50 Best Japanese Restaurants in Philadelphia

“Awesome menu, great vibes and really tasty food. Must try this place.“

“Delicious food, attractive atmosphere.“

“What is the specialty of this sushi restaurant?“

“Had a great time here! Unfortunately I did have to wait for the rest of the people booked for my same time slot to show up... So I waited like 25+ mins. I get it because it makes sense for the dishes to be served in sequence rather than skipping around but at that point I wish they would've just moved their time if it was possible to the next slot 😅 at least chef started prepping fish while we waited but it was agonizing to watch while I was hungry. Overall the service was very polite and they were quick to clear away plates and between courses and refill my water.

Chef Eric was great and made sure we knew what each piece was (altho I agree with others that with the music that wasnt tooooo loud it was still a little hard for me to hear him sometimes). I think they might overdo some of the showy additions and flavors when the fish quality should show for itself, but maybe it's just geared that way so people feel like they got their money's worth. Foie gras on like two of the pieces just felt like an odd add on, I liked it but I don't think it goes together with eel that well personally and I can't remember the other piece that had it. The gold dust on one of the pieces was a little silly since it doesn't have any flavor, but it does make for a neat video. The bar lighting is def set up for photos. They torch a decent amount of the fish and sauce it. I do think this is still a good omakase deal and was appropriately balanced between an intimate experience and entertaining. I imagine if the bar was full of people though that it might feel too crowded, it was only four of us total for the time slot I was in and I had come alone.

They do some fun stuff for people's birthdays, the guys next to me got a special second hand roll from our chef and singing and they even set off a little popper. I thought the pacing was good once we got started and it went by pretty quickly, I think the experience ended up being about an hour in the end but we were a small ish group for the timeslot. It seems like they do two chefs per bar with staggered seatings? And there's the upstairs in addition to the downstairs.

I'd probably come again, as a treat. Ive only been to one other sushi omakase in the city (it was cheaper and I ended up leaving hungry, it has since shut down), otherwise my other experience was in Japan proper. I was comfortably full at the end of this but I am a fairly small woman with not a hugeee appetite so keep that in mind. They don't do any upsell at the end of the meal if you want more pieces, but they do say you can chill out and finish your BYOB drinks it seems. If I was hungry afterwards I'd get ice cream down the street after or something haha.“

“Always love this place. I try to visit every time I’m in Philly.“

“Great service and very delicious sushi.“

“I’ve had the absolute pleasure of eating here a few times and it is one of the best omakase spots in the city! The fish is so fresh and the service is impeccable. The chefs and staff really try to make it a personal experience each time. I can’t wait to go back!“

“We happened upon this gem purely by chance. We had an amazing meal from A-Z (!!!) The sushi is phenomenal; sit at the newly designed sushi bar in the back and enjoy unique daily catches that come in through the connections the owner has with local fishermen. The restaurant is also known for their aged steaks, and Kobe prime rib, which we will try next time. I had the miso black bass and it was one of the best flavors with fish I have ever had. The broth had such a delicate shiitake mushroom flavor, which I loved. I literally couldn’t have had enough of this delicate, delicious dish. I could have had two orders and eaten it all! I think this dish epitomizes what the word UMAMI means. I also had the sautéed mushroom extravaganza, a treat for every taste bud of incredible flavors melted with a delicate sauce. My husband had their unique collection of sushi and sashimi choices that were all enjoyed at their stunningly beautiful sushi bar, complete with two young, passionate chefs who love what they do, and treasure their personal designs of the fish and rolls. All the rolls are presented in this great wooden cradle design, which I thought was so unique and functional. The owner was all smiles and genuinely happy to have had us try his new restaurant. I recommend it highly for either an exceptional steak meal (all are btw, so reasonably priced so order them for sure), or the traditional sushi. You won’t be disappointed. This will be our weekly go-to restaurant and we are counting the days until we will return, which actually will be next Tuesday the 9th! Bravo to the whole team at Umami and thank you for your passion for Japanese food, and for doing it right from A-Z. We will see you soon! Debbie and Gene“

“Amazing restaurant very intimate great lighting great atmosphere food was really good service was nice a little wait time but it was great experience me and my girlfriend started a good world tour and this was the first stop and it was a good one“

“The staff was absolutely lovely from the hostess to the server. The atmosphere was intimate, the decor throughout was very cool. The menu is very fairly priced and the food was incredible. I brought a friend here last night that was visiting from out of town, she can be a hard critic but she left happy. Thank you for such a wonderful experience! I will be back!“

“Tuna Bar is one of my favorite restaurants! Especially love that cocktail with the gin wasabi & cucumber 🍸😍🍣“

“Come to Ninja Bao!

