45 Best Japanese Restaurants in Pittsburgh

“I love this place. I can’t say enough about it, the service, the portions, the grade of fish I was served, everything is always spot on. I’d recommend the seaweed salad and the sushi and sashimi platter.“

“Overall, our experience at OTARU was exceptional. Our evening started with warm hand towels that bloomed into flowers in front of our eyes. Our server, Noah, expertly guided our party of four through the menu. With his suggestions in mind, we ordered an array of dishes among us and enjoyed every one. Special shout outs go to the roasted salmon entree and the wine selection. This is not even to mention the view of the city. I would recommend both OTARU and Noah to any diner and we definitely will be back! Five stars.“

“Ok but not great - the takoyaki was nowhere near as good as that from umami, as an example. The miso soup was a little too watery. Tea was served in a plastic water cup - ugh and no handle. The rolls were fine. Service was fast and efficient and friendly.“

“I recently ate at Kiku and the sushi was the best I have ever eaten. The sushi was fresh and delicious, as it has been every time I have eaten there. It is definitely the best sushi in the area. You can taste the true flavor of the fish without sauces or spices. At Kiku you will enjoy an authentic sushi experience that won't disappoint.“

“Umami is a vibe! The artwork, music, and service come together to create an incredible atmosphere. I’ve been there twice for dinner and absolutely loved the takoyaki (fried octopus balls, they were perfectly cooked. The gyudon (beef rice bowl) was just okay, but the rayu cucumbers were delightful and had the perfect crunch! It’s a great spot for a date night, especially with their shareable plates. You should definitely make a reservation before going!“

“Overall I would say this place is really good!! We did go back when it was first opening up, so I think there was some learning curves.. I am eager to get back and try it again!
Our waitress was very nice! Everything was explained to us very well.
We ordered appetizers- spring rolls and gyoza, both were very good!
When they came out, we ordered our first sushi, it took over 45 minutes for our first sushi to come out.
We ordered the yellowtail jalapeño and the dynamite roll.
Being honest, I didn’t care for the yellowtail jalapeño roll. The raw jalapeño over took the whole thing- that’s just my opinion though.
HOWEVER the dynamite roll, AMAZING.
Definitely the star of the show and I feel like I could have eaten 100 of them.
Unfortunately that’s all we got with our AYCE though because of how long everything was taking.
But my food was so good. So I highly recommend!
Will update when I go back about timing!“

“Best quality sushi and service in the city ❤“

“The restaurant side of Golden Gai has finally opened, and it didn’t disappoint! Their takeout sushi was hit or miss (it got markedly better over time) but they clearly took the time to fine-tune the restaurant before opening, and I’m glad they did. The sushi (the golden roll) and small plates (spicy cucumbers, grilled chicken, and miso cod) were phenomenal. The drinks were on point also. Reservations are hard to come by, but if you’re okay with booking a few weeks out or eating a little later it’s not too hard to get one.“

“I have too many words to share to describe this establishment. Tonight was my first experience dining here, after a day date with my boyfriend we decided we were in the mood for hibachi. The first mistake we made was driving from Robinson to Carnegie to dine at Benihana‘s. Within thirty minutes of being there, we left (but that’s another story) Unsatisfied and still very hungry, we decided to stop in at Sapporo’s. They didn’t open until 4:30 (at this time it was 4PM) and noticing the website says reservations only, I called to make sure it was okay we dine in. The man on the phone said what time can you be here and I informed him we were already in the parking lot. He told me “I’ll see you in thirty minutes” The moment we walked in we already knew we made the right decision. The table we sat at was full of kind people. Everyone was talking, sharing stories, laughing etc. it literally felt like we were sitting at the dinner table with FAMILY. The chef came out who happens to be the owner. A one man show, and boy did he kill it! The food was so fresh. I had the filet and scallops and it was cooked to perfection. Not only did he make a great meal. He shares stories himself, took the time to actually enjoy our company and show his appreciation that we were there. He must be the sweetest man I’ve ever met. His wife was very pleasant as well! The waitress was so accommodating and very on top of things with her being the only one there. I honestly think this is the longest review I ever made… I could go on and on but long story short, you will NOT be disappointed with Sapporos.! Living nearly 5 minutes away, this will be our forever date night spot!“

