Top notch sushi isn't only for the coasts
You're welcome. Because once you visit any these 10 best sushi restaurants in Salt Lake City, you'll be thanking us. Ok, with that out of the way, let's talk sushi. Whether you like traditional, raw AF sushi, or tasty deep-fried goodness of tempura rolls, you'll be in heaven at one of the best sushi restaurants in Salt Lake City. Because after all, they're the best!
Wait, how can you have fresh sushi in Salt Lake City, hundreds of miles away from any oceans? Good question. Actually, no it's not. It's a stupid question. How does anything fresh get to SLC? Well, there's this awesome new invention called the airplane. Or, that state of the art new mode of transportation; the semi-truck. So let's move past this “you can't get good, fresh sushi in Utah” nonsense. It's bull crap.
In reality, Salt Lake City has some sushi restaurants that are every bit as great, hip, and fresh, as anything you'd find in NYC, LA, San Fran, or Miami. Don't believe me? Check it out for yourself. We compiled this list of the 10 Best Sushi Restaurants in Salt Lake City just for you. YOU. No one else. Just you. Now go, eat copious amounts of sushi. I'll be expecting that Thank You card soon.
10. Chopfuku Sushi Bar and Asian Fusion
4546 S Atherton Dr, Ste 107, Taylorsville, UT 84123 (Website)
Chopfuku is a hidden gem in Taylorsville, a part of town where you may not expect one of the best sushi restaurants in Salt Lake City. You've probably driven by it many times and not even noticed it. Next time, stop in and grab a table because Chopfuku is a great local Asian Fusion restaurant with a world class Master Chef with over 40 years under his belt! Chopfuku actually translates to “lucky chop chop”, which I thought was kind of cool. They have plenty of appetizers where you'll find something for even the pickiest eater. You'll also find some pretty non-traditional sushi rolls at Chopfuku too, with some ingredients you usually don't see in sushi. Hint: bacon! The food gets rave reviews all around, but the service is talked about just as much. One Elite Yelp reviewer even picked Chopfuku as their #1 best sushi restaurant in Salt Lake City because the service was just that great. Don't pass this one by!
9. Happy Sumo
153 S Rio Grande St, Salt Lake City, UT 84101 – South end of The Gateway (Website)
One of the longest standing residents at The Gateway's Restaurant Row, the Happy Sumo has been a downtown SLC favorite for years. In summer months, they have patio seating, which is awesome. The Happy Sumo prides themselves on having fresh sushi, and they offer a diverse selection of asian fusion to traditional sushi dishes. For fans of spicy food, The Happy Sumo has a “Death Roll” made up of soft-shell crab, radish, cucumber, gobo root, sprouts, and their spicy “Death Sauce”. I'm a fan! The Happy Sumo also has a location in Cottonwood Heights in Old Mill Village (6572 S Big Cottonwood Canyon Rd, Salt Lake City, UT 84121), and a third Utah location in Provo.
8. Koko Kitchen
702 South 300 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84111 (801-364-4888)
When you want incredible ramen, go to Koko Kitchen. Online reviews rave about their ramen. “Best Ramen in the country!” they say. But don't overlook their sushi. This affordable, quaint little restaurant in Central City is definitely a sushi restaurant you don't want to skip. The menu is quite large, the prices are very reasonable, and the sashimi, specialty rolls, and traditional sushi rolls are favorites of Koko Kitchen regulars. Ohh, did I mention they have amazing ramen?
7. Sáme Sushi
423 Broadway #150, Salt Lake City, UT 84101 (Website)
Open in downtown SLC since 2014, Sàme Sushi boasts an “upscale dining experience at an affordable price.” They sometimes have live music which creates an easy going, laid back ambiance, which is unique when compared to the other top sushi restaurants in Salt Lake City. Same Sushi offers a diverse menu, from fresh sushi to beer and wine. They use high-quality ingredients, the chefs are extremely talented, and their service will make you feel welcome and important. The food is moderately priced. Be sure to try out the Tokyo Drift roll. It's a fan favorite.
