50 Best Japanese Restaurants in Houston

“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!!“

“Unforgettable and intimate experience, easily a 10/10. It’s a dinner curated for the guest - from the way they greet you and your guest by name when you walk in, the conversations the chefs have with you as they’re preparing your sushi, etc., this dinner was money well spent.“

“Absolutely amazing experience at Katami. The staff was incredibly knowledgeable and every one of the dozen options we ordered was perfection, beautiful interior as well. Highly recommend“

“Our experience at MF Sushi was incredible. I brought my sister here to celebrate her upcoming wedding, and it could not have been a better choice. We sat at the sushi bar and watched the chefs create everything right in front of us, which made the night feel really special. My sister and I are both pretty serious about sushi, and MF lived up to every expectation. The quality, presentation, and flavor were right on par with Michelin-star spots like Sushi By Scratch. The staff went above and beyond, even surprising us with a complimentary champagne toast to celebrate. Between the amazing food, the calm and elegant atmosphere, and the thoughtful service, everything came together perfectly. Easily one of the best sushi experiences in Houston. Highly recommend.“

“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 omakase experience in Houston—and my favorite restaurant in the city. The quality of the fish was exceptional, each course felt like a work of art. The service was flawless—attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely welcoming. For the level of detail and care, the price is an absolute steal. If you're looking for a truly memorable dining experience, this is it.“

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

“KAITEN Sushi is hands down one of the best spots in town if you’re looking for high-quality sushi at a price that’s hard to beat. Every time I go, I’m impressed by the freshness and presentation — it easily rivals places that charge twice as much.

I especially love when they run their specials; it’s the perfect chance to try something new while still getting incredible value. The service is always warm and attentive, which makes the whole experience even better.

If you’re craving sushi that delivers both on quality and price, KAITEN is absolutely the place to go.“

“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!“

“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.“

“Excellent. Omar took great care of us. Amazing happy hour experience with a quiet schedule that allows service to shine. I always go for early HH schedule not because of the lower prices, although I can take advantage of some items. But if you look at my $500 bill it was about the overall experience. I don't go for dinner or lunch anymore because it becomes a POOR experience when it is crowded. Service drops, restaurant is loud, and sushi bar can't deliver a personalized experience.“

“I was recommended to go to Haii Kei by Rosie from the C. Baldwin Hotel after I told her I was looking for a really good steak, and she was absolutely right. From the moment we walked in, the place had a great vibe. The atmosphere was beautiful, modern but relaxed, and the energy in the room just felt right.

The drinks were on point, especially the Ube Espresso Martini… it was phenomenal. For dinner, I had the Wangyu Steak and the Thai Shrimp, and both were outstanding. We finished it off with the Ube Cheesecake (picture below), which was the perfect ending.

But what really blew me away was the service. Our server, Monsarrat, was incredible. We even told her at the table how good of a job she was doing. The attention to detail, timing, and genuine conversation made the whole night feel special.

Between the food, drinks, atmosphere, and service, this was easily one of the best dining experiences I’ve had in a long time. I’ll definitely be back.“

“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“

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

“I went to Tins with 4 colleagues last night for dinner. Chef Sky blew it out of the park. Every dish in the 14 course dinner was unique and full of so much flavor! Two of my co-workers are very picky eaters and loved 12 out of the 14 dishes (pretty good record for people who don't eat raw fish at all!). Chef Sky entertained us throughout the meal and made sure that our sake glasses were always full. I will be back!“

“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 ☺️“

“I recently visited this place, and it was a real gem. It’s a bit of a drive, but my friend raved about it, and I couldn’t resist checking it out.

The shop is run by a lovely older Japanese couple, and they don’t take reservations, so we arrived as soon as they opened at 12 pm.

The exterior might not be the most flashy, but the food inside is absolutely incredible! The menu is small, but everything is carefully crafted and bursting with flavour. The sashimis are cut so thick and fresh, they’re a sight to behold. And the best part? The prices are very reasonable.

I highly recommend this place, especially if you’re in the area. You won’t be disappointed!“

“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.“

“Delicious sushi, friendly service, and immaculate vibes! I knew it was going to be a great night when I heard Tame Impala vinyl playing. Their donburi rice bowls and temaki hand rolls were amazing. Don’t forget to order the Kakigori shaved ice for dessert. Bar seating only. Will definitely come back again!“

“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!“

“Handies douzo never disappoints. The newest location still exceeds the expectations, as the other locations do. Same exceptional service, timely rolls, and lovely experience. This will always be my favorite handrolls spot in Houston and I’ll be a loyal customer for a long time. The entrance is a little confusing when you use google maps to direct.“

“Went to Kanau Sushi during the week and had a great experience. It wasn’t busy, the setting felt really relaxed and intimate. The sushi was fresh and tasty, and everything came out just right. Definitely worth checking out — I’ll be back for sure.“

“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.“

“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!“

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

“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.“

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

“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.“

“Best sushi restaurant in Houston. Large selection of raw and cooked rolls, all delicious and plated beautifully. Great drinks and appetizers as well. Service is fast, friendly, and accurate. Ambience is relaxed; the restaurant is very clean with an aesthetic Japanese vulpine theme. Incredible quality and value. You can really see how much they care in everything there.“

“Jace was excellent, he was so attentive and pleasant. Good service these days is usually lacking, it’s so refreshing when a person does a good job, we all are tasked with doing a job and it makes a huge difference when a persons does it with pride and effort. Thank you Jace! You contributed to a wonderful family dinner, we appreciate you.“

“I've been looking for a Japanese restaurant with a cozy feel that is also not overpriced, and this place is it. They have a great list of appetizers and hot food, with a vibe of a smaller Japanese restaurant vibe that I love. All the food was prepared perfectly, and the wait staff was very kind. Definitely will be back!“

“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.“

“Incredibly kind staff and the food was great!! Generous serving sizes as well.“

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

“I was pleasantly surprised to find that the food was really good and stands on its own, independently of it being served within an all-you-can eat context. That's not something i can say about other all-you-eat offerings in general. Also the one complimentary beer with the dinner was also a nice surprise.“

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

“delicious ramen, friendly staff and authentic setting“

“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 .“

“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.“

“one of my fave japanese resto😉😉“

“I had the Shoyu truffle ramen and it was probably the best ramen I've ever had in the US. I was born and raised in Japan, and this reminded me of being back home. The atmosphere is cozy and relaxing as well. I am definitely going to be back again soon.“

“Sushi rolls are awesome 😎“