50 Best Japanese Restaurants in Houston

“Katami is Japanese for Keepsake. What a sentimental word, and what an emotion invoking meal that was. I believe this was the best sushi I’ve had to date in my life.

The flavors were so subtle but perfectly complemented their counterparts. I was blown away by the Hokkaido Buri Yellowtail and loved the Hamachi Yuzu. Not only was the food phenomenal, the service was tip top and the restaurant elegantly designed. Lighting was perfect. Sound was balanced. You’re in for a special treat when you go to Katami.“

“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!!“

“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“

“Awesome experience, highly recommend“

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

“The absolute best omakase experience in Houston. Food is unique and delicious. They have rotating seasonal ingredients and know what they’re doing with them. Drinks are paired well. The staff is fast, attentive, and knowledgeable. Just overall the best sushi experience in Houston.“

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

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

“This is a great sushi spot in a kind of random location, and way better than you'd expect to wander into at a food market. We shared a set, an additional plate of the chef's nigiri and a crudo. My favorite was probably the crudo but everything was great. You can tell the love that they put into the food and the finesse of how everything is paired and portioned to work in harmony. I also also learned a lot from one of the chefs who spoke to us about his favorite cuts of fish and why (he was a little talkative, but we weren't bothered by his eagerness to talk).“

“Natalie and Kelly were truly unbelievable and took an already great experience to one of the best yet! Kelly was so attentive and knew just how to recommend the perfect drink with our meal. Natalie was so fantastic at her job: her recommendations were on point and she chose dishes I wouldn’t have on my own, but I am SO happy I did. Couldn’t recommend Uchiko more“

“Excellent service. Friendly and efficient. The Sashimi was very good. We ordered the Chef's choice and added the Japanese Mackerel. Wonderful. The tempura appetizer was not very good but it was a poor choice on our part as tempura in the US is never very good. Too heavy. Very enjoyable evening.“

“I celebrated my 26th birthday at Ciel last night, and it was absolutely perfect! Everything exceeded my expectations. The manager, Marco, was incredibly helpful and made sure everything was exactly as we wanted. The staff was warm, friendly, and very welcoming. Our server, Tony, was excellent—attentive, personable, and made sure we had everything we needed. The food was simply delicious, and their drinks were outstanding—truly something special. The DJ was fantastic as well, really set the vibe for the night. I’m so glad I chose this place for my birthday celebration; they made it an unforgettable experience. I highly recommend Ciel to anyone looking for an amazing night out. We will definitely be back soon!“

“Amazing experience. The food is awesome and the service is top notch“

“Indoor dinning was amazing. The food was excellent!!! Waitstaff top tier!“

“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!“

“100 % recomendada La comida 🍲 súper rika“

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

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

“The restaurant was pretty empty, which was so surprising! This is definitely a hidden gem! The food and the drinks were amazing ? The enoki butter was surprisingly a soup dish but it was packed with so much flavor. All of the fish cuts were generous and extremely fresh. The cherry on top is the cost for the quality. I will definitely be returning.“

“Best sushi (omakase) I’ve had in Houston! While I haven’t been everywhere, I’ve been to a lot of places like Uchi and Kata Robata, and TINS beats them out.

This is a small, no frills omakase hidden gem. It’s run by two friends (Chef Sky and Matt) and they buy there sushi per reservation so it’s fresh!

Location-wise, it’s in a two store shopping center on Durham and I-10. Nothing special. When you walk in, it first looks like a 10-top cocktail bar with a lounge area in the back. The lighting is low and the decor is simple. Again, no frills, but the magic is the food and drink.

For the food, Everything Sky served was a hit. We had toro, amberjack, salmon, uni, eel, yellow tail, oyster, and flounder. Probably more, but it all seemed to run together with the conversation and drinks. Some pieces were simple and some more extravagant. Nothing, however, felt over complicated or gimmicky. One piece was a flame roasted king salmon that I swear melted in my mouth. Another piece was a light and fresh amber jack with lemon zest and truffle. Again, the highlight was how the sushi was the focus with how fresh it tasted. Sky didn’t try to mask the sushi with other ingredients.

Also, as a side note, Sky and Matt told us they host private parties with advance reservations and have karaoke available.

Definitely coming back!“

“Went for our anniversary and the experience was incredible. Our waiter was kind, genuine, and knowledgeable about the menu. The manager came out multiple times to make sure our dinner was perfect. And the food… all of it was incredible. Definitely one of the best dining experiences I have ever had.“

“Ceviche chalaco me encantó no pensé que estuviera tan delicioso y fresco Mi platillo fuerte fue.. Lomo saltado y arroz blanco 😋 Muy buen servicio de los meseros todo el personal Espero volver pronto a Houston para volver a Pacha Nikki🙏🏼“

“Small mom and pop shop run only by Mr. and Mrs. Miyagi. Lines aren't long like they used to be on the weekdays. I was seated right away when they opened and no one else was here for a while. The food is just as good as I remember: fresh, delicious, and served with a smile. Also the portions are still as large as I remember. I only got 8 pieces of sashimi and was absolutely full afterwards.

