Brian Nagele
Detroit, Michigan, known as Motor City, is the largest city in the state and has a particularly unique metropolitan vibe. For the last two decades, Detroit has undergone massive revitalization and has rebuilt historic theaters and high-rise buildings.
In downtown, a graffiti art project and various statue installations can be admired by residents and guests alike. Neighborhoods near downtown and midtown have increased populations, so the need for a vibrant restaurant scene has risen too. Sushi is a hip cuisine that attracts younger diners, a perfect fit for a budding city. Check out this list of the eleven best Detroit sushi restaurants.
Sushi Gallery
1449 W 14 Mile Rd, Madison Heights, MI 48071
Phone: 248-291-5987
Visit Website
Sushi Gallery is located in Madison Heights, Michigan, a Detroit suburb. The restaurant offers a casual vibe for guests and serves specialty sushi rolls and traditional Korean and Japanese dishes. It is open for lunch and dinner throughout the week but is closed on Sunday. Notably, from 11:00 am to 2:30 pm between Monday and Friday, Sushi Gallery offers various lunch specials; most are sushi combos with miso soup. I recommend trying one of the restaurant’s specialty rolls like the Lion King roll, the Dragon Roll, or the White Dragon. If you are interested in trying a traditional Korean dish, the Dolsot Bibimbap is delicious. Other popular menu options include the bulgogi bento box and the mango mochi ice cream.
Dr. Sushi
2547 Bagley St, Detroit, MI 48216
Visit Website
Dr. Sushi is a sustainable carry-out sushi restaurant located near the Corktown neighborhood in Detroit. Every Tuesday, the restaurant hosts a two-hour event for visitors to order and pick up high-quality sushi to enjoy at home or for a picnic at nearby Roosevelt Park. Notably, orders must be placed by Monday evening at 5:00 pm and pick up is on Tuesdays between 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm. While the hours are limited, the food is incredible. On my visit I tried the delicious Hikari Roll with cured mackerel, shiso, onion, pickled daikon, and cucumber or the Spicy Salmon Futomaki with salmon, cucumber, avocado, onion, cilantro, jalapeño, and lime. Dr. Sushi also crafts sushi bowls, called Chirashi which contain assorted fish and vegetables over sushi rice.
Joe Muer Seafood
400 Renaissance Center #1404, Detroit, MI 48243
Phone: 313-567-6837
Visit Website
A fine dining establishment, Joe Muer Seafood has been serving the residents and visitors since 1929. The restaurant prides itself on serving classic, fresh fish alongside creative seafood specialties. In 2021, Joe Muer Seafood was voted Best Seafood Restaurant in Detroit and has held that title consecutively since 2017. This restaurant in Detroit offers various specialty rolls like the Detroit Roll with king crab, avocado, pineapple, cream cheese, shrimp, and spicy sauce and the Money Roll with salmon, avocado, cucumber, cream cheese, and a baked spicy crab on top. Joe Muer Seafood offers more than sushi alone; please do yourself a favor and try one of their other popular dishes like the Lobster Corn Dogs!
Wasabi Korean & Japanese Restaurant
15 E Kirby St, Detroit, MI 48202
Phone: 313-638-1272
Visit Website
Wasabi Korean & Japanese Restaurant is located in Midtown, near the Medical Center, and is a great place for locals and visitors alike to sample some of Detroit’s best sushi. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner daily. It serves noodle dishes and warm entrees as well as a variety of sushi. My favorite was the vegetarian Deep Fried Sweet Potato roll for an interesting and exciting bite. Also, the salmon teriyaki roll and the Michigan roll, with shrimp tempura, avocado, and spicy tuna, are popular with guests. Other than sushi, guests enjoy the Japanese Chicken Katsu and the Korean Chicken Tangsooyook.
The Goblin Detroit
2547 Bagley St, Detroit, MI 48216
Phone: 313-502-5788
Visit Website
Located near the Corktown community, The Goblin Detroit is a modern space to enjoy creative dishes. The restaurant is very popular, so you should be prepared to wait for a table. It is open every day with extended hours on Friday and Saturday. The Goblin Caterpillar Roll with deep-fried shrimp, cream cheese, and jalopeño, then topped with crab, sliced avocado, eel sauce, and sriracha, is a must-order item! I also loved the BBQ Eel Roll, the Alaska Roll, or the Spicy Tuna Bowl with tuna and avocado atop white rice. Finish your meal with a bit of sake!
Bash Original Izakaya
5069 Trumbull, Detroit, MI 48208
Phone: 313-788-7208
Visit Website
Bash Original Izakaya offers some of the best sushi in the state. The restaurant serves maki rolls, sashimi, and nigiri. It is located across from Wayne State University’s football field and across the new basketball arena. With ample seating in a spacious setting, Bash is a great place to enjoy fresh sushi in Detroit. If you’re dining with a group of people, selecting one of the platters with various rolls is a great option. If you’re ordering rolls individually, my go to is the Southwest Roll with shrimp tempura, crab salad, cream cheese, jalapeno, avocado, honey wasabi, and spicy mayo or the Ruby Roll with spicy tuna and cucumber, then topped with seared tuna, salmon, red snapper, white tuna, shrimp, wasabi mayo, and eel sauce. Don’t forget to try the BASH Signature roll as well!
Poke Poke – Sushi Unrolled
4501 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
Phone: 313-974-7570
Visit Website
A group of friends, self-proclaimed “foodies,” saw that Detroit needed a restaurant that served poke and so was born Poke Poke. The restaurant serves poke, which is a native Hawaiian dish of diced raw fish served over rice with various toppings – very much “sushi unrolled.” Poke Poke offers some signature bowls for guests to choose from, like the California Crunch Bowl with shrimp and crab or the Rainbow Bowl with crab and salmon, but you can build your own bowl! Choose between three types of rice, then add your choice of fish like salmon, tuna, Hawaii salmon, or even tofu. Then top it off with a flourish of mango, carrot, seaweed salad, and crispy onions, to name a few! It’s an exciting and delicious experience.
Sushi Sunday
2199 Lansing St, Detroit, MI 48209
Phone: 313-529-0218
Visit Website
Sushi Sunday is open between Wednesday and Sunday for lunch and dinner. Located near Clark Park, the restaurant offers quality sushi to the Central Southwest neighborhood. Chef Yero has a passion for serving quality and fresh seafood to customers and has built a loyal fanbase in Detroit. Notably, Sushi Sunday fuses various cuisines and cooks all of the sushi rolls. For example, the Shrimp and Grits roll and the Corned Beef and Cabbage rolls are unique and delicious. For a more traditional taste, I’d recommend the Shrimp Tempura roll or even the classic Cali Roll.
Midtown Shangri-La
4710 Cass Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
Phone: 313-974-7669
Visit Website
Shangri-La offers authentic Cantonese cuisine and serves Dim Sum daily. Cholada Chan owns the restaurant. She immigrated from Thailand and previously owned an Oriental market for 20 years. Shangri-La is open every day of the week and is open late at night for those midnight-snack cravings. The shrimp pad thai and the red curry are some of my favorite options on the menu. However, with more than fifty sushi rolls on the menu, Shangri-La is the place to come for a sushi dinner! Try the Candy Roll, the Rainbow Roll, the Pink Panther Roll, or the Tony Montana Roll!
