50 Best Japanese Restaurants in Tampa

“I can’t believe it’s been over 3 years since Noble Rice opened and this was our very first visit! It absolutely blew us away. The service was impeccable. Hostess Angel greeted us warmly, and our server Allison A. was simply outstanding ~ easily one of the best experiences we’ve had anywhere in Tampa. We started with drinks, and every single one was perfect. The Lychee Martini was smooth and floral, the Espresso Martini had just the right kick, and the Haku ~ their version of a Moscow Mule ~ was phenomenal. My husband is a self-proclaimed Moscow Mule connoisseur, and he gave it high praise. The food? Next-level. The Tuna Carpaccio was the star of the show ~ literally melted in our mouths. We also loved the Classic Poké, Tempura Poké Rolls, and the Tekka Roll ~ all fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented with different types of soy causes for each. The only item that didn’t quite hit the mark for us was the Hanabi Maki ~ still very fresh, just not our personal favorite. I’m sure many others enjoy it! What really stood out was the service ~ something that has unfortunately been on the decline across Tampa in recent years. But at Noble Rice, everyone went above and beyond. Allison didn’t just take our order, she asked thoughtful questions about our taste preferences, made drink and dessert recommendations (the Panna Cotta dessert was heavenly), and made sure everything was perfect from start to finish. Our only wish? Larger portions ~ because everything was so good, we didn’t want it to end. An amazing 18th anniversary dinner!! We’ll absolutely be back. Thank you, Noble Rice, for making it so special.“

“11/5 STARS, BEST SUSHI I'VE EVER EATEN! Best waiter ever TRAVIS, see him, you will be taken care of!!!. Look how amazing the food and atmosphere is!! It's All You Can Eat for $30, WOWOW! I'm posting the menu, look if you buy too things the all you can eat makes more sense. The boba tea and green tea pots taste heavenly!! The sushi is mouthwatering, portions are great! With all you can eat you can do this until you are stuffed. Look at the presentation?! It tastes better than it looks even. Menu is one of the most robust I've ever seen. I'm posting their small menu, but the in restaurant one is like a dozen pages. Its all delicious. The chefs are amazing and very nice. The wait staff is incredible. This is the second time I've gone and cannot speak highly enough. They should get awards for best sushi in the area, but really anywhere in the country. They had like 14 people in the restaurant working which is amazing considering Walmart has like 5 people working nowadays. Their staff was super attentive and food came out in like 5 minutes. I cannot speak highly enough, this is my forever go to place and so reasonable with how expensive everything is with inflation. Go here, seriously or wait, don't I' want all the foods. It will make you very happy, nice job Ajisai 3, you truly are the best of the best!!! #ajisaiayce ; *WAIT I forgot to mention something REALLY important... The All you can eat sushi that's $30, its FREEEEEEEEE on your birthday, bring your ID and I think I said, its free, like free like Free Willy free. Who does anything free nowadays?! He77 yea Ajisai, you truly are the best of the best, you take care of your customers like I have never seen and on top of the food is YUMMY to the maximum. Can I leave more reviews, can I get you an award for your complete satisfaction for customers? I'm posting to every site on the Internet, its the least I can do. If my ex-wife satisfied me half as much as this this, we would still be married. Can we start dating? I think you would take care of all my needs. The best way to a man's heart is through their stomach, well here is my heart cause my stomach is fulfilled.“

“Had a great time here! Small space but very intimate. Great date night place for two. Sat at the bar both servers were very knowledgeable. All the dishes were explained in great detail! Don’t have any bad notes. We had the bread service (focaccia was great) then had their signature cappeletti and the pappardelle both were excellent! For dessert we had the caprese and the pizzelle. The caprese had a very unique flavor profile which I’ve not had in many desserts. I was pleasantly surprised. Will have to come back again!“

“Food was phenomenal. Highly recommend“

“I have not been to the new location yet but will visit very soon. I have been coming to ichiban since i was 12-13 years old and i just rolled over to 38.it is the ONLY sushi spot i will go. The sushi is always amazing caroline makes dining inviting and enjoyable the atmosphere is always pleasant.“

