MIAGuide
The Best Sushi Restaurants In Miami
From incredible a la carte meals to once-in-a-lifetime omakase.
Sushi in Miami can vary wildly, depending on whether you’re looking for a $200-plus omakase, a casual spot where you can wear flip-flops, or just some rolls and nigiri for takeout. All of the above are represented in this guide, and whether you want to drop $30 or $300 on one of Miami's best sushi omakase restaurants—you’ll have options. But, whichever sushi adventure you end up choosing, you can rest assured that these places will deliver a great experience.
THE SPOTS
If we’ve got time to spare and are in need of a lunch that’s 100% going to put us in a good mood for the rest of the day, we’re going to Sushi Erika. Yes, there will be a wait at the North Bay Village spot (unless you come 10 or 15 minutes before they open). But it’s well worth it for some of Miami’s best casual sushi. This place nails straightforward, minimal nigiri as well as busier rolls with a small novela of ingredients.
Sushi Yasu Tanaka will surprise you. Or, at least it surprised us. We weren’t expecting to find some of the best sushi we’ve ever had inside a shiny, casual food hall in the Design District. And yet, before we were even halfway through the 8-piece nigiri platter, we wanted to mail a letter to every resident of Miami-Dade County begging them to try this spot. And after we finished the meal with a wagyu handroll, we Googled the cost of 2.7 million stamps. Turns out, it’s more than we can afford, so we decided to save our money so we can eat here again. Sushi Yasu is not a cheap meal (the 8-piece platter is $40 and the 10-piece omakase is $59)—but it is a ridiculously delicious one.
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B-Side is the best place to eat sushi in Wynwood that isn't a $200 per person omakase. The little counter is smack in the center of 1-800-Lucky, an indoor/outdoor food hall with no shortage of alcohol options. But you don’t have to be in a party mood to appreciate B-Side. They have great sushi rolls, handrolls, and some truly outstanding sashimi and tiradito, which makes sense since this place is related to the best Nikkei spot in town: Itamae. B-Side is a perfect call for a casual weekday dinner, or for cocktails and sushi rolls before bar-hopping.
There are so many incredible dishes on the menu at this Design District Nikkei spot. But—along with tiraditos, ceviche, and more—sushi is one of them. They serve nigiri here. Like everything at Itamae, it is creative, delicious, and beautiful enough to hang in an art gallery. The menu changes on a daily basis, so we can't guarantee what you'll encounter. Could be a scallop, apple banana, and charapita nigiri. Or maybe one with bluefin tuna, yuzu kosho, and finger lime. But we can guarantee that you'll remember whatever you eat here more fondly than 30 percent of your birthdays.
Hiden is not a last-minute decision kind of restaurant. The Wynwood omakase starts at $300 per person (not including alcohol and additional courses), and reservations (especially for the weekend) are usually fully booked for a month out. Is all this trouble worth it? Yes, if you are either a massive sushi fan or love a truly unique dining experience. Hiden is located in the back of The Taco Stand, and only accessible if you have a secret code to punch into the door (they’ll email it to you on the day of your reservation). And once you make it inside, you’re in for 18-courses of otoro, uni, wagyu, and more sushi that will reward all the effort it took to eat here.
Katana is a blast, even if it can be a restaurant that requires some patience. There is almost always (especially on weekends) a long wait to eat here because the restaurant is small and it’s a sushi boat experience, in which you slowly graze on passing nigiri and sashimi while sipping sake. Also, they don’t take reservations. But the novelty of floating sushi boats isn’t what makes Katana great. It’s because the sushi floating by on those boats is actually really good—and you can eat a decent amount of it without blowing through your annual restaurant budget. Starting at $2.50 each, different color plates cost different amounts, so if you see something you like (which will happen a lot), just reach out and grab it.
It took us approximately one bite to decide we really liked Uchi. The hype behind this Austin-born sushi spot is well-deserved, because—in addition to other great dishes—they’re making some of the best sushi in Miami. There are several “market price” omakase options, and you can expect to probably spend at least $100 per person if you go that route. But you can also just order a la carte. The menu is large, but anything here is going to be great, from the spicy hama chili to the unagi and bluefin akami. Uchi is more of a special occasion spot, good for romantic and business celebrations of all kinds. Just know that portions here aren’t designed to get you stuffed, so don’t fast for 24 hours before your reservation.
