50 Best Japanese Restaurants in Houston

“Katami is Japanese for Keepsake. What a sentimental word, and what an emotion invoking meal that was. I believe this was the best sushi I’ve had to date in my life.

The flavors were so subtle but perfectly complemented their counterparts. I was blown away by the Hokkaido Buri Yellowtail and loved the Hamachi Yuzu. Not only was the food phenomenal, the service was tip top and the restaurant elegantly designed. Lighting was perfect. Sound was balanced. You’re in for a special treat when you go to Katami.“

“I was so busy eating this magnificent food that I forgot to take pics!!! This establishment is a must!! If you are a foodie you must go there asap! The combination of the foods and flavors have that undeniable "WOW" factor!!! I apologize for not taking pics because the presentation is fabulous too of course!!“

“A Fancy Night Out… But Just Once

If you’re looking for a quiet, almost whisper-level dinner spot with unlimited sake and wine (yes, unlimited—but you don’t get to pick), this omakase experience might be your jam. Just don’t show up too early unless you enjoy standing awkwardly outside like you’re trying to sneak into a club that only opens 15 minutes before the show.

There are only 10 seats total, so it feels exclusive—like you’re part of a secret sushi society. The atmosphere is very quiet. Like, “you can hear your chopsticks think” kind of quiet. If you’re into zen vibes and hushed conversation, you’ll love it. If you’re looking for a party vibe… this ain’t it.

We were celebrating our anniversary (other couples were there for birthdays), and while they did ask about special occasions, nothing actually happened after that. No candle, no “Happy Anniversary” scribbled in miso, not even an extra piece of fish. It’s fine—we weren’t expecting fireworks, but a little something would’ve been nice.

The food? Delicious. Truly. You can tell each piece was prepared with care, and some bites were borderline spiritual. That said, for the price… it’s probably a one-and-done kind of deal for us. Glad we tried it, wouldn’t rush back.

Bonus tip: Limited parking right in front, so plan ahead or practice your parallel parking skills.“

“Best omakase I ever had , came here for the first time and first experience with omakase, omg food so delicious, especially when Chef Billy using special charcoal to sear the Toro and wagyu beef , the smell of charcoal making me drooling until he handle the Toto to me, omg it melted into my mouth ,,, especially Chef Billy , his smile is the bomb , feel so lucky to have hot handsome chef serve me food in front of me ,,, he always very funny , all the staffs are so friendly, I love all the dishes, the hairy crab is fantastic, I would recommend this place 💯 I can’t wait to come back“

“I travel for work and spend a lot of time in Houston, which I call Sooshton, for how many wonderful sushi spots there are. I’ve been wined and dined in the best of them. There has not been an experience I’ve had that rivals the experience I had tonight at Norigami. The dishes, prepared by the chef right in front of you, are top notch, above and beyond expectations. The service is equally as phenomenal. These folks made me feel like a rockstar, heard every word I said on my preferences, and made recommendations that NEVER ONCE missed. Every cent you spend, you fully taste, and experience. I’ve not been to a restaurant where I’ve felt more relaxed, at home, and confident in what I ordered. Every morsel, every sip, every moment, was thoroughly enjoyed thanks to the unbeatable staff here. I hope anyone who sees this review takes the chance to go sit in and experience what I had experienced tonight. Highest recommendations to this wonderful establishment. I can’t wait to come back!“

“Exceptional artistry combines with fresh ingredients. Creative, clever combos bring out subtle flavors by fantastically down to earth warmhearted chef staff. Brava!“

“Great place ... best sushi that I have had . The staff was so nice !“

“Hands down the best sushi in H-Town. The Sashimi Sampler (and honestly everything else we had) was superb. The server gave recommendations and the otoro was to die for. Beer, sake, and whiskey were excellent. This is the place, hands down, no debate.“

“Food was super good and the staff was friendly!“

“my first time here and it was so good! cozy atmosphere, service was phenomenal and the food was amazing!“

“This restaurant was absolutely awesome… From the hostess to the wait staff, and the food was amazing!“

“This restaurant is the best sushi restaurant in all of Texes. Jarnee is the best and was really a nice waiter. He deserves a raise. I loved this restaurant. This is not the last time I am coming here. Thank you for giving me one of the best sushi and nigiri I have ever tasted.“

“MF is my favorite sushi place in Houston. Ive tried many of them and just keep coming back to this one. Everything on the menu us amazing but if you have to pick something, their Nigiris are delicious and a must try!
We recently had the Omakase experience and every single item was exquisite. A must have experience!“

“Absolutely best lunch “experience.” Food was the absolute best. Service and education on Japanese food was phenomenal. Mia was THE BEST!!!! This is a must visit place in Houston. Will be back every time I’m in town. Order the eggplant and thank me later!“

