Of course, when it comes to selecting the best sushi, there's a lot more to consider. You could start with the plethora of Japanese-fusion spots, many serving up Peruvian-inspired rolls. Or perhaps suggest one of the city's longtime upmarket establishments, each known for its subliminal sourcing. And there's also the growing number of pricey omakase-only restaurants to factor in, where you'll leave the meal up to the chef.
But what if it's just a solid sushi roll or uber-fresh fish you're after? Whether you're looking for crowd-pleasing favorites or a high-end hotel hotspot, this list has you covered.
From creative sushi rolls and take-home boxes to family-style boats and fresh-from-Japan sashimi, this list has you covered. Compiled alphabetically, here are our picks for the ten best restaurants to serve sushi in Miami:
Azabu
161 Ocean Dr., Miami Beach786-276-0520
azabuglobal.comMichelin-starred import from New York City, Azabu Miami Beach — located inside the Marriott Stanton in Miami’s South of Fifth neighborhood — serves up sushi in an array of settings. Originally hailing from the Azabu district in Tokyo, Japan, the restaurant’s main dining room offers guests a well-curated selection of high-quality sashimi and nigiri, while signature rolls include an upmarket take on the California, pairing snow crab, avocado, cucumber, and tobiko with the housemade yuzu mayo. For a more intimate experience, there’s also a chef’s tasting at the Den, Azabu’s dedicated omakase room. Or dine at home with Bubusan, the delivery-only offshoot that brings omakase (including a vegan offering) arranged in exquisite packaging directly to your door.
B-Side by Itamae
1-800-Lucky143 NW 23rd St., Miami
305-768-9826
bsidemiami.comWhile Itamae chefs Valerie, Nando, and Fernando Chang are known for making some of the best sushi in town, their casual eatery B-Side located inside 1-800-Lucky offers its own incredibly fresh modern and zippy sushi interpretations, many of which are executed with a kiss of Peruvian flare. The Wynwood menu changes from time to time, but always features an innovative twist or two, from the soy-marinated mushrooms in the spicy tuna and avocado-stuffed “Tortoro” or the crisp fried quinoa found in the “Lost in Translation” roll that pairs tuna, salmon, and avocado with an ají amarillo mayo.
Hiyakawa
2700 N. Miami Ave., Miami305-333-2417
hiyakawamiami.comSince stylish Hiyakawa, the more sophisticated sibling of Wabi Sabi, opened in Wynwood in 2019, it’s become a regular haunt for those looking to feast on the fanciest of fish. Here, you can order à la carte across a broad range of nigiri, sashimi, maki, and moriawase — large sashimi platters for sharing. The menu features a bevy of seasonal fish and ingredients flown in daily from the Toyosu Fish Market in Tokyo, along with regular offerings from some of Miami’s small, local purveyors. Think plump Hokkaido scallops, creamy Japanese uni, and unique accents like toro caviar, Okinawa-sourced salt, and Japanese mint. Pro tip: be sure to make a reservation, as the restaurant restricts capacity to a limited number each night.
Makoto
9700 Collins Ave., Bal Harbour305-864-8600
makoto-restaurant.comLed by Iron Chef alum Makoto Okuwa, Stephen Starr’s Bal Harbour restaurant Makoto is faultless in its preparation of Edomae-style sushi. In early 2022, the restaurant moved to a new spot on the third floor of the tony Bal Harbour Shops with a new dining room decorated in citrus tones and a circular sushi bar surrounded by a lush outdoor patio. Though the décor is new, the quality of chef Makoto's sushi remains top-notch. The menu offers more than 25 sushi and sashimi selections, with pricey offerings that include toro cuts of tuna, salmon, and yellowtail alongside Hokkaido-sourced scallops and uni. A simple selection of rolls includes both hosomaki (seaweed outside) and uramaki (rice outside), many with single ingredients meant to let the quality of each cut of fish truly shine.
Omakai
2107 NW Second Ave., Miami786-579-9995
omakaisushi.comThe Magic City is showing an impressive penchant for attracting a growing number of elite omakase experiences. And while that’s a great thing for sushi lovers, it’s not always the most flexible way to enjoy a meal — and that’s where Omakai comes in. Founded by three friends who lamented the area's dearth of reasonably priced sushi, their goal is to offer an affordable omakase experience with three options that start with seasonal-themed appetizers and sashimi followed by an assortment of sushi and hand rolls. But what if you don’t want to leave it up to the chef? An à la carte menu allows experienced sushi eaters to enjoy the menu’s wide array of unique delicacies, unlike many area omakase spots. A vestige of those pandemic days, there's even the brand's own "home-akase" option, a specialty to-go menu box that brings the Omakai chef-curated experience to you.
