Brian Nagele
What better place to go for fresh, authentic sushi than Miami? This city has a vibrant sushi scene with James Beard Award-winning chefs and Michelin-starred sushi restaurants because of its access to fresh fish and ingredients.
When you visit, you’ll probably notice a sushi restaurant pretty much around every street corner. With so many options to choose from in and around the city, it’s hard to find which spot truly offers the best sushi in Miami.
Maybe you’re looking for a cozy spot to bring a date or a place with ample seating for a fun family reunion. Or, maybe you want a spot you can dash in and out of for a quick lunch. Whatever way you want to enjoy your sushi, Miami definitely has an adoption for everyone.
To help out locals and visitors like you, here’s my list of the best sushi in Miami, including a variety of restaurant styles and atmospheres from my latest trip there.
Makoto
9700 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33154
Phone: 305-864-8600
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Makoto offers patrons that sleek, modern feel that one might associate with sushi, but it also provides plush pillows and banquette seating to emphasize comfort indoors. Outdoors, Makoto has spacious patio seating beneath the Florida palms.
The sushi restaurant is located in the Bay Harbor shopping center in Surfside, making it an ideal location for grabbing a bite before hitting the beach or neighboring shops.
If you’re stopping in for a brief lunch, you can’t go wrong with their affordable and sizable bento box option, trust me. But, if you make dinner plans for Makoto, you might want to load up on a few different sushi options to try, like their fatty tuna, king yellowtail, or coveted sea urchin.
Azabu Miami Beach
161 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Phone: 786-276-0520
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Azabu in Miami Beach radiates high-end energy that you would expect from one of the city’s most popular places to eat.
It’s a Michelin-starred sushi restaurant that favors authentic Japanese sushi and hospitality despite its home in a renovated historic bank next to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Ocean Beach Park. The space features wood paneling along the walls and ceiling with warm light seeping through the cracks for a modern yet comforting feel.
Azabu offers various rolls, sashimi and nigiri platters, and sashimi a-la-carte options. Plus, the fish is always fresh, never frozen, which is especially crucial in a high-quality sushi joint. In addition to the standard dinner fare, Azabu has a special happy-hour menu with cheaper bites, drinks, and deals.
Sushi Garage
1784 West Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Phone: 305-763-8355
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Garage” might not be the word you want to see associated with sushi, but you might change your mind after visiting Sushi Garage, located in Miami Beach near the Maurice Gibb Memorial Park on the waterfront.
Originally, the location housed an actual garage. Then James Beard Award winner Alejandro Barrios came in and completely revamped it for the Sushi Garage concept. Now, the contemporary design and greenery accents provide the perfect comforting setting to enjoy some high-quality sushi.
I love going to Sushi Garage during happy hour because of the reduced prices for sashimi and sushi. You even get a discount on rolls, small plates, and beverages. During dinner hours, you can find extended specialty roll and sushi options.
Nobu Miami
4525 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33140
Phone: 305-695-3232
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Nobu is a classic favorite among Miami locals and visitors in the South Beach area. It’s situated in the Nobu Hotel, which butts up against the oceanfront for picture-perfect views. Plus, Nobu offers takeout and delivery for patrons that don’t want to make the journey out to South Beach.
No matter your dining option, Nobu offers high-quality, fresh sushi, such as spicy tuna, jalepño and yellowtail, and salmon. It’s a great sushi restaurant when you want authentic, high-quality basics. If you want to splurge, I recommend the delicious sea bass tempura or baked crab roll.
Wabi Sabi Miami
851 NE 79th St, Miami, FL 33138
Phone: 305-890-7228
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Wabi Sabi in the El Portal area across the water from Belle Meade favors comforting, nostalgic elements with a tree of origami cranes as the most glamorous feature. The restaurant name comes from the Japanese theology of accepting imperfections for what they are as opposed to trying to correct them.
Embodying that idea, Wabi Sabi presents its dishes in mixed-match bowls and plates. However, this Miami sushi restaurant’s dishes are far from imperfect. The fish is fresh and comes in many sushi and sashimi offerings, such as fatty tuna, bluefin tuna, golden eye snapper, saltwater eel, sea urchin, and sweet shrimp.
NAOE MIAMI
661 Brickell Key Dr, Miami, FL 33131
Phone: 305-947-6263
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If you want an upscale and seclusive Miami sushi restaurant, you can look no further than NAOE. Located on Claughton Island across the water from Downtown Miami, NAOE only has enough seating for eight guests, placing emphasis on the food and the experience. Before making a trip to NAOE, you should know that it only accepts twelve seats per week. So, I suggest making a reservation far in advance if you want to eat here.
At NAOE, chef Kevin Cory decides what to serve the guests and prepares the meals in front of them. Typically, the meal consists of a bento box, soup, nigiri sushi, and dessert, but the specifics vary depending on Chef Cory’s preference.
Doraku Sushi
1104 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Phone: 305-695-8383
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Head to Doraku Sushi in Miami’s West Avenue area near the Lincoln Road Mall if you want to eat at a comfortable, casual sushi restaurant. Here, you’ll find fund decor and long wooden tables to accommodate large groups. In my opinion, it’s the ideal Miami sushi restaurant for groups and a good time.