“5 Stars! (Only because I couldn’t rate them 10 stars) Soto is a sushi lover's dream. From the moment you walk in, the ambiance is welcoming and stylish, perfect for a relaxing meal. The service is top-notch. Anthony was attentive, friendly, and extremely knowledgeable. The sushi was the real star, with fresh, high-quality fish that practically melts in your mouth. The Ora King Salmon was standout, and the Fire Salmon was perfect. Drinks, including their selection of whisky and wine, paired well with our meal. Overall, Soto delivers a memorable dining experience. If you’re in the Houston Area, don’t miss out. Special thanks to our waiter Anthony, the GM Mariela, and of course the master chef behind it all Moto Soto.“

“Best restaurant experience of my entire life. Quality of food is absolutely unbeatable.
I have travelled more than 48 countries and trust me the food here is better than anything Ive tried ever before.
Can’t say enough about it, just that it is worth to literally get a flight from OC to Houston only for this absolutely incredible experience and quality food here.
Keep up the great quality please.
Btw: Sara Habibi was our waitress, she added extra joy to our night.
I LOVE UCHIKO for life.“

“Servers were slow and inattentive..on the plus side, the food and dancers were great. I wasn't sold on the ambience, and tiktok definitely oversold the promotions for this place as It wasn't giving what tiktok mentally prepared me for, but overall, it was still a decent dinner spot...“

“100 % recomendada La comida 🍲 súper rika“

“Awesome food and staff. They are always so kind and helpful. Love the atmosphere and location“

“Had a fantastic time at TINS! Chef Sky was super friendly and made the whole experience feel personal. The food was absolutely delicious. Everything was fresh and full of flavor. I'd definitely come back and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to friends.“

“Great place ... best sushi that I have had . The staff was so nice !“

“We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Everything is cooked perfectly. The flavors work so well together and we really enjoyed our dinner, the Causa Cevichero was absolutely amazing! "Highly recommend this restaurant" Thanks to the owner for taking the time to introduce himself ☺️“

“Today I had a special experience at this hidden Japanese restaurant in Houston. It's run by an older Japanese couple who cook with passion. The sushi was some of the freshest I've ever had, and to my surprise, the miso soup—which I don't normally enjoy—was delicious. It felt like being in someone's home, with love in every dish.🍣✨“

“Kira is a certified hit! I did the 7 course chef's tasting and every course was delicious. The lobster hand roll was hands down my favorite, the shitake mushroom hand roll was my least favorite (it wasn't bad , it just wasn't as good as the other rolls). The dessert was also really delicious. I definitely reccomend checking Kira out if you like high end sushi.“

“1st came to this Post Hall. I was thinking to eat the south american food there, but East aide King took my wallet first.
Good portion for chicken katsu bowl! Price is abit on high end (could be lower abit) but well worth for the portion.
It was a quick serving.
I will be back for sure.“

“The restaurant's small size comes off as intimate not constrained. The staff was super kind and that set a great mood in the whole place. They expertly care for your experience. I'm truly impressed. The sushi is the best. We'll come back for sure.“

“Love coming here! Great service, amazing food, and I love their drinks!“

“Excellent services, we came there for several times for a family dinner and couple birthday parties. The waiters and chefs were very considerate people. They paid attention to the details. The food was top of the line. I normally don’t eat raw sushi but raw sushi there were perfect. Nice presentation! The drink (lychee) was great. Beautiful and cozy decoration. my husband is a picky eater but he loves there too. Highly recommended.“

“TEN out of 10!!! Definitely recommend!“

“Had a great bowl of ramen today! The noodles were crunchy and the egg was perfectly cooked! The soup-base is rich and I like it spicy!“

“So good!! Our waitress Alina was AMAZING!! We’ll be going back soon for sure!!“

“My co-workers decided to take me here to this location for sushi all you can eat. The place originally looks so small and Corky little spot. The only downside I had with this place was that they made us wait about an hour and a half almost before they could even give us a table.

I ended up getting a few of the tuna and salmon rolls, which were amazing, and I also tried some California rolls, which had crabs in it, and I think overall, this place was very delicious. The selection was a bit small, but the taste made up for sushi that we got. It was a bit pricey per person, but I think it's worth it if you're going to eat a lot of sushi

I do recommend this place, and I would consider going back if the line is a bit smaller. Thank You“

“I love this place! the Food, the Meat, its all so delicious!“

“A wonderful addition to local dining options! A must stop on your next outing!“

“This place is absolutely amazing. The food is spectacular, the atmosphere is lively, and the service is fantastic. If you haven't been here yet you're missing out.“

“Our servers name was Roy. If I could give Roy 10 stars I would. From the moment we sat down, he made us feel like VIPs. His energy is unmatched, his attention to detail is flawless, and he somehow managed to anticipate what we needed before we even asked. Drinks never hit empty, food came out perfectly timed, and he treated us like family while keeping everything professional.“

“wow what a delightful surprise! huge menu options will need to come back regularly! had spicy chicken miso ramen...great flavor with a delicious assortment of yummies at no extra charge, large flavored chicken slices, seasoned eye, bamboo, dumplings and corn. I usually pay extra from that. and at $12.95 such a bargain!!!!! friendly staff and nice atmosphere.“

“The food was delicious and the experience was creative and fun. Our server was Chris. He was a great server. We were overwhelmed with the menu at first and he talked us through the entire experience. The place was clean and the vibe was great. It did appear to be a local hot spot in opinion of an outsider from GA.“

