49 Best Japanese Restaurants in Tampa

“Amazing flavors and service!“

“Did the 20 course Omakase. The room is beautiful and spa like with the soft lighting and design. Extra details include offering pads to rest your phone on top of, bag hooks under counters, guests selecting their own chopsticks, hot towels, etc. While these are great, service is a bit choppy. I asked for a glass of champagne three times. It felt service overlooked our party of four while some others got extra attentiveness. It’s natural when they ordered more beverages but I didn’t feel like anyone came over to talk to us about any recommendations either. Twice, the chef had to wait for service to mark with new silverware while food waited to be served including ice cream melting. The menu consists of the usual items with some exciting ingredients but slightly underwhelming. Knowing Michelin stars are given out in the US a little more easily than other countries, my guess is Michelin will award them 1 star. If you’ve had omakase before, you may be disappointed but it’s not bad, it’s actually pretty solid. Definitely good for Tampa.“

“Nestled discreetly in Tampa, Florida, KOYA is a culinary sanctuary that redefines intimacy and excellence. Boasting a mere eight seats and the prestigious accolade of a Michelin star, this gastronomic haven offers an exclusive dining experience like no other.From the moment you step inside, you're enveloped in an aura of sophistication and warmth. The staff, with their unparalleled knowledge and impeccable service, guide you through a culinary journey that transcends mere dining.Our evening was elevated by the expertise of the sommelier, whose discerning palate and deep understanding of wine and sake elevated each course to new heights. The carefully curated pairings enhanced the flavors of each dish, creating a harmonious symphony of taste sensations that delighted the senses.The intimate setting allowed for a personal connection with the staff, who shared their passion and expertise with infectious enthusiasm. Every detail, from the intricately crafted dishes to the flawless execution of service, spoke volumes about the dedication and commitment of the entire team.KOYA's commitment to excellence is evident in every aspect of the dining experience. Each dish, meticulously prepared and plated with artistic flair, tells a story of innovation and passion. From the delicate king crab appetizer to the decadent foie gras and sublime UNI, every bite is a revelation.As we savored each course in the company of fellow gastronomes, it became clear that KOYA is not just a restaurant; it's a culinary pilgrimage for those seeking the epitome of fine dining. For anyone fortunate enough to secure a seat at this culinary oasis, prepare to be transported on a journey of unparalleled gastronomic delight.“

“Came here to celebrate my friend’s birthday and was blown away from the amazing service we received. The staff was very friendly and the manager made special shots for our table on the house. They made his day extra special and the price was right. Food was amazing! Will definitely be coming back again.“

“Something really different and really really good! Blends Japanese other Asian come together to make it authentic experience. Great atmosphere!“

“A great all around all you can eat sushi place. Would recommend going for the lunch special. It was under $20 per person but if you go for dinner it's around $30. At $30 there are better alternatives for sushi and Japanese cuisine in the Brandon area. If you love japanese food and sushi I would recommend at least trying it.“

“great food great service we will return with an appetite“

“The Mexican roll was very good and the service from Ashley was excellent and quick. Sat outside and it was lovely, Ashley ensured that we got a shady spot. Also had the Florida and Spicy Tuna rolls, they were good as well but I didn’t eat them fully because the Mexican was plenty filling.Parking: A good amount of parking for a Sunday“

“Stephen was great! He was funny, friendly, kind and made amazing food! The fried rice especially was really well made. Good conversationalist and hospitable.Vegetarian options: Considerate and asked for dietary restrictions including allergies.Dietary restrictions: Considerate and asked for dietary restrictions including allergies.Kid-friendliness: Made sure to entertain the other family’s birthday boy and graduation. ?‍? ?“

“Shawn was amazing!! Had a great time!!“

“Stands out in cuisines!! Very authentic!! Friendly staff!!!“

“Nice atmosphere, good sushi/ sashimi“

“Definitely try the sushi rolls! We had the JD roll, monster roll, and dynamite roll. ALL fresh tasting with good quality ingredients. I'm usually picky about sushi as I get really good rolls in NYC. This would def compare to anything I get there.“

