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!“

“I recently visited a sushi restaurant and had an amazing dining experience from start to finish. The restaurant had a modern and relaxing atmosphere with stylish décor, comfortable seating, and soft background music that created the perfect setting for enjoying Japanese cuisine. The staff greeted us warmly and provided attentive, professional service throughout the entire meal.“

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

“MF Sushi is hands-down our favorite restaurant in Houston. We find ourselves coming back again and again because everything is consistently exceptional. The fish is incredibly fresh, every dish is beautifully prepared, and the attention to detail is unmatched. The service is warm, knowledgeable, and makes every visit feel special. Whether it’s a celebration or just dinner out, MF Sushi never disappoints. We always leave looking forward to our next visit. Highly recommend!“

“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.“

“We had dinner here two nights in a row and really enjoyed it, a great Japanese restaurant in the heart of Houston!

Standouts for us were the spicy tuna (highly recommend) and the barracuda, which was delicious. They had a fresh delivery from Japan one evening, so we tried the sea urchin, it was excellent but quite expensive for one portion. The chicken yakitori was also very good and worth ordering.

The chicken fat rice, however, was overrated in our opinion, we’d probably skip it next time.

The only downside was that service was quite slow on both visits. There were plenty of chefs visible, but the front-of-house service didn’t match the kitchen pace.

Overall, a solid spot with some excellent fresh fish and dishes. We’d happily return for the quality of the food!“

“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.“

“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!“

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

“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.“

“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“

“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!!“

“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!“

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

“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.“

“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 !“

“salmon belly sashimi was thick🤤🔥 and worth every penny

I was a bit nervous to try the handroll tasting ($66) especially with some of the options (such as Uni- had it before and was not a fan… at all)

but I was sooooooo soooo impressed with each hand roll. Especially the Uni!!“

“This was my first time at Azumi, and I will be back! Our server Jordan was amaaazing, attentive, fun, and entertained our shenanigans! The ambiance was great, very chill vibe. We had oysters, gyoza, crispy rice and wings they were all delicious, no notes. We also ordered the Lychee Martini, and sake which were made perfectly! The hostesses were so kind because we could not make up our minds where to sit, they were patient and understanding especially with the Houston weather. Azumi, is a great place“

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

“Miss.Lee Served us and she did amazing deserves a RAISE and recommended the Citrus Hamachi roll it was so fresh and delicious no added sauces and was perfect and the Kami salad was a hidden gem and also when u
Mix actual wasabi and soy sauce to dip the sushi in is a hidden gem and will be definitely coming back let’s gooo JELLYFISH“

“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.“

“Had an amazing omakase experience at Tins. Every single course was delicious and unique. Loved the Malaysian influence on the dishes. The vibes were chill and Chef Sky was great to talk to. Bonus points for the post dinner karaoke and unlimited sake!“

“Food is our tradition to come on a Sunday!! The restaurant is clean and service is great especially the server Mark (ask for him)! His knowledge of the restaurant is great!! Trust me he has a great sense of humor and gives great experience!! Sushi masa doesn’t have a chance without him working there!!“

“I give 10* First Yuri and Freddie were Amazzzing, attentive and helpful!!! DK came over to table and chatted with us, Now on to the food, Had 4 appetizers, the oysters, so yummy! the octopus very tasty , the spicy dumplings with chili sauce and the Shrimp tempora!! For dinner wife had crispy noodles and chicken! I had the pickled tuna roll and the scallop roll, both were so different yet. So fantastic! This was our first time as well and we cannot wait to go back. Thank you DK. Thank you Yuri and thank you Freddy. I'm going to tell everybody how delicious it was !!!“

“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 😎“

“If you’re a fan of ramen with a little kick, the Spicy Chicken Ramen is definitely worth ordering. I’ll be back for it again.

🔥🍜 Definitely a bowl that leaves you planning your next visit before you’ve even paid the check.“

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

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

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

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

“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!!!“

“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.

Unfortunately, the service was mediocre. We placed most of our order through the iPad, so there wasn’t much interaction with the staff. At the end of the meal, the waitress just quickly dropped the check on the table for me to sign and walked away without saying a word.

I always tip 20% for good service, and I did the same on this first visit. However, if the service is the same next time, the tip will reflect the experience. Good service deserves a good tip, and poor service deserves less.“

“I adore this restaurant. The staff is amazing and very attentive. The food is amazing!! Love love love the food. Everything is fresh and sweet. The chef is great at what he does. The overall atmosphere is chill and cozy. Been here a couple times and it never fails.“

“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 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😎“