If I could rate higher than five stars, I would. Not only the best sushi and Japanese restaurant in Sarasota, but possibly the best in Florida. Food is always fresh and of great quality, and sushi options are plentiful! The sashimi is also delicious with no seasonings required for it to taste good. You can taste the high quality in the fish! Their non-raw fish options are good as well, I recommend the beef bone ramen. With all of this amazing food, Kiyoshi's still feels like a relaxing family run restaurant. With high-quality food, a friendly atmosphere, and prices that don't break the bank for sushi, Kiyoshi's is the place to go in Sarasota for a special event or birthday.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Del Mar Dave
Best Sushi on the Gulfcoast. Possibly anywhere, but I know that’s a stretch, so many fish joints are worthy at least equally. The quality of fish is due to Kiyoshi who is personally responsible for the selections for the day. Hot Sake to start, then highly recommend the following: Blue Crab Salad Nigiri, Scallop Salad Nigiri, Sea Urchin add Quail Egg, Blue Fin Fatty Tuna Sashimi (amazing), Scallop Sashimi (so sweet melts in your mouth), Golden Triangle Roll (highly recommend similar to spicy tuna roll but better), Salomon Skin Hand Roll, and Lazy Sea Bass (Wowzer). Sprinkled in Salmon, Yellowtail, Tuna Sushi for the table. The only knock, the atmosphere is somewhat bland, but the food quality is unbeatable. Enjoy soon - I believe Kiyoshi closes December 31…
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Combination of Sushi and Sashimi, Eel Unagi, Blue Crab Roll, Fish
Valhalla Knox
This place is great. We went on our last night in the area and really enjoyed the food and the service. The tuna bon bon and Siesta Beach Roll were awesome. We will definitely return here the next time we are in the area.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lisa G
As a Californian who was raised on sushi, I must say Kiyoshi's would satisfy most any snobby California palette. I've tried more than a few sushi restaurants in Sarasota and Kiyoshi's is my hands down favorite. Fresh and creative. I just had their special, it was a sea bass roll (forgot what they called it) and it was fabulous. Sarasota isn't much of a sushi town so I am glad to have found Kiyoshi's; it does the trick.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Integrity Review Service
Don’t let this little restaurant and average appearance fool you, as the food is truly fantastic. I went on a slow Tuesday night and ordered the Kai Sansai salad as an appetizer and was completely blown away which I washed down with a large hot saki. I also had the Toro and Yellow tail. Both extremely fresh. The main course I had the specialty Cactus roll. Which has a corn crumb wrap of the tuna along with various spicy flavors including jalapeños and raspberry sauce. Not too spicy. A masterpiece! The large meal was delicious and I was completely satisfied and felt great afterwards. The chef and owner gave me a kind greeting as I left. He clearly is a master chef. It’s out of the way but worth the trip. I noticed patrons had given this place 4.5 stars which it totally deserved.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Peter Spindler
Best sushi in Sarasota! Always incredibly fresh, beautifully presented, and creatively made.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Aurélie Vilmer
Among the best rolls I have had so far. Very creative and tasty rolls ( try the tropical one, with Mangos ans dragon fruits, just amazing!). They don't kill the food with too much sauce ( they put it on the side). Will definitely come back?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sushi Dinner
Logan Leyva
Best sushi place in town, authentic and has excellent vibes, always nice and calm, the fatty tuna is my personal favorite.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Renee Auriemma
Always high quality food that's delicious and great service makes this my happy place.A few of my favorites are the Golden triangle, Sumiso tuna appetizer, and anything blue crab. My husband had the bon bon scallops (not pictured here) and it was fresh lovely and creamy.
No more conveyer belt because of covid… even though it’s 2023 and says no where on their site that this is a policy… all you’re left with is over priced sushi and rubber ducks to look at, traveled over half an hour for the experience and left really disappointed
Karen K.
Average sushi. Shrimp rolls are pretty small and I did not get that "this is so fresh" taste. The mango lobster rolls were very good and worth the $20 price tag. Restaurant is small, clean, bar area seats at least 10. Service was good and staff were attentive. Menu is pretty limited to just sushi so if you are looking for any other Asian dishes, this is not the place. All in all very average, and I would not return.
Keith K.
