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!!“

“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“

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

“We were just driving by, never heard of this place and decided to give it a try. My husband had the lasagna and I had the pasta with clams, finished with a tiramisu. It was all outstanding. All fresh made in house. If we lived in Houston I would be there every single week. It's a must try and we will definitely be back. Also, you can see everything they were doing in the kitchen. I enjoyed watching them make mozzarella.“

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

“Without a doubt, this is some of the finest sushi available in the United States. As a frequent corporate traveler who dines out weekly across the country, I can confidently say this establishment is an absolute must-visit. Furthermore, their exceptional wine and beverage program deserves special mention—it is truly top-notch.“

“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.“

“Came on a Saturday and was pleasantly surprised to see a happy hour menu. We tried several drinks and found them all to be well balanced and very tasty. The true start of the show is, of course, the sushi. The sashimi platter was beautifully presented, and all of the fish was fresh. It was some of the best tasting and most tender sashimi I've had. The spicy chopped scallop nigiri was also excellent. Service was friendly and prompt.“

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

“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!“

“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.“

“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.“

“Houston Location: We arrived at our reservation and waited 10 minutes for the hostess. Once seated, we were uninstructed on how to order. Sushi chefs explained the process. Our waiter arrived 10 minutes after, taking our drink order. The app arrived before the waters, followed by the drinks after we ordered and received the sushi. The manager noticed us looking for our waiter but was often in the corner on his phone or socializing with the hostess. The sushi chefs were also on their phones while making the sushi, which was unhealthy. Despite the germy seasoning, the food was amazing.“

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

“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“

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

“If you haven’t been to Kokoro yet you’re missing out. Great flavors, incredible quality, and impeccable service. It is one of those restaurants that makes you love living in Houston. Alex always takes such good care of us when we go! She’s incredible, it’s incredible. Just go. You wont regret it.“

“The restaurant was very busy when my partner and I visited but service was extremely fast. The selection of sushi can be overwhelming but the menu explains everything in detail, when in doubt ask your server. Every piece of Sushi and Nigiri was so fresh! Will return 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.“

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

“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.“

“Fabulous meal and perfect recommendations from our server.“

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

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

“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.“

“The staff made us feel beyond welcomed. They were very attentive and even came with a surprise appetizer for a celebration. The food tasted fresh and delicious. The sake was excellent. The atmosphere was an environment we can't wait to come back to.“

“Great ambience, mixed drinks, sushi creations. Service was superb.“

“Absolutely amazing sushi and outstanding customer service from Ms. Lee! Lunch special was incredibly fresh, beautifully presented, and full of flavor. The entire experience exceeded my expectations. Highly recommend this place to anyone looking for delicious sushi and exceptional service!“

“Really good food and drinks. Good atmosphere.“

“The people here are super nice very professional about atmosphere. Everything is done very fresh was very happy with our service.“

“First time here, the staff are incredibly professional and helpful. My server was Eliyah and she was wonderful! She always came to check on me and also was very kind and friendly. She is amazing at her job!!!

The place is nice and well decorated. The food is okay lol. I had like the Texas roll it was ok, not to my taste but to each their own. The other rolls such as the spicy salmon and tuna rolls were much smaller compared to the other rolls which was a disappointment. The sashimi is also small and didn’t really melt in the mouth. I’ve had better lol. The virgin lychee cocktail was bussin. Eliyah made that for me!

Waiting for food was a little tedious. There’s either the robot or a server bringing it .“

“Rarely do I find a place that exceeds 5 stars in every category, but this rare gem has become one of them. The food is immaculate. Fresh, beautifully presented, flavors building upon each other in each bite. The husband, Sky & wife, Wing (I hope I spelled that right) are so welcoming, funny, and only make this experience better. Sky is an extremely talented chef and has the added perk of being hilarious. Wing makes sure you are well taken care of and makes you feel like family. I couldn’t recommend this place enough. It is worth every dollar spent and every mile driven. This is an intimate experience with great beer and sake included! I’m already planning on coming back.“

“What an absolute gem. This place encapsulates everything I love about Houston. The menu is extensive and yet everything is executed so quickly and perfectly. Quirky interesting dishes that are done just the way they were on my trip to Tokyo. Loved the ramen, the skewers, the tempura, and so many little bites. The prices are shockingly reasonable -- you can try so many dishes, especially if you're there with friends and order for the table, plus drinks and dessert, and come out with a bill that would barely cover an entree anywhere else. And the decor is fun, just like an authentic hole-in-the-wall yakitori in Japan. I can't get enough of this place.“

“Great food and atmosphere and great prices!“

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

“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 .“

“one of my fave japanese resto😉😉“

“Sushi rolls are awesome 😎“

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

“Third visit and still highly recommended. They are back to a full menu (temporarily only served the ramen).

Fried chicken was great. Fried octopus appetizer was also appreciated with different condiment powder choices for dipping.

Potato salad also excellent and a favorite of partner.

Tried and very much liked the spicy fries as well.

Ramen portions are abundant so either come very hungry or be prepared to take some home

Lovely, understated decor.
Excellent service.

Still have no idea why this place isn’t full every night. Have never had an issue getting a table with no wait whenever I have gone and the food would definitely deserve a stronger following.“

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

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

“Just found my new favorite sushi spot! 🍣 This was our first visit, and the sushi was incredibly fresh, flavorful, and absolutely delicious by our standards.

It would have been even better if the sushi rice had been stickier and more tender. The texture of the rice was the only downside.“

“Great food. Friendly staff.“

“When I tell you this was some of the best in town, I'm not exaggerating! We had soup, sushi and sashimi. The standout was the Garlic Salmon sashimi!! Melt-in-you-mouth. Also, our waiter made fresh hot tea for us (it's not on the menu).
Oh yeah, we ate for under $30 :)
I can't wait to go back and be a pig because they have AYCE!!!“

“Best fish I've ever had. Every cut tasted like i had caught and fileted it at the table. The freshness was unmatched. This is now my go to place for sushi!! Evan was our waiter and had the brightest smile! So attentive and pleasant!!! Can't wait to come here again!“

“We absolutely ❤️ this sushi bar. The best happy hour and the best staff! Not to mention they have really cool digital signage on their TV 😉“

“I love this place. It’s delicious without being overpriced. It’s got a good vibe and isn’t pretentious. The negitoro bowl and chirashi are so good. They pay attention to small details like marinated leeks and perfectly seasoned rice. Not one piece left. I absolutely love their mango dessert. They say the ice is flown in from Japan. Whether that’s true or not, that dessert is so tasty - and somehow it’s vegan. Their service is attentive and responsive too. Highly recommend!“

“I had an amazing experience at I Wa Ya Japanese Restaurant, and Ahzee made it even more memorable! From the moment we walked in, Ahzee was incredibly welcoming, attentive, and genuinely kind. The service was outstanding — always checking in at the right moments and making sure everything was perfect without ever feeling rushed. Ahzee’s positive attitude and excellent customer service truly stood out and made us feel valued as guests. The food was fantastic, but the exceptional hospitality is what will bring me back. Thank you, Ahzee, for making our dining experience such a great one. Highly recommend!“

“old school good sushi😎“