“Wonderful poke bowl. One of the best in its kind. The sauces are amazing, a variety of ingredients are included in the price. Price aren’t abusive but average. I had a full bowl with 3 proteins and it was that tasty that I wanted more. Congrats guys, keep it up and please don’t let prices go crazy.“

“My wife, daughters and I went for lunch. It was excellent! I highly recommend..... we all got something different, but it was all excellent!“

“We LOVED this restaurant. Don't be fooled by the outside appearance, as it is very quaint and nicely decorated - they even have nice linens on the tables. The service was stellar and the food was beyond delicious! We will definitely plan to visit again, when next in Tampa.“

“Best sushi in Tampa hands down. Highly recommend stopping by.“

“This place is amazing and team jason behind the sushi bar are the best chefs in tampa. You want a good feast with good people head here. Can't forget the awesome manager Jennifer. Top notch. We will see you guys soon“

“My MIL took us here because she's been before and said it was great . It's very nicely decorated inside and there's outdoor seating . My SO and I were excited to try the takoyaki, he loved it but I wasn't too sold on the textures. The flavors were good though. Delicious sushi and a ton of options as well! We'll likely come again .“

“If I could give them a zero I would. My friend went there today and she was refused service because she has a skin disease called psoriasis. Shame on you all. You need to get educated the disease is not contagious I hope you and your ignorant staff learn some manners.“

“This is #23 on my Poke Bowl Challenge and Poke Express did not disappoint. Great selection, pricing and the ingredients are very fresh!“

“UNA IS THE BEST!!!WE LOVE HER SERVICE AND ALWAYS IS RIGHT ON TIME EHRN SERVING US FOR YEARS NOW.FOOD IS THE BEST SUSHI IN TAMPA HANDS DOWN.FAMILY OWNED AND A WELL GREASED MACHINE.THIS PLACE STAYS ROCKIN AND ROLLIN WUTH AND RETRO FEEL AND DID I MENTION GEORGE IS THE BEST CHEF.TIP YOUR SUSHI CHEFS IN THE JAR AT THE BAR.THANKS YOU GUYSJOE“

“All of the girls and guys here have given us wonderful customer service, the food is so delicious and so filling. This is hands down my favorite Ramen place and I 10/10 reccomend!Parking: We love coming here at least once a month and there is always more spaces open than taken up.Kid-friendliness: Super kid friendly, my 4 year old does like sushi so this menu is pretty agreeable with him but he's been able to try something different that he likes every time we go!“

“This place is one of the best sushi joints around. There’s always other southeast asian folks dining here so I assume it’s pretty authentic. Their eel is amazing. Their takoyaki is also very good. I highly recommend the dragon roll as well. The waitress is phenomenal she knows all her regulars and so do the chefs. Love this place.“

“A nice little sushi place that’s hidden in the depths of Downtown Tampa. This place isn’t in the best condition being under a parking garage, as the floors were dirty. However, there were some redeeming points about the decor; like the mural on the wall. The service was very friendly and was quick with our food.The food here is great! I enjoyed my Crab Rangoon here. The chicken curry had a great flavor to it, as well as the rice. My sushi tasted alright, but it wasn’t excellent as the curry. Overall, would come here if you’re willing to get some Japanese food in Downtown Tampa.“

“We did the sushi making class with head chef Kham. It was an absolutely amazing experience and an even better value for an evening out. Sam, our waitress, was kind and super attentive. We experienced so many new Sakis and even an off menu sushi roll. Can not wait to go back for this unique experience. Highly recommend for a great date night.“

“very friendly staff, food cooked to order, great food, and reasonable prices.“

“Super Friendly Staff , and Great food“

“Whoo Whoo! Hi Y’all, It’s been a while since my last review.Reach me @play.ste.le ?This small Quick-service restaurant is all you need to look for Authentic Japanese food ? in? Downtown Tampa? I ordered for the first time and LOVE IT!!!Japanese Beef Curry - the taste of Curry is actually very juicy and mouthful pairing with Rice. I also have little plum pickle on the side as you could see in the picture.Shumai - Chewy Chewy! And Yummy Yummy. You should try this out too. ?Whenever you’re craving for Authentic Japanese Food. Check Junmai Station out’!!! ??Vegetarian options: The restaurant menu contains certain veggie dishes, which tastes Amazing and Japanese Authentic.“