An outstanding sushi spot that’s casual, affordable, and consistently excellent is rare in Miami. But Matsuri is exactly that kind of restaurant, which is probably why you will absolutely have to wait for a table at this classic Bird Road spot. It will, however, be very worth it. If you’re here with a friend, get the masa special for two. It’s a platter of over 30 pieces of the day’s best sashimi, nigiri, and maki for $50.
Like Goldilocks and her porridge, it can be hard to find an omakase that’s “just right”—one that hits that sweet spot between formal and informal, suspiciously cheap and give-your-accountant-a-heart-attack expensive. But Mr. Omakase in Downtown walks that line perfectly. To be clear, this isn’t cheap. But the 10-course option comes in under $100 (at least before service, taxes, and sake), which is better than most upscale omakase options in the city. The space has a dozen or so counter seats, and the service is attentive—but never suffocating. Every piece of fish, uni, or beef that is put in front of you will get better and better and better, like a well-paced action movie. And at the end of the two-hour meal, you’ll be begging for a sequel.
Most folks know Wabi Sabi, an excellent Japanese restaurant in the Upper East Side, for its donburi bowls. Those are still a great order here, but the menu has expanded over the years, and now they offer maki, nigiri, and sashimi—and it's all really good. You can order nigiri and handrolls by the piece, but they also have several omakase options. The nigiri omakase ($100) comes with 12 pieces and one maki. The sashimi omakase ($90) comes with 12 pieces of fish. And the chirashi omakase ($50) is 12 pieces of sashimi served over a lovely bed of sushi rice. You can enjoy all of the above in Wabi Sabi’s quiet, lowkey dining room, but they’re all available for takeout as well.
Midorie is a casual Coconut Grove sushi spot by the Wabi Sabi folks, and the two menus are nearly identical. This simple sushi counter is hidden in the little courtyard on Main Highway. Inside, there’s white oak furniture, a school of tiny ceramic fish on the green wall, and a couple of tables outside. But what you really need to know about Midorie is that you can come here for high-quality sushi and not spend more than $25 on a filling donburi bowl. If you’re willing to spend a bit more, we love the $50 chirashi omakase that comes with twelve pieces of sashimi, salmon roe, seaweed salad, and sweet pickled mushrooms over sticky sushi rice. But the handrolls—each with a perfect ratio of rice, fish, and wasabi—are our favorite.
Hiyakawa is a Wynwood sushi spot that wins the award we just made up for “Most Interesting Ceiling In Miami.” But, architecture aside, Hiyakawa is also just a tremendous restaurant. You’re going to spend money here, especially if you want to do the stunningly delicious $250 per person omakase. If you're going a la carte, try to hit just about every section of the menu. The tempura is excellent, and the sugata-mori appetizer is a must-order too. Sushi should be on the table as well. You can order by the piece, but they have a few platter options ranging from about $70 to over $100 that'll make life easier on you.
Omakai in Wynwood is a good choice if you want to have an omakase experience without paying $200 and going somewhere that requires weeks of reservation hunting. A seat at this casual Wynwood restaurant is much easier to nab (although making a reservation isn’t a bad idea). They offer a few different omakase options ranging from $26 for six courses to $95 for over ten courses. Don’t expect to sit at a sushi counter and receive your pieces of sushi directly from the chef. It’s table service here, and you can’t even see the kitchen. But the sushi is very good and the $50 Oma Deluxe menu—which comes with 10 pieces of sushi, sashimi, an appetizer, and a couple handrolls—should be enough to fill you up.
Ahi Sushi is right in the busiest part of Calle Ocho, and approximately the size of Tyler Herro’s walk-in closet (we’re guessing, but it feels right). The sushi counter, run by the Lung Yai team, seats six to eight people comfortably, and they have a small a la carte menu as well as an excellent omakase for $130. The maki, nigiri, and sashimi are all excellent and fairly straightforward. Plus, this place is smack in the middle of Calle Ocho’s beating heart, so it’s a trip to watch the raucous, reggaeton-scored and cigar-scented carnival happening outside the window while enjoying a quiet meal here. But that just makes Ahi Sushi feel all the more secluded and peaceful.
