crowd is dressed-up-but-not-trying Beverly Hills, the kind who act casual about spending real money on dinner. The chef leans traditional but keeps things interesting, and the seafood, much of it local, is genuinely exceptional.
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Rank 36. Sushi Masuda
Sushi
A Michelin-starred omakase hiding behind a print shop inside someone else's restaurant, which tells you everything about how seriously this place takes its own hype. Six seats, a spare counter, and a chef whose Tokyo training shows in every quiet, precise move. His wife runs hospitality with genuine warmth, and the nigiri alone justifies the trip. The crowd is small by design, dressed like they did their homework.
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Rank 36. Shin Sushi
Sushi
A Michelin-starred omakase tucked into a Ventura Blvd strip mall, which is somehow very on-brand for the Valley. The chef has spent decades honing his craft at serious spots on both coasts, and it shows in every piece of nigiri. The room is relaxed rather than reverent, the chef keeps things fun, and solo diners never feel weird about it. Expect unusual, precise bites and a genuinely rare cherry trout that people talk about afterward.
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Rank 36. Ginza Sushi Ichi Singapore
Edomae Sushi
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Rank 36. Ogawa
Sushi
Ogawa holds a Michelin star, and one sit at the omakase counter tells you why. This is a serious sushi experience tucked into Little River, where the nigiri is precise and the cooked dishes before it are genuinely surprising enough to make you forget you were just waiting for the fish. Warm wood, bold art on the walls, and a crowd that dressed up just enough to feel the occasion without overdoing it.
- Michelin Guide 1 Star
- Miami New Times 2023 · Best New Restaurants
- Miami New Times 2024 · Best Japanese Restaurant · Best of Miami New Times
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Rank 36. Hiden
Sushi
A Michelin-starred omakase counter tucked inside Wynwood with a sliding door that only opens if you have the passcode, which is exactly as cool as it sounds. Once you're in, the chef walks you through precisely cut fish flown from Japan, pressed into vinegar-seasoned rice, all at a relaxed pace with a good playlist running. The crowd feels like people who know something others don't, and honestly, they do.
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Rank 36. O by Brush
Omakase Sushi
Tucked inside a shopping center where your neighbors are Rolex and Dior, this Michelin-starred omakase counter manages to feel like a genuine find rather than a flex. The chef walks you through a long, unhurried procession of nigiri and small courses, each one precise and quietly confident. The sake list is serious and available by the glass, which the regulars in their nice-casual outfits seem to appreciate deeply.
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A Michelin-starred omakase hiding in a strip mall is either a prank or a promise, and this one delivers. The counter seats a small room of people who planned ahead, dressed just right, and are now very glad they did. The chef splits his attention between reverential nigiri and kitchen plates with a little more swagger to them. Service is the kind that refills things without being asked and never interrupts a sentence.
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Rank 36. 311 Omakase
Sushi
A Michelin-starred omakase counter tucked into a South End rowhouse, which means you're eating world-class sushi in a space that holds maybe a dozen people. The chef brings in serious fish from Japan and walks you through cooked courses before the nigiri arrives, so it's a full experience rather than just a raw-fish parade. Dress like you mean it, because everyone else will.
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Rank 51. AMA Sushi
Edomae Sushi
Tucked inside the Rosewood Miramar, AMA Sushi is a proper omakase counter that somehow feels like it was airlifted straight from Tokyo. The moody room, all dark wood and lantern light, pulls you in before a single piece of fish arrives. Sit at the scalloped bar, hand the chef the wheel with the omakase, and let the Edomae-style nigiri do the talking. The crowd is resort-polished but quietly serious about the food.