I was waiting for a train and needed something to settle my stomach, I had the Tonkatsu ramen to my surprise was reasonably priced for 14$ had a soda and the staff/owners just kept giving me free complimentary food!

They gave me a cheesesteak Bao Bun and Scallion pancake!

This little gem reminds me of a small ramen shop salarymen would frequent after a hard day of work in Japan before the last train back home.

It’s a must visit and a staple shop in the suburban station and deserves praise!“

“I got the Chicken Bento Box and let me tell you: this food was out of this world. I cannot express enough how amazing the food was: the chicken was juicy, full of flavor, and tender while the bento box had amazing side dishes that complimented each other pretty well. The food is also relatively cheap and they have a wide selection of different dishes, desert, etc. They were also really quick with the food and provided great customer service. I would definitely go again.“

“Great food , must have the tea cold tea .“

“Their Karoke Room was Amazing! Definitely booking for our next Private Event. My family are huge fans of Sushi and the selection at Samurai certainly didn't disappoint. I'm a fan of the Tuna Lover. I can't wait to return!“

“Wow, what an amazing outdoor teppanyaki experience in the backyard! The food was absolutely delicious, with the meat cooked to perfection on the hot plate—tender, juicy, and full of flavor. The host was so welcoming and friendly, making us feel right at home. The whole atmosphere was lively and fun, with everyone enjoying the great food and good company. It's a fantastic way to spend time with friends and family. I highly recommend this backyard teppanyaki to anyone looking for a unique and enjoyable dining experience!“

“Great tasty eclectic Japanese food“

“The crepes and teas were both delicious, and I would definitely go back for the food. The restaurant itself was a bit dingy. A roach did fall from the ceiling at one point near the table I was sitting at, but again the food was worth it. For all that I'll give it a Monty Mole Nice!“

“Everything is so good! Fresh Sushi! New Batches of sushi rice everyday, love the people who work there. Friendly environment! Very Generous! Amazing Service! The only sushi spot, I enjoy eating at. Please come out and check it out yourself! Will not disappoint. Deserve a 5.0 star! ⭐️“

“Best sushi in all of Philly! I eat here every time I come to visit my sister!“

“fresh and delicious. good portions.“

“Fiancé and I stopped by because our other meal plans fell through. He’s had ramen before I have not. For my first experience it was absolutely fantastic! Tiny out of the way place which was cozy, sushi and sashimi were excellent and fresh, spicy miso ramen was unbelievable!! Portions were large as well so come hungry!! The young man that served us was very courteous and friendly! We will definitely be back!!!“

“Love this BYOB spot in South Philly. Quality food, service and very reasonable cost. Although I’ve moved out of the area I regularly take the drive to patronize this spot even over the local and more “upscale” venues in my area. 5 Stars all around!“

“A great place to take friends. Never disappointed!“

“I had been eyeing on this mari mari restaurant awhile, finally had a time to try them out omg the inari was so good, the tonkotsu ramen was delicious but I maybe I’m alittle confused about small portions protein of the meat but the dishes was good and satisfying might go here with a friends next time ☺️“

“Amazing restaurant featuring high quality sushi and house made noodles. The sushi bar chefs are fun and informative and the servers are knowledgeable and efficient. The quality of the roe/caviar and uni on the sushi dishes really stood out. The hot tea with roasted rice was also very good!“

“Great quality and amazing customer service. Definitely our go-to sushi spot. We used to live around the corner from it and now we are further and still make the trip to eat here. The place is small and intimate, and the staff are very attentive. For example, I spilled my soy sauce bowl on the table and I hadn’t even picked up the napkin to clean it up when the staff had already placed more napkins on the table.“

“อร่อยทุกอย่างเลยค่ะ ชอบสลัดอร่อย บริการเร็ว พนักงานบริการดี อาหารอร่อย 🫶🏻🥓🥢🥙“

“I’m from Taiwan, and finding sushi this perfect here was such a delight! The sushi was incredibly delicious and truly authentic. The environment was quiet and peaceful — my mom and I were tired from walking, and sitting down here to enjoy such tasty, reasonably priced food made us genuinely happy. If you come across this restaurant, you absolutely have to try it!“

“We ran a few min late but our host was so nice and let us know where we could park to save time. The food was sublime and so fresh! Definitely not a restaurant you go to daily/weekly, but great for special occasions a few times a year! It was probably the best omakase experience I’ve ever had. And since it was a slower night (weekday), it was like we had a private restaurant experience!“

“My son and I just moved to the area about a month ago, and we stumbled upon FUKI — it’s quickly become our new favorite spot! My son loves ramen, and they always make it plain just the way he likes it. I usually get the salmon teriyaki, which is served beautifully seared with teriyaki sauce over onions and peppers, alongside rice — absolutely delicious. We’ve also tried the crab fried rice, and everything has been fresh, hot, and flavorful every time.