Sushi Chef Japanese Restaurant & Market chef/owner Fusao Enomoto
Sushi Chef Japanese Restaurant & Market photo
Sushi Chef Japanese Restaurant & Market
3100 Coral Way, Miami305-444-9286
sushichefusa.com Born in Akita Prefecture in northern Japan, Fusao Enomoto — a classically trained French chef who opened his first restaurant in Caracas, Venezuela, in 1971 — has been perfecting his craft for more than 40 years. He opened Sushi Chef Japanese Restaurant in 1991, originally a market offering a small lunch menu. Today, it's best known for its sprawling Japanese menu and sushi that caters to everyone and any budget. A large variety of maki is reasonably priced unless you're ordering the "dragon roll" — a California roll topped with a whole baked eel. Splurge on specialty nigiri that features weekly selections of Japanese-sourced fish that includes uni and toro. Combos, platters, and boats make for family-style sushi feasting. There's even a dedicated kids' sushi meal. The best part: Chef Enomoto bestows patrons with a free, amuse-bouche-style sample every day when they dine in. Recent offerings have ranged from a sea bass karaage to kabocha daikon simmered in dashi or a slice of roast beef topped with tonkatsu mayo.
Sushi Erika
1700 John F. Kennedy Cswy., Ste. 100, North Bay Village786-216-7216
Sushi chef Erika Kushi is pretty much a one-woman show at her intimate North Bay Village sushi bar. In 2018, she opened her eponymously named sushi spot in North Bay Village, just down the road from her father’s old haunt, Sushi Deli. Here, Kushi celebrates the legacy of her father, Michio Kushi, by serving some of the freshest sushi imaginable — at ultra-reasonable prices. The menu offers many of her father’s most lauded classics, with maki that ranges from the familiar California or bagel roll to battera — a pressed mackerel sushi roll. Sushi Erika also has an impressive array of vegetable rolls, soups, and salads. Everything is bright and flavorful, including an octopus tiradito and tuna tartare.
Sushi Garage
1784 West Ave., Miami Beach; 305-763-83553015 Grand Ave., Miami; 786-946-4222
500 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; 954-727-3533
sushigarage.com Originally a standalone restaurant in Miami Beach's Sunset Harbour neighborhood, Sushi Garage has expanded to encompass three South Florida locations, including Coconut Grove and Fort Lauderdale. At all three, chef/partner Sunny Oh presents his take on fresh sushi with an assortment of interesting rolls. They include the lemon vegetarian roll made with cucumber, avocado, micro arugula, crispy shallots, and holy yuzu mustard; a rosemary eel roll paired with avocado and rosemary aioli; and the Garage bagel roll packed with salmon, cream cheese, crisp capers, onions, chives, and furikake seasoning.
Uchi
252 NW 25th St., Miami305-995-0915
uchimiami.comIn the middle of the pandemic, James Beard Award-winning chef Tyson Cole brought his popular Austin sushi restaurant, Uchi, to Wynwood. In Miami, the restaurant chef de cuisine Dina Butterfield and head sushi chef Cyrus Hire deliver some of the best sushi in town with a menu that includes the ever-popular Hokkaido uni and bluefin otoro but also rare Japanese catches like ishidai and isaki. The menu also boasts a seasonal omakase experience, including a vegan tasting menu that offers the same delicious precision.
Wabi Sabi
851 NE 79th St., Miami305-890-7228
wabisabimiami.comAnyone who loves sushi in Miami has likely heard of Wabi Sabi, the Upper East Side spot beloved for its simple, impeccably fresh nigiri, sashimi, and maki, along with its famed donburi bowls such as the "Wabi Sabi," filled with tuna, salmon, crab, tobiko, cucumber, avocado, seaweed, and shiitake mushrooms. The restaurant also offers several omakase experiences — a nigiri, sashimi, and chirashi served at the table — for those who like to leave it up to the chef. Love the menu? You can find a nearly identical offering at Midorie, the owners’ more intimate Coconut Grove restaurant.