- Food & Wine 2023 · Hinode · Best Dishes Our Editors Ate This Year
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
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Rank 51. Sushi Kissho by Miyakawa
Edomae Sushi
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Rank 51. LTD Edition
Omakase Sushi
- The New York Times 2023 · The Restaurant List
- The New York Times The 25 Best Restaurants in Seattle Right Now
- Seattle Met Seattle’s 50 Best Restaurants
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Rank 51. MĀBO
Omakase Sushi
- James Beard Awards 2025 · Nominee · Best New Restaurant
- Texas Monthly 2025 · #3 · Texas’s Best New Restaurants
- Esquire 2024 · The Best New Restaurants in America
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Rank 51. Marilena
Sushi
Marilena is the kind of fine dining sushi spot that makes you feel like Victoria has been quietly showing off this whole time. The nigiri and sashimi are handled with real craft, all local and sustainable seafood that tastes like it was swimming an hour ago. The room draws a dressed-up but unhurried crowd who clearly know what they're doing here. Vancouver Magazine called it the best in the city, and honestly it tracks.
- Air Canada 2023 · Top 10 · Best New Restaurants
- Vancouver Magazine 2025 · Gold Medal · Restaurant Awards: Best Victoria
- Vancouver Magazine 2026 · Gold Medal · Restaurant Awards: Best Victoria
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Rank 56. Sushi Yasuda
Sushi
A serious omakase counter that's been around forever and still doesn't feel the need to impress you with anything except the fish. The room is stripped-back wood and bamboo, the kind of place where the regulars sit at the bar and never glance at a menu. Classic nigiri, assembled without any of the fusion flourishes other spots lean on. Confirm your reservation, show up on time, and let whoever is in front of you run the meal.
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Rank 56. Sushi Yoshizumi
Edomae Sushi
Eight seats, a cypress bar, and an omakase that earns every penny of the wait to get in. Sushi Yoshizumi is as focused as it gets, the kind of room where the chef's work station is basically the whole show and nobody in the room minds one bit. The crowd skews quiet, reverent, and genuinely grateful to be there. Getting a reservation takes some doing, but that's the price of Edomae sushi done this carefully.
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
- Los Angeles Times 2025 · The 101 Best Restaurants in California
- San Francisco Chronicle Best Sushi Restaurants in San Francisco Bay Area
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Rank 56. Tatsu
Omakase Sushi
- D Magazine #4 · The 50 Best Restaurants
- Dallas Observer Splurge Worthy Spots · The Top 50 Restaurants in Dallas Right Now
- Eater The 38 Essential Dallas Restaurants
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Rank 56. Ken
Omakase Japanese
Six seats, no sign on the door, and a chef who genuinely seems to enjoy surprising you. Ken is an omakase counter in the Lower Haight where the nigiri leans creative without being weird about it, and the small plates tend to steal the show anyway. The room is intimate in the way that actually means intimate, not just small. Expect a crowd that researched this pretty carefully before showing up.
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
- The Infatuation #6 · The 25 Best Restaurants In SF
- San Francisco Chronicle Best Sushi Restaurants in San Francisco Bay Area
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Rank 56. Kru
Contemporary Sushi
- Spirited Awards 2026 · Regional Top 10 Honoree · Best U.S. Restaurant Bar – U.S. West
- James Beard Awards 2024 · Nominee · Best Chef: California · Buu “Billy” Ngo
- Los Angeles Times 2025 · The 101 Best Restaurants in California
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Rank 61. Sado
High-End Sushi
- James Beard Awards 2026 · Nominee · Best Chef: Midwest · Nick Bognar
- Esquire 2023 · The Best New Restaurants in America
- St. Louis Magazine 2025 · Best restaurants in St. Louis
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Rank 61. Uchi
Japanese
Uchi is the kind of upscale Japanese spot that makes you feel like a regular even on your first visit. Founded by a James Beard Award-winning chef, this Austin-born chain earns its reputation: refined sashimi, creative rolls, grilled meats, and crudos that go well beyond the usual sushi bar playbook. You can order à la carte or lean on your server to shape something closer to a tasting menu. The crowd leans polished but not stiff, date-night energy with good lighting to match.