I have lived and worked for many years and consider Kiyoshi's to be one of the few authentic Japanese sushi restaurant. Their nigiri sushi has a large piece of fish on a relatively small amount of rice which is the way a good sushi shops in Japan serve their sushi. Good selection of fish and other ingredients all nice and fresh. We have returned several times in the past two months since discovering this small restaurant.Service is excellent with knowledgeable staff.. not a fancy place but the food is excellent.
John E Ochotnicky
Best most authentic Japanese in Florida!Update 3.24.2023: Perfection from a Master is the constant theme. Japanese perfection in all facets of the experience. Intimate dining room, chilled atmosphere, culinary excellence, attentive service. If you're passionate about sushi, this place is worth any drive to experience.Update - 9.15.2022: Superlative experience from A to Z!Perfect Japanses food, impeccably prepared.Front of house service was gracious and hospitable, very professional like fine dining.Back of house produced perfect Edemame, fresh, with the perfect pods, not overdone, perfectly seasoned.Sushi bar produced an extraordinary array of ocean delights, absolutely the freshest in town within 100 miles. They had special fatty yellowtail, jet fresh from Japan, which was like oceanic butter, richly marbled, literally succulent. They always have the best Best Grade Toro, also richly marbled and with the classic delighting flavor.The list goes on and on, try the specials and you'll be universally delighted! I recommend to a friend! jeo 21:44 pm 09.15.2022UPDATE 7/30:/22Worth the drive from South County, once again superlatives on both front and back of the house.Impeccable execution of the sashimi dinner, which contained a beautiful array of impeccably fresh fish. You've landed in Japan when your in the present of a Japanese Master, and Mr. Kiyoshi can conjure up some special delicacies if you request.Picture of special treat attached.Squid with quail egg, smelt roe and shisho leaf slivers.
Nancy Adkins
Best Sushi we have found in Florida!!!!!! We drove over from Lakewood Ranch because of the good reviews and were not disappointed! After amazing appetizers we ordered SUSHI & SUSHIMI that was so good I forgot to take pictures before we finished eating! The sweet shrimp were especially good. Along with the CONCH. My UNI was the perfect ending to my meal. We will be back very soon!
If I could rate higher than five stars, I would. Not only the best sushi and Japanese restaurant in Sarasota, but possibly the best in Florida. Food is always fresh and of great quality, and sushi options are plentiful! The sashimi is also delicious with no seasonings required for it to taste good. You can taste the high quality in the fish! Their non-raw fish options are good as well, I recommend the beef bone ramen. With all of this amazing food, Kiyoshi's still feels like a relaxing family run restaurant. With high-quality food, a friendly atmosphere, and prices that don't break the bank for sushi, Kiyoshi's is the place to go in Sarasota for a special event or birthday.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Best Sushi on the Gulfcoast. Possibly anywhere, but I know that’s a stretch, so many fish joints are worthy at least equally. The quality of fish is due to Kiyoshi who is personally responsible for the selections for the day. Hot Sake to start, then highly recommend the following: Blue Crab Salad Nigiri, Scallop Salad Nigiri, Sea Urchin add Quail Egg, Blue Fin Fatty Tuna Sashimi (amazing), Scallop Sashimi (so sweet melts in your mouth), Golden Triangle Roll (highly recommend similar to spicy tuna roll but better), Salomon Skin Hand Roll, and Lazy Sea Bass (Wowzer). Sprinkled in Salmon, Yellowtail, Tuna Sushi for the table. The only knock, the atmosphere is somewhat bland, but the food quality is unbeatable. Enjoy soon - I believe Kiyoshi closes December 31…
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Combination of Sushi and Sashimi, Eel Unagi, Blue Crab Roll, Fish
This place is great. We went on our last night in the area and really enjoyed the food and the service. The tuna bon bon and Siesta Beach Roll were awesome. We will definitely return here the next time we are in the area.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
