50 Best Japanese Restaurants near Bellaire

“Great service, show, food. Nice decor. Fun place.“

“My boyfriend found this gem of a restaurant to celebrate my birthday. Immediately upon arrival, the entire staff welcomes you with a smile and a traditional Japanese greeting. Everyone is highly skilled in their trade, from the waitress, to the mixologist, to the chef, and to the chef assistants. Every single staff member is absolutely amazing. Their attention to detail is immaculate. Their chef, Yoshi made us feel right at home, with a warm smile, and he shared with us so much of his knowledge from Japan. Not only did I savor and enjoy every last bite but I also learned so much! Yoshi’s Japanese cuisine is literal art, and he mesmerized us by his unique blend of flavors. Every bite was unique and delicious. The chef assistants handled every course with precision and care, and worked amazingly fast. It was as if we were also getting a cooking show at dinner. Truly an art form. Our waitress also left us speechless by how knowledgeable she is and her skills to memorize every single course that was handed to us was just amazing. Their mixologist made a special mocktail customized just for me as I didn’t know exactly what I wanted. Our lovely waitress asked me what I was looking for in a drink, so I told her something savory, citrusy, and not overly sweet. With those few words, the mixologist created a special blend of flavors to create the perfect mockail. Honestly, the best mocktail I’ve ever had! If I could give them 100 stars I would. We will definitely be coming back. I want to thank every single one of them for making our first omakase dinner so special! P.s. Their bathroom is amazing! Definitely instagramable, perfect for selfies!“

“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!!“

“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!“

“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“

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

“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!“

“A little gem in Sugar Land. Thoughtfully crafted dishes. A must try family owned casual Japanese restaurant“

“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!“

“Excellent sushi from a non-chain restaurant. Highly recommended.“

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

“This is a great sushi spot in a kind of random location, and way better than you'd expect to wander into at a food market. We shared a set, an additional plate of the chef's nigiri and a crudo. My favorite was probably the crudo but everything was great. You can tell the love that they put into the food and the finesse of how everything is paired and portioned to work in harmony. I also also learned a lot from one of the chefs who spoke to us about his favorite cuts of fish and why (he was a little talkative, but we weren't bothered by his eagerness to talk).“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

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

“AWESOME sushi and service. A trusted favorite.“

“Easily the best bang for your buck sushi in Houston. The sushi is super fresh and they have a large menu with tons of options. They have gluten free soy sauce for the celiac and gluten intolerant. If you’re not looking to splurge at one of the really high end sushi places, this is the place.“

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

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

“100 % recomendada La comida 🍲 súper rika“

“I've been here twice in the last three weeks. My first visit was with out of town colleagues and the second visit was with my wife and another couple. Both times I was served by Jorge W. Jorge recommended the Chef Omakase where your likes, dislikes and allergies are asked, and then the chef prepares dish after dish of amazing food. The staff explains each dish including the type of fish and sauces. The specialty margarita is so good that it is hard to have just one. I've only been here on Mon & Wed, but the atmosphere was quiet. The table spacing is excellent and allows you to feel like you can have a private conversation. Overall, the food is simply fantastic, the staff is helpful, friendly, and knowledgeable, and the service is attentive, but not intrusive. If you love amazing food, excellent service, and great ambiance, then Azumi should be your next pick.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“Cute little place with some affordable Japanese food. For dine in customers, you can get access to their miso soup, corn soup, and red bean soup (dessert?), and hot tea. I liked most of the dishes the restaurant gave.

2 things to improve:

1) I did see a baby roach on the wall when I was getting tea, so they may want to investigate that…

2) I wouldn’t personally serve fish right next to or on top of my salad. We ordered the mackerel meal and the salad dressing seeped under the fish, which will change its flavor and experience of eating it. This was our least favorite dish due to this next to the chawanmushi.“

“This was our first time eating here and everything was absolutely delicious and very high quality. Our nigiri was perfect and we appreciated the creativity and flavor combinations in the rolls we tried. Our favorite was the citrus hamachi. Very bright and fresh! We'll be back for sure.“

“OVERPRICED & OVERCHARGED - nothing different than the local Japanese steakhouse restaurants & I still came out smelling like garlic butter 😏. We told the waitress we all wanted fried rice with our meals... only to be charged for chicken fried rice 😠“

“Amazing food and experience! Shout out to Tony for showing us the ropes!“

“My fiancé and I dined here one evening after visiting a sick loved one in the hospital, and it was exactly the comfort we needed. We ordered edamame, octopus, tonkotsu ramen, and California rolls, and everything was absolutely delicious. I loved that you can customize your ramen. The service was excellent, and the ambiance was perfect after such a tough day. It was a relief to end the day with a wonderful meal and a relaxing experience.“

“The food is very delicious, very friendly staff, and the place gives you a true Japanese vibe once you enter it. I just loved it all together. Semper Fi Jonathan“

“Sushi Masa has officially ruined all other sushi places for me. I came in for all-you-can-eat, and they said, “Bet.” Every roll tasted like it was handcrafted by a sushi wizard who took it personally if you didn’t fall in love at first bite.

I was too busy inhaling deliciousness to take pictures—so if you’re looking for Instagram content, sorry. My camera roll is just empty soy sauce packets and regret that I couldn’t eat more.

Special shoutout to Olivia, who served us with the speed and charm of someone who knew we were on a sacred sushi mission. Top-tier service. I’d give her six stars if I could.

All-you-can-eat is a must here. Not just sushi—tempura, salads, appetizers that whisper sweet nothings to your taste buds.“

“AMAZING food Phenomenal service & their twist on The Old Fashion is one of the best I’ve tried!!“

“Good atmosphere and the Sushi was so mouth watering ! The host and hostess were so on top of it. Pleasant atmosphere and company! Four Stars ⭐️ from me !❤️“

“One of the most popular shopping center in Houston, especially on Bellaire Blvd. in SW Houston. Many restaurants and retail stores.“

“Fabulous meal and perfect recommendations from our server.“

“Absolutely delicious sushi party tray! It had an amazing variety of raw fish cuts and fish roe, all incredibly fresh and flavorful. Every piece was perfectly prepared and beautifully presented. The price was very reasonable for the quality and quantity we received. Don, the owner, was extremely professional and friendly—his attention to detail and customer service truly stood out. 100% recommended, and I’ll definitely be ordering again!“

“Really good food and drinks. Good atmosphere.“

“Omg the broth and ramen are delicious! I love the ramen options on the menu and the prices are great! Yum!“

“Amazing tonkotsu!! Definetly going again. Has good prices too.“

“Ok, first things first, the food is excellent! Freshly made and delicious. We had a variety of ramen, udon, and multiple rolls. Everything was great! Their menu is EXTENSIVE! The staff are attentive and responsive. The shop is clean and bright. I can't say enough good things about this place. I will most certainly return for another great meal! Carla“

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

“Phenomenal experience, presentation and food!!“

“在休士頓吃過最好吃特別的拉麵🍜“

“This location is a favorite go to for my family and myself. Ordering delivery dosen't disappoint in the culinary skills of the cook from this establishment. I would suggest that dining in is even more rewarding in atmosphere, service and quality of the dishes prepared by the cook. Also, the sushi prepared here is definitely top tier for me in taste and presentation. The wonderful people working here get a 5 star from me for never failing to provide great service as well as tasteful food.“