- Foodist Awards 2025 · Winner · Top Sushi Restaurant
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Place to Take a Foodie · Best of Phoenix
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Place to Take a Foodie · Best of Phoenix
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Rank 61. Sushi Hil
Sushi
Vancouver takes its sushi seriously, and Sushi Hil is the place locals point to when they want to prove it. It's a small, bright sushi counter on Main Street, less wallet-crushing than the city's omakase temples but just as dialed-in on quality. The room fills with people who know what they're doing, seated at the bar watching the chef work. Grab a counter stool and let the fish do the talking.
- Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand
- Vancouver Magazine 2026 · Restaurant Awards: Premier Crew · Moon Hu
- Vancouver Magazine 2026 · Gold Medal · Restaurant Awards: Best Japanese
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Rank 61. Hidden Omakase
Sushi
Tucked behind a strip mall in a dark, 18-seat room that takes the omakase format and runs somewhere unexpected with it. The chef trained in classic Japanese technique but applies his own logic to it, aging fish in-house and leaning into premium cuts with real showmanship. The team talks you through every course, which either sounds annoying or exactly right depending on your mood. BYOB, so plan accordingly.
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
- Eater The 38 Essential Houston Restaurants
- Houston Chronicle Houston’s Top 100 Restaurants
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Rank 65. Temaki Den
Sushi
Handrolls served one at a time, eaten immediately, because the whole point is the crunch of the nori before it softens. Temaki Den, tucked inside RiNo's Source Market Hall, is a moody little counter with a serious reputation, where the crowd leans creative-class and nobody lingers too long over their food. Order the aburi nigiri alongside your handrolls, eat fast, and trust the process.
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
- Westword 2025 · The Top 50 Restaurants in Denver Right Now
- The Infatuation The Best Restaurants In Denver
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Rank 65. Kabooki Sushi
Sushi
- James Beard Awards 2023 · Nominee · Best Chef: South · Henry Moso
- Eater The 38 Best Restaurants in Orlando
- James Beard Awards 2024 · Semifinalist · Best Chef: South · Henry Moso
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Rank 65. Shizen
Vegan Sushi
The all-vegan thing sounds like a punchline until the food arrives and your skepticism quietly folds. Shizen is a lively izakaya and sushi bar in the Mission where the kitchen does genuinely clever things with tofu and vegetables, rebuilding Japanese seafood classics without the seafood. The crowd skews young and plant-curious, but plenty of committed carnivores end up here too, looking a little sheepish and very full.
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
- San Francisco Chronicle Best Sushi Restaurants in San Francisco Bay Area
- San Francisco Chronicle Best vegetarian and vegan restaurants in the SF Bay Area
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Rank 65. Kyōten
Sushi
- The Banchets 2025 · Winner · Chef of the Year · Otto Phan
- Time Out #3 · The 25 best restaurants in Chicago
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Rank 65. Sushi Ran
Sushi
Sushi Ran has been a Sausalito institution for years, and the Bib Gourmand from Michelin is basically the universe confirming what locals already knew. It's a cozy bungalow sushi spot with genuinely fresh fish, a solid sake list, and the kind of calm, unfussy vibe that makes you stay longer than planned. The crowd skews locals and couples who know better than to rush. Sit at the counter if you can.
- Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand
- San Francisco Chronicle Best Sushi Restaurants in San Francisco Bay Area
- San Francisco Chronicle Best restaurants in Marin County: Sausalito, Novato and San Rafael
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Rank 65. Kusakabe
Sushi
Omakase done with real conviction in the Financial District, where a live-edge elm counter sets the tone for a meal that moves through techniques you didn't expect from a sushi spot. The kitchen keeps things precise without feeling cold, and the crowd tends to be date-night serious, the kind of people who put their phones away after the first photo. Come hungry and ready to let the team surprise you.
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Rank 65. jū-ni
Omakase Sushi
A twelve-seat omakase counter just off Divisadero where the energy is younger and looser than the format usually allows. The team moves with the kind of confidence that makes a long tasting feel like a party rather than a ceremony. It draws the neighborhood's well-paid creative class, all smart-casual, leaning in. The nigiri is the heart of it, carefully sourced and precise without being stuffy about it.