“been here a few times now, the food is always awesome, best sushi I've ever had hands down. couldn't recommend this place enough.“

“Delicious donburi (rice bowl with toppings), yummy Japanese curry! Casual, order at counter. Quick friendly service! Can’t wait to try more of their menu!“

“4/5 food - portions are delicious, shareable, but a bit small.
5/5 atmosphere
4/5 service - service is grand, but it always takes 40 minutes to pay.
I’ve been here several times and highly recommend it. Just be certain you’re going for an experience, and not a meal.“

“When we need something fast, at a great value and tasty, we had yo yhe Mall food court and get Sarku Japan’s chicken or shrimp cooked on the hibachi. You get a protein, vegetables and either steamed rice, fried rice or noodles for an extra charge.The service here is fast and friendly, the chefs work very fast and hard all day pumping out the delicious teriyaki chicken or shrimp. My wife asks dor mo sauce and they make here chicken separate on the hibachi.The quantity they give you is a lot and we never leave here hungry. They even will add extra chicken for an up charge, but unless you are very very hungry, it is not needed. They also do a small porion of just rice and chicken.We have been goung here for many years and it is a great place for fast, healthy, tasty and reasonable priced food for lunch or dinner.“

“awesome service, awesome food, it's a must try!“

“Clean, fresh, thoughtful, technical, friendly, affordable... It's been ages since a Japanese restaurant hit all these notes for me. I had sushi rolls, husband had ramen every aspect of both items were spot on, would recommend if you appreciate pleasant surprises.“

“Sakkio, sarku, nori. No matter. I have been eating here for years. It's my favorite because I know what I am getting every time. FRESH cooked food. Generous portions. Delicious teriyaki, usually over rice. I've never had a bad meal here in over 15 years.

Get the beef teriyaki. It will change your life.“

“Stop scrolling and just map here and go already! I grew up on the island of Guam with a wide variety of fresh authentic Asian food at my fingertips. Often eating Asian food is sad for me because it is so far from what I remember and reminds me of how far away I feel from the Pacific Ocean. Now that I’ve found this place, there’s nowhere else I will be going when I’m homesick and hungry. The owner and his family are simply precious, radiating quiet kindness and familial warmth to every guest who came in. They are a new restaurant, but the owners (both chefs) knew people by name and asked new guests their names, and served exquisite and beautiful food I will be thinking about for days. If you can, bring a friend with you so you can share something from Japan and something from Thailand on your first visit. You won’t regret it. Oh, and the donuts…

Vegetarian options: Most menu items can be made vegetarian or vegan!

Kid-friendliness: Kids menu, very relaxed and unpretentious, owners are parents and happy to host children.“

“Awesome experience will be back“

“I've been to this location several times over the years and never had a bad experience. Everything is always fresh and they appreciate the business. I hadn't been there in a while and they still remembered me from my frequent visits. One of my favorite sushi places in Pittsburgh.“

“the best spring roll in Pittsburgh be back“

“Got take out from here tonight! It was absolutely delicious. Great prices, good portion sizes and the best Yumyum sauce I’ve ever had! We will definitely be back!“

“We really enjoyed this place, especially my gen z'er who loves sushi. It is all you can eat so everyone can share. The orders came a little slow at times but to their credit the place was packed. It was noisy with chatter but not unpleasant. Our waiter was friendly and very helpful There are no doggy bags which is typical of all you can eat places. My millennial who goes here often warned that they charge extra if you have many leftovers so we were careful not to over order. It helps to take a family member who acts as a human garbage can if you are someone who only eats part of what is on your plate.“

“Absolutely wonderful menu, service, and food! Always a pleasure to dine here. Love to support one of the best restaurants in Pittsburgh.“

“Beautiful. Show stopping. Electrifying. I will be back.“

“Beautiful place for dinner and the food astronomical good!“

“Got takeout a few times now and have been happy with both the quality and quantity of food for the price. A pile of meat on a pile of rice, generously sauced... can't find much to complain about. General Tso's has a nice lingering heat that builds as you eat without overwhelming the other flavors in the sauce. Orange chicken could stand to be fruitier, but that's me nitpicking“