The service is quick, the staff are friendly, and the restaurant is extremely clean. We always enjoy our visits and truly wish them the best of luck. Highly recommend!“

“So happy I made this discovery! Black garlic ramen was delicious! They have probably the best bubble milk tea I’ve ever had. Wish they had another location in West Chester!“

“The definition of a hidden gem! Everything we’ve had from them has been delicious. The effort they put into decorating their space (which is unassuming from the outside) is only topped by the effort that goes into the food. SO much flavor. Very happy to have them here in Fishtown.“

“I really like how the owners of that shop is pretty nice and hospitable. The atmosphere of the shop is pretty good too and it’s clean there. Thee food? 100000/10 THEIR FOOD IS JUST 👌🏻 IT’S SO GOOD!!:3 I really recommend this shop“

“Just moved to the area, this was our first time here. The sushi was good and crab rangoons were so crispy! It’s been a while since I’ve had good crab rangoons anywhere in Philly. All the dishes we saw served, along with our own, were colorful and creatively decorated. Our service was fast and all the staff were attentive and kind. Would definitely recommend for dining in or take out!“

“I took my boyfriend here for his birthday, and we both really enjoyed it! We had the 12-course omakase for $68, which is a great deal compared to other spots in Philly. Everything was incredibly fresh and delicious. The chef was friendly, though he spoke very little English, which made communication a bit challenging. The whole experience lasted about an hour.

It’s no longer BYOB, but they do offer a variety of drinks. We tried the fruity sake flight, and it was a great choice—different flavors to sample, and it paired perfectly with the sushi. The interior is small and cozy, with charming Japanese décor. The only downside is the parking; it’s pretty tough. Fortunately, we managed to find a spot in a small alley about a block away.“

“It was clean the waitress was nice and the food was soooo good“

“Good sushi spot in Philly!“

“The wife and I ordered from here tonight. the indoor atmosphere is for cozy and definitely family friendly. The guy that helped us was very friendly. We ordered appetizers which were perfect sized and delicious. The sushi rolls were the best we have had in ages. We will definitely be coming back. A++++“

“honestly this place is great. i’ve been here twice, once for dinner and once for lunch. the prices were really reasonable for the such fresh food. i loved the staff, really sweet and considerate.“

“We had been wanting to try this place for a while and finally did. It's a cute little place, the service is very good, and the food is good, but the portions are very small for the most part. I ordered a miso soup, a seaweed salad, a tuna roll, a salmon roll, and a mochi ice cream and I still was not very full afterwards. You get just a little bit of seaweed salad for $5.95. The rolls are tiny. You get one small mochi cut in half for $2.50. I might order a set dinner next time or more likely go somewhere else where I can get more food for my money.“

“the food and service was amazing! My partner and I went there during a busy weekend and we were still able to eat indoors. The restaurant does seem to be mainly a take out spot to the locals but the dinning service was great. the rolls were so good and fresh!
We will definitely come back when we're in the area.“

“I got the 3 rolls special for $15.95. If you go in before 3pm, they also give you a free miso soup. My favorite was the fried calamari! So good. It’s really substantial and cheap. Worth it! Awesome service, delicious food, would love to come back next time!“

“The ambience was very lovely and the food was very delicious.“

“Tokyo Sushi offers affordable and delicious items and is conveniently located in the Concourse of the Comcast Center. They have a wide range of Japanese food/drinks (many of which were prepackaged but still hot/appealing), as well as oatmilk matcha :) will definitely return!“

“Great service and excellent food!“

“Brand new interior renovation! It is so bright, clean and spacious inside!
I cannot say enough good things about the service, I wish I had gotten her name. She was super attentive and totally on the ball!! Great job!
The food.. well, it’s one of the main reasons they’ve been in business for 40 years. It was PERFECT!! The sushi was extremely fresh and super tasty!!
Excellent work!“

“Cute little restaurant specializing in katsu. I got the Cheese Katsu, which comes with 6 pieces, rice, coleslaw, sauce, and sweet corn soup. I was surprisingly quite full by the time I got to the last piece, so don’t underestimate the quantity! I would definitely recommend coming here to try their katsu! Very delicious and unique.“

“Fabulous meal and service! Super clean and great portions with fresh offerings. Definitely on my go-to list for sushi in the city now -- and a marvelous venue for a business lunch. Parking may be tricky, but there are a few open-air lots nearby, if it comes to it. Trust me, it's worth springing those extra bucks.“

“Never disappoints“