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
- San Francisco Chronicle Best Sushi Restaurants in San Francisco Bay Area
- The Infatuation The 18 Best Restaurants In NoPa
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Rank 65. Udatsu Sushi
Sushi
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
- The Infatuation Where To Eat When You’re Visiting Tokyo
- Eater The 38 Best Restaurants in Tokyo
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Six seats, serious money, and a chef who apparently can't help themselves when it comes to piling on luxurious ingredients. This intimate omakase counter goes full maximalist, stacking wagyu, uni, truffle, and foie gras like someone dared them to, then pivots to clean, classical nigiri that lets the fish from Tokyo's Toyosu market speak for itself. The crowd is small by design, dressed to match the bill, and completely locked in.
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
- Charlotte Magazine 2025 · The 50 Best Restaurants in Charlotte
- James Beard Awards 2026 · Semifinalist · Best Chef: Southeast · Robin Anthony
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Rank 73. Sushi Yūgen
Omakase Sushi
Eight seats, twice a night, and a chef who flies his ingredients in from Japan. Sushi Yūgen's omakase counter is about as serious as it gets in Toronto, with a kaiseki-influenced parade of courses that leans into seasonal rarities most people have never heard of, let alone eaten. The drinks list is quietly ridiculous in the best way, stocking Japanese whiskies you genuinely cannot find anywhere else in Canada. Dress like you mean it.
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Rank 73. Sushi by Sea
Sushi
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Rank 73. Friends Only
Sushi
Once technically invite-only, this intimate omakase counter in the Tendernob is now open to anyone willing to pay for the privilege, and the price is genuinely bracing. What you get is a long, unhurried parade of impeccably sourced seafood, much of it dry-aged in house, plus cocktails that feel like they belong here rather than at the bar next door. The crowd dresses up and pretends not to notice the bill.
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
- San Francisco Chronicle 2026 · #16 · Top 100 Restaurants in the Bay Area
- San Francisco Chronicle Best Sushi Restaurants in San Francisco Bay Area
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Rank 73. Fish & Bird Sousaku Izakaya
Japanese
A stylish izakaya on Shattuck with a neon sign out front and an open kitchen inside, Fish & Bird is the kind of place where a round of skewers turns into a full evening without anyone minding. The menu bounces around in the best way, from hot pot to rice boxes to sandos, and the kitchen handles all of it with real confidence. Expect a younger, casually dressed crowd who showed up hungry and definitely ordered too much.
- Esquire 2021 · #38 · The Best New Restaurants in America
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
- San Francisco Chronicle Best Sushi Restaurants in San Francisco Bay Area
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Rank 79. Sushi Shin
Omakase Sushi
Tucked into downtown Redwood City, this intimate omakase counter is the kind of place where serious sushi people quietly eat very well. The chef runs the room with real warmth, guiding you through a seasonal parade of small plates and flavor-forward nigiri that goes well beyond the usual tuna-and-salmon routine. It's a proper omakase experience, so clear your evening, bring someone you actually want to talk to, and let the chef take it from there.
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
- San Francisco Chronicle Best Sushi Restaurants in San Francisco Bay Area
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Rank 79. Masa's
Sushi
A neighborhood sushi spot in downtown Novato where the chef might literally be breaking down a whole salmon while chatting with the guy next to you. It's low-key and unpretentious, the kind of place locals quietly rely on. The lunch combos are a genuine deal, and the omakase at dinner punches well above what you'd expect to pay. Bring your chill clothes and your appetite.
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
- San Francisco Chronicle Best Sushi Restaurants in San Francisco Bay Area
- San Francisco Chronicle Best restaurants in Marin County: Sausalito, Novato and San Rafael
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Rank 79. EDOBOY
Sushi
A standing sushi counter from the crew behind Tori Tori and Domu, and yes, it's as fun as it sounds. You book a time slot, show up on time, and pick your way through a tight selection of nigiri and hand rolls while staying on your feet. It's fast, it's social, and it filters out anyone who needs a two-hour dinner to feel important. Bring friends, arrive hungry, don't be late.