6. Kyoto Japanese Restaurant
1080 East 1300 South, Salt Lake City, UT (Website)
One of the most authentic Japanese experience of any sushi restaurant in Salt Lake City. Kyoto is special, and they have some incredible world-class chefs on staff. Their Head Sushi Chef, Peggi Ince-Whiting, has been making great sushi in Utah for over 30 years. She is one of a handful of female chefs to actually work behind a sushi bar in Japan. Peggi was trained by Sushi Master Inou at Hama Sushi in Tokyo. Now she's here to make amazing sushi for us here in Salt Lake! People rave about the miso soup here at Kyoto, and their large selection of sushi rolls, with some of the freshest fish in town. It's a somewhat small restaurant so if you're planning on coming for dinner, consider making a reservation,,, which they do take 🙂
5. Sakana Sushi Bar
7626 Campus View Dr, West Jordan, UT 84084 – Jordan Landing – (Website)
Admittedly, of all the 10 best sushi restaurants in Salt Lake City, Sakana is my personal favorite. Sakana in Jordan Landing is where I very first tried sushi and enjoyed it. My wife is a sushi fiend and years ago when we started dating, she took me to Sakana to push her sushi loving beliefs onto me. Well, it worked! I was converted. Sakana is just a laid-back place to get sushi when you're in West Jordan. Prices are quite reasonable, and they have delicious rolls. I still think Sakana has the best Vegas Roll in town. Maybe it has to do with the fact that it was the sushi roll that got me to first like sushi. That deep fried, cream cheesy goodness, mmmmmm! Did I mention the free edamame? Steakhouses give loaves of bread, but Sakana gives awesome edamame!
4. Sushi Groove
2910 S Highland Dr, Salt Lake City, UT 84106 (Website)
There's never a dull moment at Sushi Groove. Think “not your typical sushi restaurant.” Yet here they are, one of the 10 best sushi restaurants in SLC. They're always packed and busy as hell. It's a hip little spot over on Highland Dr in Millcreek, with graffiti and murals on the walls. They do have live music a couple times each week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and DJ's on Mon, Wed, Thurs, and Fri. Their sushi rolls are super creative and unconventional, and they're not afraid to try new flavors. But they work, and evidenced by the never-ending crowd at Sushi Groove, everyone else likes those creative flavors. One thing you MUST try when at Sushi Groove is an out of this word dessert called the Cookie Challenge. It's pure insanity! Tempura fried Oreos, chocolate coconut covered tempura fried Nutter Butter cookies, and fresh bananas served with frickin' Nutella ice cream and thick hot fudge! It's diabetes in the making, and worth every bit of it.
3. Kobe Japanese Cuisine
3947 S Wasatch Blvd, Salt Lake City, UT – in Olympus Hills Shopping Center (801-277-2928)
Situated in the middle of the strip mall known as Olympus Hills Shopping Center in the Olympus Cove neighborhood, is one of the top 3 best sushi restaurants in Salt Lake. Kobe Sushi. This nondescript location helps keep the crowd down, lucky for us. Some favorites are their spicy kimchi ramen and the miso ramen, nigiri, sashimi, and of course sushi. You'll be able to grab a nice cold Sapporo and even Japanese whiskey. The staff is friendly and the place is not too loud. Next time you're up in The Cove, drop by and be blown away.
2. Sapa Sushi Bar & Grill
722 S State Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84111 (Website)
Ok, now THIS place is cool! Talk about having character. You can dine in 300-year-old hand-carved houses imported from Vietnam. WOW! This Salt Lake Asian fusion gem offers sushi, sashimi, drunken noodles, beer & cocktails in a hip locale with an impressive courtyard & Japanese teahouses. The presentation and artistry that goes into each of their dishes is quite impressive. Sapa is regularly #1 or #2 on any list if the best sushi restaurants in Salt Lake City. Pretty much anyone you talk to would say Sapa Sushi Bar & Grill has some of the best sushi in the city. We agree, 100%. Sapa Sushi Bar & Grill is a winner.
1.Takishi
18 W Market St, Salt Lake City, UT 84139 (Website)
We've reached the top of the list. The #1 Best Sushi Restaurant in Salt Lake City. The winner, of course, is Takashi. With well over 1,000 Yelp reviews and an average of 4.5 stars, they're the clear favorite. Personally, this is where my wife and I love to go for anniversaries and other occasions. It's just incredible. Try the Beatles themed Strawberry Fields and Yellow Submarine sushi rolls. They're fan favorites, and you'll see why. Takashi doesn't take reservations, and they are absolutely full to the brim every single day, from open to close. It's that good. Their sushi is extremely fresh and they only use the best ingredients, which is evident as soon as you take your first few bites. You can certainly taste the quality and freshness. If you haven't been yet, it really needs to be the next sushi restaurant you visit.
There you have it. The 10 Best Sushi Restaurants in Salt Lake City. We'd love to hear what YOU think is the best sushi in Salt Lake. Who did we leave out? Who do you think shouldn't be on the list? Let us know in the comments below.
*We considered Google and Yelp reviews, and personal experience to choose those restaurants on the list of 10 Best Sushi Restaurants in Salt Lake City