What I would recommend:
Unagi sashimi
Spicy hotate sushi
Spider maki
Spicy salmon bowl over rice (my favorite)

Support small businesses! This spot is open Tuesday to Saturday, 12-3 PM. Mr. and Mrs. Miyagi are a sweet elderly couple and I'm grateful to see their business still thriving about a decade after I first discovered this place.“

“Kira is a certified hit! I did the 7 course chef's tasting and every course was delicious. The lobster hand roll was hands down my favorite, the shitake mushroom hand roll was my least favorite (it wasn't bad , it just wasn't as good as the other rolls). The dessert was also really delicious. I definitely reccomend checking Kira out if you like high end sushi.“

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

“1st came to this Post Hall. I was thinking to eat the south american food there, but East aide King took my wallet first.
Good portion for chicken katsu bowl! Price is abit on high end (could be lower abit) but well worth for the portion.
It was a quick serving.
I will be back for sure.“

“The restaurant's small size comes off as intimate not constrained. The staff was super kind and that set a great mood in the whole place. They expertly care for your experience. I'm truly impressed. The sushi is the best. We'll come back for sure.“

“Love coming here! Great service, amazing food, and I love their drinks!“

“Had a great bowl of ramen today! The noodles were crunchy and the egg was perfectly cooked! The soup-base is rich and I like it spicy!“

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

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

“Excellent services, we came there for several times for a family dinner and couple birthday parties. The waiters and chefs were very considerate people. They paid attention to the details. The food was top of the line. I normally don’t eat raw sushi but raw sushi there were perfect. Nice presentation! The drink (lychee) was great. Beautiful and cozy decoration. my husband is a picky eater but he loves there too. Highly recommended.“

“TEN out of 10!!! Definitely recommend!“

“My co-workers decided to take me here to this location for sushi all you can eat. The place originally looks so small and Corky little spot. The only downside I had with this place was that they made us wait about an hour and a half almost before they could even give us a table.

I ended up getting a few of the tuna and salmon rolls, which were amazing, and I also tried some California rolls, which had crabs in it, and I think overall, this place was very delicious. The selection was a bit small, but the taste made up for sushi that we got. It was a bit pricey per person, but I think it's worth it if you're going to eat a lot of sushi

I do recommend this place, and I would consider going back if the line is a bit smaller. Thank You“

“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.“

“A nice variety of dishes! The fried rice is excellent!
We went as a family of 14 people and received a very warm welcome.
Consider taking a small jacket.

Kid-friendliness: It’s kid-friendly!

Wheelchair accessibility: Yes“

“A wonderful addition to local dining options! A must stop on your next outing!“

“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.“

“This is great sushi restaurant with superb service.
The vibes, the team is friendly and welcoming and even comped a starter. We did not ask for this but think it was due to one of our items taking longer than expected. This was a fantastic place to celebrate my birthday.“

“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.“

“Inexpensive yet very fresh and generous cuts of sashimi - absolutely unbeatable for value and quality. Lunch menu is by far the best value @ $8.99/entree! Ownership has changed but everything else remains the same. Always crowded... Allow extra time to queue in line!“

“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 .“

“A+ all around - fantastic food, cool atmosphere/design, and warm service. Enjoyed happy hour on the patio with the sunset. Food and drinks were very enjoyable - candidly, I was a bit skeptical going in just given the scene-y location - but they knocked it out. Fish was super fresh, and small details like fresh grated wasabi and the steamed to order edamame sealed the deal. Fantastic!“

“Super cute decorations and vibes. The food is SO good and SO reasonably priced. We had the scallop skewers and golden scallops
And both were prepared well. The DK spicy ramen was creamy and spiciness was not too overwhelming. Curry karaage Don also really delicious. Also had Japanese cheesecake and super light and fluffy. We will def come back again. Please support this business!“

“Nice addition to the options in Houston. Went on a weekday during opening hours as a solo diner, no wait and prompt service. Similarly to Kura, it’s a conveyor belt system but it’s to order so definitely much fresher. Nice selection of nigiri, some options for some more filling options and some appetizers.

Quality of the sushi was great but as others have mentioned, it is pricey (especially since the plates are usually single pieces). Spent $40 for around 7 plates and tip. Overall nice place to visit at least once to try it out, but there are plenty of other options for more bang for your buck.“

“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.“

“this place is crazy good. every dish is super fresh and everything is uber tasty. great food reasonably priced with top notch atmosphere.“

“My boyfriend and I went here on a date night for the first time and it was amazing! We were seated right away and everyone was super nice to us. The food was so amazing, we had the dumplings and sushi rolls. The food came out so fast and was fresh. Will definitely come again!“

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