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Rank 79. Delage
Omakase Japanese
Tiny counter, serious omakase, and a crowd that planned weeks ahead just to be here. Delage, tucked next to Swan's Market in Old Oakland, runs a focused eight-or-so courses mixing sharp nigiri with thoughtful kaiseki-style dishes, all built around whatever's actually in season. The room is relaxed and unfussy, which somehow makes the food hit harder. Getting a reservation is the real sport, so book before you do anything else.
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
- San Francisco Chronicle Best Sushi Restaurants in San Francisco Bay Area
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- Foodist Awards 2025 · Finalist: In-Good Spirits · Outstanding Hospitality Group
- Phoenix New Times Our top 12 favorite sushi restaurants in Phoenix
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Rank 79. Omakase
Edomae Sushi
Serious Edomae sushi in a room so small it feels like the chef is cooking just for you, because essentially they are. Fish comes straight from Tokyo's Toyosu market, cured and aged the old-school way, and the nigiri are the kind that make you put your phone down. The crowd is quiet, attentive, slightly reverent. Show up on time, or don't bother showing up at all.
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
- San Francisco Chronicle Best Sushi Restaurants in San Francisco Bay Area
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Rank 79. Sushi Sonagi
Omakase Sushi
This eight-seat omakase counter in Gardena is the kind of place you have to earn, booking ahead for one of two weekend seatings where the chef, a second-generation sushi-man, runs a tight, personal multicourse experience. The room is tiny, the attention is total, and the stone pot crab rice alone is worth the planning. Everyone at the counter knows they lucked into something good.
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
- Time Out #20 · The 40 best restaurants in Los Angeles you need to try right now
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Rank 79. Kiyomi
Japanese
A 16-seat sushi counter in downtown DC where the omakase actually respects your bank account. The chef built a loyal following slinging a weekday lunch deal before landing this proper home, and the regulars followed. It draws the kind of crowd that genuinely knows their nigiri, which keeps things honest. Dinner omakase runs on Fridays if you want the full commitment, but the lunch deal is the real reason people keep coming back.
- Washingtonian The Hot List: 10 Restaurants Around DC We’re Loving Right Now
- The Washington Post The 40 Best Restaurants In and Around D.C.
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Rank 79. Sushi Iwashi
Sushi
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Otto Phan runs one of Chicago's pricier omakase counters next door, and this ten-seat spin-off is how the rest of us get in on it. It's nigiri only, with fish flown in from Japan twice a week, cut generous and pressed onto serious mounds of rice. The vibe is chic but relaxed, the beverage list won't wreck you, and the whole thing manages to feel like a splurge without the stuffiness. Wear something nice-ish and just go.
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- Foodist Awards 2025 · Finalist · Top Sushi Restaurant
- Phoenix New Times Our top 12 favorite sushi restaurants in Phoenix
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Rank 79. Across the Pond
Japanese
- Foodist Awards 2024 · Most Creative Handcraft Cocktail Program
- Foodist Awards 2025 · Finalist · Top Sushi Restaurant
- Phoenix New Times Our top 12 favorite sushi restaurants in Phoenix
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Rank 79. Tetsu
Omakase Sushi
Three seats. Two chefs. No gold flakes, no flexing, just genuinely exceptional omakase sushi tucked into a simple, unpretentious room on Denman. The kind of place where the fish does all the talking and the people eating it are the type who booked three months out and aren't mad about it. Tetsu is as intimate as dining gets, and the quality absolutely justifies the ritual of getting a reservation.
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
- Vancouver Magazine 2026 · Honourable Mention · Restaurant Awards: Best Omakase
- Vancouver Magazine 2024 · Bronze Medal · Restaurant Awards: Best Upscale Japanese
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Rank 79. Tsuke Edomae
Sushi
- The Infatuation #2 · The 25 Best Restaurants In Austin
- James Beard Awards 2026 · Semifinalist · Best Chef: Texas · Michael Che
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Tucked inside the Fairmont Pacific Rim, this hotel lounge punches well above its minibar. The marble bar, fireplace, and nightly live music make it feel genuinely glamorous rather than just expensive, and the sushi and raw bar snacks give you a real reason to linger beyond a nightcap. The crowd skews hotel guests in good coats and locals who know a well-designed room when they see one.