“An amazing, inviting environment to share delicious dim sum and traditional Cantonese dishes! Every aspect of the experience, from the well crafted cocktails to the impeccable service is without equal in the area, while also providing a more relaxed, family style vibe to the experience. One of my main "go tos" when dining out!“

“Amazing gluten free crepes! Fast service, great flavor! I will definitely be back for more!“

“We stopped for a quick bite Friday and our sushi was absolutely delicious 🤤 Waitress was very pleasant also ! We will definitely be traveling back again soon!!“

“Great food I love this place“

“WOW. I ordered a sushi bowl with mixed greens, corn, kimchi, tofu, seaweed strips, wasabi, and ponzu. Soooo good! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“So many choices! Everything we had was awesome!“

“Food was decent . The waiter was fast and he food was timed well. Only issue was the appetizer was a bit on the small size and seemed over fried. Maybe they fry it and then set it aside and then fry it again when ordered to heat it up. Other than that I liked the res of the food and the atmosphere.“

“5 star sushi and some very creative options to choose from. My 5 year old and I are the only ones in my house that like sushi so I took her on a mommy and me date here. She loved it and so did I. If you're a fan of Crab Rangoon you will not be disappointed by the Crab Rangoon roll 😋“

“We had to wait 45 minutes for a chef to cook at our table. Thus was hard as we had a young child getting impatient. Server never asked if we wanted anything more than water and ran past us so fast we couldn't even ask. Then claimed ice cream was on him cause of our wait when that was clearly included in price.“

“Very well decorated, seems humble from the outside but once you step in you are greeted with great service and a genuine Asian atmosphere. They have all you can eat sushi here and many options to choose from including my favorite CHICKEN tempura roll! I was able to order some salmon, crunchy roll, spicy tuna roll.. and if you don’t want to do the sushi you can always have the chicken or steak hibachi which comes with a sort of honey bbq sauce on top of it. Both were very delicious. They honestly put a lot of protein in the sushi so if you’re a fan of the raw, go for it! The only thing was that in some fo the google images it appears to say the all you can eat is 23 dollars but it’s actually 29 which is still a pretty incredible deal for the amount they offer to you, but of course 23 would be better lol“

“5 star sushi and some very creative options to choose from. My 5 year old and I are the only ones in my house that like sushi so I took her on a mommy and me date here. She loved it and so did I. If you're a fan of Crab Rangoon you will not be disappointed by the Crab Rangoon roll 😋“

“Best food in allegheny county. Love coming here.“

“We came during The lunch rush because a bunch of Asians were going in which is always a good sign.

The food was good. The service was uneven. My noodles with beef came on a chipped plate. See photo. I only gave it a good rating because everybody liked the food.“

“Thank you as always for a great experience! You always go above and beyond and take great care of us!“

“excellent food! excellent service! clean restaurant!“

“The food was good. We sat at a bar table so it was a little delayed in getting initial service but was fine after. Our appetizer did come after our food. I'm not sure if there was an oil fire or something but when we arrived and throughout the meal there was a really overwhelming smell of burning oil. I know there's hibachi tables but it was empty and 6:30 pm so maybe it just always smells like that but that was a bummer. Almost like there isn't proper ventilation“

“I have been dining here since at least about 2013 and I honestly enjoy my experience each and every time. Ten years later, and now a vegan, I order the “hot pepper tofu”, a variation of a go-to chicken dish that reminds why I continue to make the trek or pilgrimage to this day. Savory onions, heat from jalapeños, and sweet while comfortably searing chili sauce all come together for what I would probably have down for breakfast through dinner. Perfecting this at home might be okay for my wallet but I would still be searching for their friendly faces and comfortable, laidback atmosphere. Well done China Wok ✌️“

“5 star sushi and some very creative options to choose from. My 5 year old and I are the only ones in my house that like sushi so I took her on a mommy and me date here. She loved it and so did I. If you're a fan of Crab Rangoon you will not be disappointed by the Crab Rangoon roll 😋“

“Hands down the best hibachi in town!!
Service can be questionable at times and the cooks vary in experience with some not understanding English well or at all.

They pile tons of food on the plate and have good drinks from the bar.
Make your bed before you go and prepare to bring home a doggy bag to nibble on after you wake from your food coma😄“