“great food great service we will return with an appetite“

“excelente servicio y la comida deliciosa“

“Koya is an experience not to be missed. The food is a fencing match of flavor and creativity. I would compare the passion that Chef Eric and his team bring to the culinary space to that of Steve Irwin and the way his eyes would light up while talking about wildlife conservation. The minute you walk into the guest dining area, you are wrapped in the warmth of welcoming intimacy as the team greats you by name and gently guides you to your carefully selected seat. Through basic observation, you can tell the Chef purposely designed the space to make the guests the focus of the evening. This is clearly shown in how the illumination in the room is focus on the guest seats in comparison to the rest of the space. The contrast of the natural wood counters against the shadowy background provides an understated grace and refined simplicity without the pretentious nature occasionally found in fine dining. The music is modern, melodic, and upbeat. It aptly fills the room without being overbearing so that conversation can be had at soft levels. The cleanliness of the restaurant is crisp from front entry to rear restroom. With that being said, the food is the star of the show. Simply put, it is an eye opening and daring journey. Chef Eric takes you through his mind as he lays his very thoughts on the plate in front of you. Each course is assembled with intent and purpose. The dishes expose the guests to gastronomical revelations that will leave you wanting more and forcing you to ask questions like; "What kind of madman created this and how/where do I get more of it?" Chef Eric has a story to tell, and each dish is an enthralling chapter of a book you never want to end. There is a sense of tradition and innovation that accentuates the culinary bravery that is Chef Eric and his team of exceptionally talented and personable chefs. My single, solitary negative is that I can never eat enough.“

“Our waitress Tiffany was a huge help to decide what to order. It can get pretty overwhelming with all the different varieties of Sushi, Appetizers and Sake. We definitely appreciated her input.“

“very friendly staff, food cooked to order, great food, and reasonable prices.“

“If I could give them a zero I would. My friend went there today and she was refused service because she has a skin disease called psoriasis. Shame on you all. You need to get educated the disease is not contagious I hope you and your ignorant staff learn some manners.“

“Best food in south tampa, its not even close! The food is always extremely fresh and flavorful. You can tell they use high quality ingredients, especially obvious in the crab rangoon which is amazing. Its a little bit of a wait since its all made to order but just order ahead of time and its no problem.“

“Best sushi ever, the monster and Mexican roll are my favorites

I haven coming to this place for over 9 years already, and still my favorite sushi place in town; the food is always fresh and tasty; and the service is amazing they even remembers my usual orders“

“The sweet potato roll is absolutely the best!!!“

“Everything was good i especially loved the rice🗣️‼️ our chef Tadashi was hilarious and next time I come back to Tampa with the family we’re definitely coming back and I WANT TADASHI🗣️‼️🔪👨🏽‍🍳🍽️💪🏽🔥😁🏝️#Tampa“

“This place is stupid good. I don't even know the name of what I ordered, it was one of the first things on there. Got it with grilled chicken and the layered pancakes. Make sure you get extra sauce on the side. Get a green tea. I've never been, but it felt like I popped into someplace in Tokyo and had some local food. You order everything by yourself on the screen as soon as you walk in, then they call your name when it's ready. Seating for about eight groups of people or so. Go there immediately.“

“Good service and great food.“

“Super Friendly Staff , and Great food“

“Great food as always! Everything was delicious! 😋“

“sushi was fresh, great prices and delicious.“

“visit from Ohio, always stop in.“

“Eating at Yokos is a must!! The quality of the food and the friendly service make for a lovely and authentic experience. Best sushi in Tampa!“

“Overall, I thought this restaurant was good, but I don’t think it was up to par with the Michelin service/food that’s usually expected. My friend and I are on the younger side and it was very obvious that we were being treated differently than some of the older people in the restaurant. We also were sitting in the middle of the restaurant, so my food was not coming out at the same time as my guest’s food, as we had separate chefs. The sushi was pretty solid, but I don’t think it was anything to rave about. What I did really enjoy was the duck and the Wagyu, which were the last two courses. If I were to do it over again, I would probably only get drinks and food at Tanto. We did not do the wine pairing, but had a bottle of wine. Our bill for 2 was $900.“

“great to have Japanese and Korean cuisine. Both are excellent.“

“Excellent food and service. Highly recommend this location.“

“Chicken Teriyaki bowl was delicious! Best miso soup in Tampa, also the spicy edamame was the best I’ve ever had! Will definitely be coming back:) they also sell Japanese cheesecake and I can’t wait to try it! Service was exceptional, Melissa helped us at the counter and we can’t want to visit again!“

“Ro is one of the top Hyde Park restaurants in Tampa and a go-to spot for incredible food and vibrant atmosphere. As a regular, I highly recommend the duck tacos—they’re packed with flavor—and their old fashioned is one of the best in the Tampa nightlife scene. The DJ nights bring great energy, and the private room is perfect for hosting events or gatherings. Whether you’re looking for a fun night out or a stylish place to dine in Hyde Park, Ro never disappoints!“