- Spirited Awards 2024 · Regional Top 10 Honoree · Best International Hotel Bar – Canada
- Spirited Awards 2025 · Regional Top 10 Honoree · Best International Hotel Bar – Canada
- Michelin Guide Selected Restaurant
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Rank 79. Sakaba
Sushi
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Rank 95. Sushi Ii
Sushi
A sleek omakase counter in Newport Beach where the chef takes the kaiseki approach seriously, building the meal around whatever the season actually has to offer, with fish flown in from Japan alongside good local finds. The room is polished without being stiff, and the crowd dresses the part. It's the kind of place where each course feels considered rather than just plated, which is exactly what you're paying for.
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Rank 95. Sushi Gyoshin
Omakase Sushi
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Rank 95. Toshokan
Omakase Sushi
Tucked inside a mini golf bar behind a wall of books, Toshokan is an omakase counter that clearly has a sense of humor about itself. The chef's nigiri leans playful and inventive, riffing on flavors well outside traditional Japanese territory, which either sounds perfect to you or it doesn't. The room holds just a handful of people, so it's an intimate little hang, and the vibe is way looser than most omakase spots.
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Rank 95. Sushi Shikon
Ginza-style Sushi
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Rank 95. Shimogamo
Sushi
Upscale sushi spot in a Chandler strip mall, which sounds like a contradiction until you're sitting at the counter eating sea urchin and wondering why you ever doubted it. The focus here is classic, carefully handled nigiri and sashimi over flashy rolls, though the rolls they do make are genuinely interesting. The crowd is date-night couples and serious raw-fish people who know exactly what they're ordering.
- Foodist Awards 2023 · Finalist · Best World Flavors
- Phoenix New Times The top 50 restaurants in Phoenix right now
- Phoenix New Times 2024 · Best Sushi · Best of Phoenix
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Rank 95. Sushi-Wa
Omakase Sushi
- The Infatuation The Best Restaurants In Charleston
- Condé Nast Traveler 40 Best Restaurants in Charleston
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Rank 95. Neo
Sushi
An omakase counter tucked inside a couture clothing store in Montrose, which tells you everything and nothing about what to expect. A handful of seats, chefs who take the fish seriously (much of it flown in from Japan and dry-aged in back), and a style that respects tradition without being enslaved to it. The crowd skews fashion-forward for obvious reasons. Check if they've reopened before you make plans.
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Rank 95. Hana re
Sushi
Finding this omakase counter requires walking through a Costa Mesa strip mall, which is either a fun secret or mildly disorienting depending on your mood. Once you're inside, though, the ten-seat counter feels genuinely removed from the world. The chef moves through a long, unhurried omakase that builds slowly toward nigiri, with serious seafood at every step. The sake list gives you something to think about between courses.
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Rank 95. Sushi Gen
Sushi
- Los Angeles Times 2025 · The 101 Best Restaurants in California
- Time Out #32 · The 40 best restaurants in Los Angeles you need to try right now
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Rank 95. Omakase by Gino
Sushi
A proper omakase tucked into a quiet stretch of downtown Santa Ana that you'd probably drive past without a second glance. Inside, exposed brick and distressed wood give it a tavern vibe with Japanese details scattered throughout, and the chef runs the counter with genuine warmth rather than the usual austere theater. The cooking is inventive and playful, the kind of thing that makes you lean forward on your stool. Counter seats fill up fast, so book ahead.
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Rank 95. Sushi Tadokoro
Sushi
Tucked into a strip mall in Old Town, this tiny sushi counter punches well above its surroundings. The omakase is the move here, a parade of pristine fish sourced from both coasts of the Pacific, handled with real care and zero pretension. The crowd tends to be locals who figured out the secret and sushi purists who dress down but order up. Traditional in the best sense, meaning the fish does the talking.