11 July 31 - August 6, 2025 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents The Fish Are Bitten Our go-to spots for fresh sushi, premium rolls and vibrant Japanese flavors—no omakase required. BY AAREN PRODY W e’re big fans of singular bites of food — espe- cially when they involve a piece of fatty bluefin tuna belly or buttery Hokkaido scallop. Sushi takes on many faces in Dallas, and many places do it justice despite our closest beach being Galveston. Luckily, we don’t get our seafood from there, and in- stead, restaurants throughout this list source the best fish from famous Tokyo markets. This list of the best sushi in Dallas in- cludes a spot for a laundry list of occasions, and we’re always open to giving credit where it’s due. If you know a spot, drop us an email. We didn’t include omakase restaurants in this list, because well, they would clean house, but luckily, we already made a list of the best omakase in Dallas. Check online for that list. Pearl Sushi 4640 McKinney Ave. Pearl Sushi may be a relatively new face of sushi in Dallas, but it has an undeniable charm that will give anyone’s staple sushi restaurant a run for its money. Owner-chef Shine Tamaoki was with Nobu for several years before honing his signature style and partnering with Todd Landis to open Pearl. Grabbing a seat at the sushi bar will have you in for a spoiled evening with interest- ing neighbors. The menu is pure but offers flexibility and versatility for those willing to explore or stick to what they know. And while we’re here to talk about sushi, the Japanese fish and chips are next-level good, so come hungry. Tei Tei Robata Bar 2906 N Henderson Ave. When you’re at Tei Tei Robata Bar, you’re almost in Japan. This longtime neighbor- hood restaurant doesn’t shy away from its roots, and serves a mostly seasonal menu of what perhaps most would consider weird, unusual or unique, but it’s a trea- sure for those who can appreciate the art of Japanese cuisine, and a lack of cream cheese. A night out here is best enjoyed with a group so you can divide and con- quer the menu of small plates. Don’t miss the miso marinated sea bass, any form of fresh Hokkaido scallop and wagyu on the rock, which chef Teiichi Sakurai brought to Dallas in 1998. Tei-An 1722 Routh St. When chef Teiichi Sakurai left Tei Tei in good hands to open Tei-An in 2008, he con- tinued nurturing his legacy of spreading au- thentic Japanese cuisine to Dallas, this time through soba and the fine art of sushi and yakitori. Going the yakitori route gives you an entirely custom dining experience where you build your own roster of small plates or shareables. Ordering soba has just as much detail, and you can customize your bowl by both temperature and taste. Three days’ ad- vance notice is required for the omakase here, and it is worthy of the splurge. Uchi & Uchibā 2817 Maple Ave. The “it-girl” of sushi in Dallas is none other than Uchi, and its upstairs izakaya- inspired cocktail bar, Uchiba. James Beard Award-winning Chef Tyson Cole started the concept of Uchi in an old refurbished Austin bungalow in 2003, and over the last 20 years, has grown the pilot restaurant all across the country and started numerous sister concepts. Uchi is sushi at its sleekest and sexiest, where Uchiba offers a similar refined setting, but with more fire and flair. Both have worthy happy hour menus, and if you happen to like the latter, they do a ramen event monthly that features guest chefs and a one-time-only bowl of ramen. Naminohana 5521 Greenville Ave. Naminohana could be the unsung hero of sushi restaurants in Dallas. It’s the least talked-about restaurant on this list, but its loyal following tells you all you need to know. There are only 14 bar stools, but don’t mistake this spot for an omakase experience. They are best known for handrolls, and the small audience ensures consistency and quality. Many of the staff here came from a renowned handroll bar in Fort Worth called Hatsuyuki. A casual sushi night has never looked so good. Sushi Nunu 12275 University Drive (Frisco) If a sushi purist and a sushi enthusiast wanted to get dinner together, they’d end up at Sushi Nunu. For a time, it was only the most expensive restaurants in Dallas that were recognized for having their fish flown in from Tokyo each day, but ever ap- proachable Sushi Nunu may have changed the status quo. Fish is flown in daily from Toyosu Market, but there’s no dress code or status you have to uphold to try it. Families, couples and large groups come here like it’s an average Tuesday night. Also, they don’t shy away from putting cream cheese in their rolls. Namo 3699 McKinney Ave. Namo came swinging into Dallas’, at the time, blossoming Japanese scene. Higher brow than most, they say they serve ex- traordinary sushi with uncommon care. Nearly all of the fish and supporting ingre- dients are sourced from Japan and reflect what’s best according to the season. Each visit here can be completely different due to the hyper-seasonality, which is only part of the reason why a night here is so special. The only seats available are at the sushi counter, and you can join them for à la carte lunch or dinner, nightly dinner omakase (“nigiri course” or “signature namokase”), prix-fixe lunch omakase or once a month omakase that’s announced on Instagram on the first of the month. What else? They also do up-close bluefin tuna breakdowns. Mr. Max Izakaya Restaurant 3028 N. Belt Line Road (Irving) Mr. Max Izakaya is the near-perfect embodi- ment of a true Japanese restaurant you’d stumble into while abroad. The wooden de- tailing, Japanese-style seating and hand- picked menu by chef Tokeshi form the trinity of authenticity at this little gem. It opened in 2014 and has thrived since despite its unassuming exterior and dinner-only service. As much as we’d love to call this place a hidden gem, it’s quite the opposite, and seats fill fast for their small window for dinner. Get there early, and you can snag a seat at the bar or make a reservation to se- cure your sashimi. Sasa Sushi 6340 Gaston Ave. Sasa Sushi is another little gem whose at- mosphere is unabashedly Japanese. They cater to a wide audience of sushi lovers with sashimi, fried and fresh rolls, fried rice, ramen, dinner combos, salads and an entire raw bar for things like raw fish car- paccio and other offerings. A lunch combo here is not to be overlooked, as you can or- der two sushi rolls for $15.95 or three rolls for $19.95. Or you can grab a box combina- tion, which can include a four-piece chef’s choice sashimi and beef teriyaki for $18.99. Dinner prices are just as reasonable, and the casual atmosphere makes it perfect for any night out. Mr. Sushi 4860 Belt Line Road (Addison) Mr. Sushi has been a longstanding destina- tion for raw fish and rice in Dallas since the ‘80s. Its journey began in the heart of Hiro- shima, and this family-owned spot contin- ues to stay true to its traditions Christopher Durbin Chef Mabuchi at Namo breaks down a bluefin tuna flown in from a market in Tokyo that day. | CITY OF ATE | t Dish >> p12