“Arrived at 9 pm.. fast service.. friendly and accommodating… delicious King”s roll and “ out of control roll “ washed down with Saki made for an excellent night!!;-)“

“A wonderful menu of Japanese fusion and classic dishes. Great sushi and sashimi!“

“Lobster sushi roll was really good. It made me forget I was drunk.“

“This is one of my favorite sushi spots. The food is great and comes out relatively quickly, sometimes there is a bit of a wait depending on what day you go but that is usual. Their all you can eat option is the best in my opinion. They have a variety of other options if you do not enjoy sushi as well. -JL“

“This place is truly amazing, the staff is so friendly and helpful, the food here is absolutely delicious and they have so many options to choose from. The place is super clean and simple. The place is very peaceful and a great place to come and relax when needed.“

“Food was freaking great! One of the better poké spots I’ve found.“

“Good food... the Chinese menu here is excellent. Have not tried the Japanese Menu yet.“

“visit from Ohio, always stop in.“

“Make sure you ask for Monica to be your server when you go. The food was excellent, and the drinks were delicious. Monica's service, however, was unparalleled. She is the best server I've ever had. The mango stick rice cocktail also rocks. I also got the chirashi and it was so yum I want to go again tomorrow.“

“I ordered the party tray and had a hiccup with the actual order when I opened it at home, when I called to see if this could be fixed I thought they would be dismissive but honestly they were so nice, the girl at the front was very sweet and understanding and they didn’t give me any problem at all. That was really really great customer service. Thank you! The food was great!“

“Incredible place with 5 star food and The artwork on the walls is so inspiring and the artist Sabien was sharing his art in house today. What a special place!!!! We will be back repeatedly and are forever thankful for your event on July 7th Super hero’s exist in many different ways. Thank you for this!!!!“

“I haven't ever dined in here, I've only ever picked up food to go. But it has all been very tasty and I've always got exactly what I've ordered. I haven't had any issues at all with the food. The 4 stars is because it is impossible to find parking, even just for pickup, as their lot is very very tiny.“

“I recently had the privilege of dining at Sarku Japan, discreetly located within the refined culinary enclave known as the Citrus Park Mall food court. From the moment I arrived, the atmosphere struck a delicate balance between contemporary chaos and suburban elegance, underscored beautifully by the distant hum of children near the arcade and the occasional announcement about lost shoppers.

For my entrée, I selected the chicken teriyaki accompanied by white rice, a composition that demonstrated admirable restraint while still delivering remarkable depth. The chicken possessed a glistening lacquer of teriyaki sauce that clung to each bite with intention and grace. The rice served as a humble yet effective canvas upon which the richer notes of the dish could fully express themselves. To elevate the experience further, I paired the meal with a peach lemonade from neighboring Charleys Cheesesteaks, whose bright citrus profile and delicate sweetness provided a surprisingly sophisticated counterbalance.

What truly makes this location exceptional, however, is its refusal to be constrained by traditional fine dining conventions. Where lesser establishments rely on waterfront views or candlelight, Sarku Japan is confident within eyesight of a coin operated kiddie ride. It is bold. It is fearless.

It is, quite frankly, one of the most emotionally complex dining experiences available in Tampa.“

“On a whim stopped by to snag some sushi and it was decently surprised about how utterly delicious it was. The portions were stellar and flavors married together very nicely. We ordered to go and they had out 5 rolls ready in less than 10 minutes. Highly recommend!!“

“I really liked the place. The food took a little while to come out, but overall, it was a good experience. The food was delicious, although I wasn’t a big fan of the desserts. Overall, it was a good all-you-can-eat sushi experience.“

“We went an hour before close during the week and had the place to ourselves. The atmosphere was very relaxed and perfect for a date. The food was quick and absolutely delicious, one of the best places we tried. The staff was really sweet and quick to refill our water cups without being overbearing.“

“We were impressed with the freshness and quality and wide variety of food. The service was excellent and 5 stars also for the cleanliness of all areas.“

“I'm not really too big on sushi but I'll drive to ybor just to eat here. The ambiance is perfect for me, the staff very friendly and the food 10/10. Would definitely recommend. The street car drives by and its a bit annoying, given the restaurant is on the second floor but that's the only complaint I have and it's more of the area than the restaurant.“

“This restaurant is definitely my favorite sushi restaurant. Great sushi and great service extremely clean and nice atmosphere.“

“i had a absolutely wonderful experience here. the prices are reasonable and you get a big portion of food. The lunch is only around $8 and you get a rice and also a side. i’ve tried a lot of sushis here my favs are yum yum, dragon and mexican roll!“

“it has great food, nice friendly staff great service“