“This place is AMAZING. If anyone out there likes Yamato Japanese Hibachi as much as I do, their yakisoba tastes the EXACT same here, at a much cheaper price. Steak was cooked excellently, and came out very fast. Cashier was also very kind. Will go again.“

“Very clean, nice staff, delicious food perfect birthday dinner!“

“Traveling through Tampa. We liked everything overall. The waitress/hostess Lacey was absolutely wonderful! Crab ragoon wasn't crispy as we expected, but decent. Saturday special on sushi! Buy 1 get 1 half off. Fried rice- shrimp & veggie were delish. Minus the shrimp. Both rice & sushi shrimp was over cooked & rubbery. Honestly still enjoyed meals, would come back if we were traveling Tampa again. Lacey is 5 stars!“

“A wonderful menu of Japanese fusion and classic dishes. Great sushi and sashimi!“

“Food was freaking great! One of the better poké spots I’ve found.“

“This was incredible! I was nervous to try a sushi place other than my usual, but I was blown away by the options here! The staff was very nice and the restaurant was clean. I got the lava roll and the fried burrito. Highly recommend! Also their packaging is adorable.“

“Arrived at 9 pm.. fast service.. friendly and accommodating… delicious King”s roll and “ out of control roll “ washed down with Saki made for an excellent night!!;-)“

“Good food... the Chinese menu here is excellent. Have not tried the Japanese Menu yet.“

“This restaurant is definitely my favorite sushi restaurant. Great sushi and great service extremely clean and nice atmosphere.“

“My family has been loyal customers of Saki for years and I’ve recommended many friends and they have all became regulars because of Saki’s great quality and hospitality. They actually care about their customers and they’ve always been so kind to us. Their manager Bella is so sweet as well. Always loved our visits with them. We will keep coming.“

“five stars , great service“

“Located upstairs in the center of Ybor's Centro. Great friendly staff and absolutely awesome Sushi! Everything was so fresh and delicious. Only "complaint" which its honestly no big deal but we asked if the Chef would just create us whatever he wanted and we were told they don't do that. Fairly decent amount of seating, but if you like sushi you are going to love Samurai Blue. Side note: Awesome selection of Sake!“

“Great place to come for an early dinner .. sushi is amazing!!!“

“Staff is always nice and pleasant and the Food is always perfectly done and Affordable. I've Been going here for a few years since before Covid and while most other Asian Restaurants have raised their prices way too High after Covid and don't even keep the same Quality on how they prepare their Food this place has maintained their great Service and Quality. I've moved further away since Covid but still make the Drive back to get Quality Cuisine. Definitely recommend this place.“

“Worth the trip and looks like the owners have a few other locations. The staff was very friendly and efficient with handling so many orders non stop. The food was also delicious and so was every plate I saw them hand out. Highly recommend giving them a visit and if you’re with someone that doesn’t like sushi, there are plenty of other walk up restaurants in the immediate area for them to spend a few dollars at while you get the best that money can buy at Zukku.“

“great to have Japanese and Korean cuisine. Both are excellent.“

“it has great food, nice friendly staff great service“

“Friendly owner, real Thai food, nice area. Recommanded! อาหารอร่อยเจ้าของร้านน่ารัก ดูแลดีมากๆค่ะ ใครผ่านมาที่นี้แนะนำให้แวะทานข้าวกันนะจ๊ะ“

“For $13.95 per person for all you can eat sushi, it is the best deal in the area (including tampa, brandon & riverview). The service is quite hit or miss. Waiters/waitresses are always either overly excited to come over or you have to call them to order more sushi. Occasionally you'll get a good balance. For the price you can't beat it and I would HIGHLY recommend it. I have been there probably 10 times in the past 8 months and cannot get enough of it.“

“I encountered efficient service and authentic Japanese cuisine at this restaurant run by a Japanese family. The omusubi with plum and seaweed salad was delightful—I truly savored it. Although the lady who took my order initially seemed rude, it may be due to her hearing problems. However, her husband kindly assisted me with my order. I'm already looking forward to returning to try either the kitsune udon or karaage curry.“