In Ahwatukee, an Osaka native and alum of both Tsuji Culinary Institute and the inventive Japanese microchain restaurant Nobu has turned to noodles, rice bowls, curries, milk tea and a few other staples. One is Takoyaki, brown-fried orbs rich and soft and cored with bits of chopped octopus – just like chef Yusuke Kuroda’s mom […]
Japanese in Phoenix
Showing 23 - 44 of 60
Why order sushi in a plain restaurant when you can hang out in an upbeat, ultra-sleek atmosphere? At PURE Sushi, the vibe is so happening that it puts us in the mood to hit the dance floor, which works out perfectly since it’s a stone’s throw away from the nightclubs and posh bars in north […]
Nirvana means a dry martini, a comfortable patio with full bar service, and the coolest people, and a nonstop parade of delicious sushi dishes to fill us up. Ra Sushi offers all these, most notably the tasty Zonie Roll, a crispy mix of spicy salmon, cucumber, cilantro and jalapenos rolled up and topped with avocado […]
This downtown ramen shop keeps a tight menu — a few noodle soups prepared almost without fault, and a few other dishes like rice bowls, fried bites, and Japanese curries. Chef Yuji Iwasa, a Los Angeles native, brings a few European techniques to his largely traditional ramen; manager Shunji Tohada, from Hiroshima, brings deep Japanese […]
College kids and ramen go together like peanut butter and jelly (which, now that we think of it, students love too). Tempe’s favorite noodle bar is conveniently located on University Drive in the heart of ASU’s campus, serving ramen, udon, rice bowls, and drinks like boba slushies, tea, beer, and sake. And this ramen is […]
Cool sushi bar/restaurant serving Japanese and Korean food. The sushi, especially the nigiri sushi, is of pretty high quality, and Takamatsu also offers Korean table barbecue. But the menu is extensive, and this may be your chance to venture into realms of Korean cookery that you’ve yet to explore. A little intestine casserole, anyone? Or […]
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A place to see and be seen, and suck down some topnotch sushi while doing so. This glitzy palace is packed with fine young professionals crowding a hip watering hole, but the chefs take their mission seriously. The concept is split into three themes: teppanyaki, Pacific Rim and sushi. With a special chef for each […]
Chandler’s hottest sushi restaurant offers a whole spread of sashimi, nigiri and maki, including sometimes hard-to-find options such as escolar, sweet shrimp and sea urchin. Crazy, modern rolls aren’t really the name of the game here, though you can get delicious and sometimes unexpected sushi rolls, such as the Zen Roll made with spicy yellowtail, […]
ShinBay – the third incarnation of the omakase-style sushi place, now set in Old Town Scottsdale – has topped our lists of best restaurants since it opened in 2019, including being named Best Sushi in our 2021 Best of Phoenix list. And there’s good reason why. Executive chef Shinji Kurita has made his home here, […]
The sushi here is excellent, but you’ll also want to try the crisp, spicy-sweet Cucumber Salad. California rolls are a must, as are these other sushi sensations: Salmon rolls; Mackerel or Yellowtail rolls; Stripped Bass sushi; Hand rolls; and Motorola Rolls-you won’t find these in even the most exclusive sushi spots! Also great: tasty, pork-stuffed […]
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Hip, urban, Dr. No-like sushi joint from the team that gave Scottsdale the funky-fresh tiki lounge Drift. Decor features zebra wood tables, Japanese-style restrooms, and a tank in the floor of the entranceway featuring several live stingrays. Nigiri sushi is first-rate, but the maki still needs some work, so steer away from those until the […]
This Japanese restaurant is exactly what its name implies: a stepping stone for sushi virgins. Whether you’ve never had raw fish and sticky rice rolled up in seaweed – or love the stuff but have never made it yourself – Sushi 101 will help you along the way to understanding the iconic dish. The menu […]
Kampai means “cheers” in Japanese, and that’s what you’ll be saying at this unpretentious spot. Kampai does traditional Japanese-worker dishes exceptionally well. Pork katsu (breaded and fried cutlet) is excellent. So is unaju (grilled eel and rice served in a lacquered box). Read our review.
Attractive, bright sushi outlet with a fetching lime and mint green interior design, and a sushi bar that produces some really excellent sushi rolls. Try the sweet, tuna-wrapped Cherry Blossom Roll, the spicy Climax Roll topped with jalape
Just because it’s in Scottsdale doesn’t mean Sushi J is one of those scenester sushi hangouts. It’s stylish, to be sure, but in a more serene way, with traditional sushi and sashimi that will appeal to purists. We know more than a couple of local chefs who swear by this place.
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The former proprietors of Tucson’s Sushi Ten have opened a new eatery in Ahwatukee, and fans of authentic Japanese cuisine have been quick to pick up on it. The spare dining room’s bright and open, with plenty of seating at the sushi bar and tables scattered throughout the room. As for the sushi, it’s some […]
This is what every neighborhood sushi restaurant should be, but precious few are. Leo Nakano was long a familiar face at Scottsdale’s Hiro Sushi, where he learned the craft from his father. But in 2018, the younger Nakano set out on his own, opening this tiny, unassuming joint in an Ahwatukee strip mall that slings […]
Oh, Shea, can you see the sushi? Some of the best in the Valley, in fact, at SonS. Since 1994, this pleasant, slightly upscale establishment in the Scottsdale Promenade has produced consistently fresh and perfectly crafted nigiri, maki and sashimi. The yellowtail is divine, and the salmon crunchy roll will have you craving a second […]