I love the traditional Japanese favorites that Doraku Sushi offers alongside plenty of sushi options. I especially appreciate all the fun dish presentations. Plus, Doraku Sushi has a full-service bar to accommodate all drink preferences. If you need a meal at home, you can order takeout from their website instead of visiting in person.
Uchi Miami
252 NW 25th St, Miami, FL 33127
Phone: 305-995-0915
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Uchi means house, so it’s no surprise that Uchi in Miami looks like an ordinary house and accompanying patio. In fact, the house is a bungalow model relocated from Austin, Texas, to Miami’s creative Wynwood neighborhood.
The James Beard Award-winning chef and owner employs traditional Japanese culinary experts to create delicious sushi meals and entrees at Uchi Miami. The restaurant offers a dine-in and takeout menu to give guests options and has a happy hour menu with drink and dining deals from 5 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. daily.
Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill
The Plymouth Hotel, 336 21st St, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Phone: 305-800-0404
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South Beach’s Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill, housed within the Plymouth Hotel, puts presentation and quality at the forefront of its menu. Whatever you order, you can expect a delightful plate design atop delicious food.
Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar & Grill’s menu consists of traditional Japanese dishes and a lengthy list of sushi platters and rolls. Suppose you visit this Miami sushi restaurant with a large group or a few friends. In that case, I suggest considering a platter like the Sashimi Deluxe or Sushi Sashimi Combination for a variety to share. Try some fun cocktails and beverages with your meal, like the Lychee Martini and Peach Don’t Kill My Vibe.
Toni’s Sushi Bar
1208 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Phone: 305-673-9368
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Toni’s Sushi Bar became the first sushi restaurant in Miami Beach in 1987. For decades, it has offered locals, vacationers, and visitors delectable sushi offerings and remains committed to only selling the freshest fish available.
The sushi bar offers sushi a-la-carte, sashimi, platters, specialty rolls, and many California roll variations. You can also make your visit a little more special and order Toni’s Choice, a sushi, sashimi, and maki combination for 1-3 servings. I love that you receive a specially curated combination platter of the chef’s recommendations with the Toni’s Choice order.
Sushi Erika
1700 John F Kennedy Causeway #100, North Bay Village, FL 33141,
Phone: 786-216-7216
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Sushi Erika is very much a casual, laid-back sushi joint located in the North Bay Village on North Bay Island, just outside of Miami Beach. Here, you’ll find sushi bar seating and standard tables presented in a relaxed environment without lavish elements.
Despite its simplistic appearance, it remains one of the top spots to get the best sushi in Miami. In fact, Sushi Erika almost always has a line out the door when I visit, so plan accordingly before you visit.
When you get there, I highly recommend ordering one of their signature rolls, specifically the Macadamia Roll, a definite crowd-pleaser. Some other delicious options include the North Bay roll, the spicy tuna roll, and the spicy scallop roll. Don’t forget to polish your meal off with a slice of green tea tiramisu.
Zuma Miami
270 Biscayne Blvd Way, Miami, FL 33131
Phone: 305-577-0277
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Zuma Miami is an enormous space with various rooms and private dining areas across the water from Miami Circle Park in Downtown. For sushi, you will probably find yourself at Zuma Miami’s sushi and robata counter, salivating over the variety of sushi selections that the chefs prepare in front of you.
While Zuma Miami uses traditional Japanese sushi as an influence, it presents its own authentic take on sushi, such as the ebi tempura maki roll with tempura prawns, avocado, pickled yamagobo, and mentaiko mayo. Or, you can get a specialty selection of the chef’s choice, ranging from five pieces of small nigiri to nine pieces of sashimi.
Pubbelly Sushi
Multiple locations
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Pubbelly Sushi has many locations in the Miami area, including Aventura Mall, Miami Beach, Downtown Dadeland, and Brickell City Centre. This restaurant is one of the best destinations for sushi in Miami thanks to its fun, instagrammable environment and creative Pubbelly rolls, such as the Naughty Lobster Roll and Crispy Quinoa Roll.
Plus, what other sushi restaurant offers brunch? Pubbelly Sushi has a unique, creative brunch menu that you might not have ever seen or tasted before. For example, you can order the avocado sashimi toast and Pubbelly crispy lox. In addition, Pubbelly Sushi has a long list of fun fruity drinks to enjoy with your sushi.
Lure Fishbar
1601 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Phone: 305-695-4550
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You can find Lure Fishbar in the Art Deco District along the oceanfront and across from the Iberostar Berkeley hotel. Due to its popularity, Lure Fishbar also has locations in New York City and Chicago.
While many sushi bars and Japanese restaurants fill their menus with traditional Japanese dishes, Lure Fishbar breaks the norm. For example, you can find lobster bisque, clam chowder, and New York strip steak on the menu. However, they also offer main course meals that feature influences from Japanese cuisine, such as miso-glazed salmon and sea urchin bucatini.