As a Californian who was raised on sushi, I must say Kiyoshi's would satisfy most any snobby California palette. I've tried more than a few sushi restaurants in Sarasota and Kiyoshi's is my hands down favorite. Fresh and creative. I just had their special, it was a sea bass roll (forgot what they called it) and it was fabulous. Sarasota isn't much of a sushi town so I am glad to have found Kiyoshi's; it does the trick.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Don’t let this little restaurant and average appearance fool you, as the food is truly fantastic. I went on a slow Tuesday night and ordered the Kai Sansai salad as an appetizer and was completely blown away which I washed down with a large hot saki. I also had the Toro and Yellow tail. Both extremely fresh. The main course I had the specialty Cactus roll. Which has a corn crumb wrap of the tuna along with various spicy flavors including jalapeños and raspberry sauce. Not too spicy. A masterpiece! The large meal was delicious and I was completely satisfied and felt great afterwards. The chef and owner gave me a kind greeting as I left. He clearly is a master chef. It’s out of the way but worth the trip. I noticed patrons had given this place 4.5 stars which it totally deserved.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Best sushi in Sarasota! Always incredibly fresh, beautifully presented, and creatively made.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Among the best rolls I have had so far. Very creative and tasty rolls ( try the tropical one, with Mangos ans dragon fruits, just amazing!). They don't kill the food with too much sauce ( they put it on the side). Will definitely come back?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sushi Dinner
Best sushi place in town, authentic and has excellent vibes, always nice and calm, the fatty tuna is my personal favorite.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Always high quality food that's delicious and great service makes this my happy place.A few of my favorites are the Golden triangle, Sumiso tuna appetizer, and anything blue crab. My husband had the bon bon scallops (not pictured here) and it was fresh lovely and creamy.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tuna Appetizer, Yellowtail Belly, Blue Crab Roll, Tropical Lobster Roll, Scallop
Best sushi place in town, authentic and has excellent vibes, always nice and calm, the fatty tuna is my personal favorite.
Restaurantji Recommends
No more conveyer belt because of covid… even though it’s 2023 and says no where on their site that this is a policy… all you’re left with is over priced sushi and rubber ducks to look at, traveled over half an hour for the experience and left really disappointed
Average sushi. Shrimp rolls are pretty small and I did not get that "this is so fresh" taste. The mango lobster rolls were very good and worth the $20 price tag. Restaurant is small, clean, bar area seats at least 10. Service was good and staff were attentive. Menu is pretty limited to just sushi so if you are looking for any other Asian dishes, this is not the place. All in all very average, and I would not return.
I have lived and worked for many years and consider Kiyoshi's to be one of the few authentic Japanese sushi restaurant. Their nigiri sushi has a large piece of fish on a relatively small amount of rice which is the way a good sushi shops in Japan serve their sushi. Good selection of fish and other ingredients all nice and fresh. We have returned several times in the past two months since discovering this small restaurant.Service is excellent with knowledgeable staff.. not a fancy place but the food is excellent.
Best most authentic Japanese in Florida!Update 3.24.2023: Perfection from a Master is the constant theme. Japanese perfection in all facets of the experience. Intimate dining room, chilled atmosphere, culinary excellence, attentive service. If you're passionate about sushi, this place is worth any drive to experience.Update - 9.15.2022: Superlative experience from A to Z!Perfect Japanses food, impeccably prepared.Front of house service was gracious and hospitable, very professional like fine dining.Back of house produced perfect Edemame, fresh, with the perfect pods, not overdone, perfectly seasoned.Sushi bar produced an extraordinary array of ocean delights, absolutely the freshest in town within 100 miles. They had special fatty yellowtail, jet fresh from Japan, which was like oceanic butter, richly marbled, literally succulent. They always have the best Best Grade Toro, also richly marbled and with the classic delighting flavor.The list goes on and on, try the specials and you'll be universally delighted! I recommend to a friend! jeo 21:44 pm 09.15.2022UPDATE 7/30:/22Worth the drive from South County, once again superlatives on both front and back of the house.Impeccable execution of the sashimi dinner, which contained a beautiful array of impeccably fresh fish. You've landed in Japan when your in the present of a Japanese Master, and Mr. Kiyoshi can conjure up some special delicacies if you request.Picture of special treat attached.Squid with quail egg, smelt roe and shisho leaf slivers.
Best Sushi we have found in Florida!!!!!! We drove over from Lakewood Ranch because of the good reviews and were not disappointed! After amazing appetizers we ordered SUSHI & SUSHIMI that was so good I forgot to take pictures before we finished eating! The sweet shrimp were especially good. Along with the CONCH. My UNI was the perfect ending to my meal. We will be back very soon!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4