“Food was fantastic! We had a bunch of stuff but my favorite was probably the spicy scallop hand roll. The gyoza were flavorful and perfectly cooked, the Japanese pancake was awesome and the pork belly and steak skewers were on point! Fun atmosphere and the staff were really nice and attentive. I’ll be back soon to try more of that menu.“

“This is great sushi restaurant with superb service.
The vibes, the team is friendly and welcoming and even comped a starter. We did not ask for this but think it was due to one of our items taking longer than expected. This was a fantastic place to celebrate my birthday.“

“Our first time here & it was GREAT. We were amazed how good the sushi made & set up …so many flavor in one bite . The Ramon broth was delightful! Yum! Will most definitely be back! PS . The staff was nice & made sure we were well taking off of. 5 Kudos! KAWA SUSHI .“

“Sept 2025.
I asked if they had a wait time, and they said they had an open spot available for one. It was at 830pm mind you. When I got there, they no longer had it available, or at least that's what the host said, and then the host said they were no longer taking spots so I was out of luck at 830pm(they close at 10pm). Then immediately following this another pair of people walked in, and they took their names. I've been coming to Oishii since 2007, and when a restaurant rejects you like this, all I can think is to pretty much no longer visit. I guess if you go by yourself you're not welcome. I won't be returning, so that's how you lose a customer of 18 years.“

“Food is amazing AND they held onto my wallet which I left behind with all my cards and cash!!“

“When we have a meal so perfect that we want to give praise to the establishment, especially when I get treated by my sugar mommy, just to spoil ourselves and celebrate life sometimes. Full disclosure, the generous manager Jessie sent out 2 of her favorite dishes, but I would have reported our wonderful lunch here anyways. Whenever Vanessa has a craving for anything, I simply get that need fulfilled. She wanted some good quality sushi this weekend, so we settled for Soma Sushi among a few options we had in mind. Hoping to see the talented and super nice Chef Omi Higa, we opted for the seating at the Sushi Bar. My choice is easy, the usual Chirashi Sushi, 8 kinds of premium Sashimi over a bed of Sushi Rice with deliciously Pickled Vegetables. Vanessa has a more refined and discrete taste, so she ordered Japanese Uni Sea Urchin, Salmon, O-Toro Fatty Tuna, Tobiko Flying Fish Roe, Spider Handroll, and the trusty old California Roll. The fish is top-notch, naturally flavorful, fresh, and has that faint fatty seafood fragrance that I love; I cannot ask for better quality. I can elaborate with more empty words, but when the ingredients are premium quality and served with well-seasoned and temperate Sushi Rice, there should be as little extra interference as possible. All the Nigiri and Sashimi we had are at max enjoyment level for us. Chef Omi Higa, even though was shopping for his ingredients away from the restaurant, went out of his way to notify the manager Jessie, and she gracefully introduced herself and said hi to us. As we were slowly enjoying our food, and I mean, I really take my time taking deliberate bites, Jessie sent out her favorite dish for us to try. The Madai Tiradito is composed of Sea Bream Sashimi, Orange, Yuzu, Olive Oil, Black Sea Salt, Yuzu Tobiko, Kaiware, Red Onion, Wasabi Yuzu, Serrano, Micro Rainbow Mix, all beautifully plated as shown. Can you imagine the dance of flavors and textures waltzing in your taste palate? Peter or Pedro from Guatamala who took great care of us behind the Sushi Bar, prepared this extraordinary dish for us too. We get to know each other and talk about food and travel, which makes our dining experience so much more hospitable. Just when we were finally attempting the finish all our food, a second surprise arrived. Jessie promised it's the last one because she has to let us try their best seller of the house, Japanese Wagyu Shumai. Don't you just love the sound of that? Premium Wagyu Beef stuffed in a Shumai Dumpling, topped with Truffle Ponzu and Garlic Crunch, can you understand now why this is the top-selling item? We all know the quality and taste of food are always impeccable at Soma Sushi, in addition, the people, management and staffs all handily contribute to elevating an otherwise already perfect lunch. We just hope to can make it here more often.“

“Best sushi in Clear Lake. Great staff. Worlds best bento box!“

“Sushi rolls are awesome 😎“

“one of my fave japanese resto😉😉“

“Tasted fresh, clean, and great. Had the complimentary soup (yes), chicken fried rice (definite), and a few sushi rolls … this is not my go-to Japanese restaurant in the Copperfield area.“

“We’ve been back several times now—this cozy little Japanese spot is such a gem! The owner, a warm and welcoming Korean lady, always greets customers with a big smile and switches effortlessly between English, Korean, and Japanese to make everyone feel at home.

The sushi combo is an unbeatable deal, with fresh sashimi that never disappoints. Other must-try dishes include the cold tofu, potato salad, Ten Don, Japanese curry, and the weekend special: hamburger steak.

Even though it’s a bit off the beaten path, it’s absolutely worth the trip for the quality, value, and genuinely friendly atmosphere.“

“Food was delicious and the service was amazing! Definitely recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“