OMAKAI sushi
2107 NW 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33127
Phone: 786-579-9995
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If you’re a fan of traditional sushi and hand rolls like I am, you might love OMKAI sushi. The establishment is located in Wynwood, sandwiched between The Superior Bike Shop and ASTRA Miami. The restaurant combines rustic and contemporary designs, creating a bright, inviting space to enjoy with friends and family.
OMAKAI Sushi prides itself on its melt-in-your-mouth rice and delicate and fresh fish used with each roll. As a traditional sushi joint, you won’t find hibachi meals on the menu. Instead, you get an extensive list of nigiri, sashimi, sushi, and hand roll choices. You can also order the fun and unique Sushi Box, which features chef-curated sushi in a color-coded box with images to identify each piece.
Hiden Miami
313 NW 25th St, Miami, FL 33127
Phone: 123-456-7890
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Hiden Miami is one of the city’s most exclusive restaurants and best sushi spots. The restaurant is small and comfortably seats eight guests at its omakase counter, much like NAOE. Despite its size, Hiden Miami is comforting and aims to bring people together over shared experiences.
Hiden Miami features seasonal menu rotations and traditional Japanese cuisine that chefs combine with more modern styles and include fresh ingredients. Occasionally, Hiden will even fly in ingredients directly from Japan to heighten the experience and improve the dishes.
Itamae
140 NE 39th St #136, Miami, FL 33137
Phone: 305-631-2664
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Itamae has been named one of the New York Time’s Best Restaurants in America. You will find the sushi restaurant in Miami’s Design District next to Baccarat and across from the Borinquen Health Care Center along route 195.
Itamae isn’t like a traditional Japanese sushi bar. Instead, it combines fresh ingredients with Japanese and Peruvian flavors to create one-of-a-kind dishes for its guests. The menu here is not as extensive as other restaurants but still offers high-quality meals and plenty to choose from. It also serves various wines, beer, sake, ciders, and non-alcoholic beverages to complement the meals.
SuViche – Sushi and Ceviche
Multiple locations
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As a popular Miami restaurant destination, you can find a SuViche location in Wynwood, Doral Cityplace, Brickell, South Beach, and Marlins Park. Each location features bohemian decor and design for a laid-back, casual atmosphere that’s ideal for lunch, dinner, and happy hour.
People know SuViche for its ceviche variety, Peruvian influences, and unique sushi roll options. One of my sushi favorites is the White Hot Heat roll with spicy tuna, tempura flakes, cream cheese, acevichada, and sriracha. I also love the TNT roll with real crab salad, avocado, cucumber, roasted salmon, tuna, spicy mayo, and eel sauce.
Moshi Moshi Brickel
1744 SW 3rd Ave, Miami, FL 33129
Phone: 844-466-6744
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Moshi Moshi is a very colorful, upbeat, and instagrammable sushi restaurant in Brickel. As a sushi, sake, and small-plates-restaurant with a relaxed environment, Moshi Moshi is the ideal sushi stop to make with friends if you’re looking to kick back, have a drink, and get to talking.
The sushi spot’s menu includes favorites like octopus ceviche, fried pork gyoza, and specialty sushi rolls like the signature Moshi Moshi roll (tuna, salmon, yellowtail, avocado, masago, tempura flake, and spicy mayo). Plus, if you get in the mood for a midnight craving, Moshi Moshi has a 24-hour menu to satisfy your hunger no matter the time of night.
NaiYaRa Thai & Sushi Miami
1854 Bay Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139
Phone: 786-275-6005
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Voted Best Restaurant on Miami Beach by the Miami New Times, NaiYaRa Thai & Sushi is an upscale restaurant in Miami Beach, featuring a refined environment and imaginative cuisine. Although an upscale destination, NaiYaRa Thai & Sushi doesn’t make that obvious with over-the-top decor and exclusive waitlists.
Maybe one of the best parts about NaiYaRa Thai & Sushi is that it provides family-style dining. So, if you and your friends or family decide to stop by for dinner, you can order multiple sushi rolls to share , such as the lobster roll, Naiyara roll, or taki taki roll.
Ahi Sushi Miami
1527 SW 8th St, Miami, FL 33135
Phone: 786-899-0779
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Ahi Sushi sits just north of Shenandoah across the street from the Domino Park FKA Maximo Gomez Park and next door to Pizza Hut. Plus, the sushi bar inside the restaurant offers omakase dining every Tuesday through Thursday.
Ahi Sushi also serves alcoholic beverages but allows guests to bring their own if they prefer. Either way, Ahi Sushi is a great place to gather with friends over a meal and a couple of drinks. You can choose from their delicious maki rolls, sashimi, nigiri, a-la-carte sushi, and bento boxes for dinner too.
From fun, eclectic spots in Wynwood to upscale, exclusive culinary experiences in Miami Beach, there’s a Miami sushi restaurant for everyone in this tropical city. Plus, with the city’s variety, you can find the best sushi in Miami almost around every corner.
But, if sushi isn’t your favorite, or you want to see more of what the restaurant industry in Miami has to offer, take a look at this list of places to eat outdoors in the fresh Florida air.
Did we leave a restaurant out of this list? Make sure you leave us a comment, and we’ll check it out!
