The Most Delicious Japanese in Tampa

Sushi House

★★★★☆ 4.3 (277) • $$

"This place is kinda off the beaten path. Small house, not a lot of seating. However, the service was excellent, the entire staff was super pleasant. I have eaten a lot of sushi and this was hands down the best EVER. The individual flavors were amazing. Highly recommend giving this place a try, you won't regret it."

Kichi Taiyaki

★★★★☆ 4 (9)

"I have been hearing about the new Japanese bakery in Lakeland and been wanting to try it out, and it did not disappoint!The main thing I wanted to try here was the fluffy Japanese pancakes. But a good heads up to know is they take about 20 minutes to make because they have to cook at a really low heat. So if you go there to have those make sure you're not needing to be somewhere right after- we didn't have time to wait so I will be back for those for sure.They had so many options that sounded good but ended up trying a jelly pudding that was in the shape of a capybara. They have other animal puddings too like a duck and cat. It was so cute and tasted as delicious as it looked adorable.The peach boba tea we had was great too. It was sweet and a little sour and packed with flavor. The tapioca pearls were cooked and soft like they should be.I also loved the vibe in here. It's crazy how different the inside looks from its last tenant that was Twisted Sugar, a cookie place. It's so color and so much more inviting inside now, and a good amount of seating even for being a small place."

Hibachi Express

★★★★☆ 4.1 (77) • $$

"This is the second time we've ordered from Hibachi Express. We really loved it the first time and the fried rice was really good, but this time the meat and vegetables were SO soaked in oil that it was the dominant flavor/taste of the meal. We'll order from them again but hopefully they'll see this and cook the food with less grease in the future."

Sushi Kabuki

★★★★☆ 4.3 (199) • $$

"Came here for dinner with a friend. We got here shortly after they opened on a Friday. We were seated immediately in a booth.The menu was extensive with lots of options and variety. Service was excellent. Took a little bit in the end to get our check but it allowed us to chat. I ordered the Super Rainbow Roll, the Todd's Special Roll, and the Devil Ray Roll.The Super Rainbow Roll is a crunchy spicy tuna roll with tuna, yellow tail, salmon, white meat fish, shrimp, krab with 4 kinds of roes, spicy mayo and eel sauce on top. I swapped the spicy tuna out for regular tuna.The Todd's Special Roll is krab tempura, cream cheese, and avocado, w/ crunch chips, eel sauce, spicy mayo & yummy sauce on top.The Devil Ray Roll is eel, cream cheese, and avocado with eel sauce.All three rolls were phenomenal! Very fresh and flavorful!Will definitely be back to try more rolls!"

Kazu's Sushi

★★★★☆ 4 (190) • $$

"Best Japanese sushi in tampa area. It's been a while since I've been there but my latest visit reenforced at belief. It is run by Kazu and his sister. Excellent sushi. Also is training restaurant."

Poké Falls

★★★★☆ 4.3 (127) • $$

"Poke Falls consistently impresses me so I had to come back and show my love. Their Ubereats orders are just as good as eating at the location. They do not skimp on anything! My go to: 3 protein custom bowl - 2 servings of spicy tuna and 1 serving of ahi tuna. Base is white rice. Toppings: Cucumber, Sweet Onion, Sweet Corn, Chopped Jalapeño, Avocado, Krab Salad, Pickled Ginger, Wasabi, Masago, Spicy Mayo, Korean Red Chili Sauce, and Sesame Seeds."

Hibachi Express

★★★★☆ 4.1 (62) • $

"A great place for lunchtime. The food was fresh, good quality. Service was great. I would like to try katsu next time and gyoza."

Sushi Inc

★★★★☆ 4.2 (424) • $$

"Visited this spot the night before Hurricane Helene and was pleased to see some of my kids' schoolmates eating w their parents. Local spot in downtown, always clean, servers friendly. The issue for me here were the portion sizes!My volcano roll was tiny..... I'm usually full or can't eat it all so I had to order more food. 3 people 94.00. Meh. Still searching for the best sushi spot in st Pete."

Koya

★★★★★ 4.9 (15)

"Lovely. We've been here twice now and love the service and every handcrafted, well thought out, fresh, bite. It's not just a meal, it's an experience"

Sushi Avenue

★★★★☆ 3.9 (197) • $$

"Favorite place for the family to go for sushi and chicken and rice! It seems to be a tradition for us every weekend to take advantage! It has a nice vibe and very comfortable feel to the location."

Chopstick Express

★★★★☆ 4 (300) • $

"Whether I'm having a bad night and need a quick dinner or everyone in the household is looking for a Chinese dish chopstick express is our families go to I love the drive-through. You can see everything as you pull up being prepared and the staff is so friendly and helpful, definitely great place for some quick Chinese food"

Kaiko Sushi Bar & Japanese Restaurant

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (37) • $$

"This is my favorite sushi restaurant in the Greater Tampa Bay area. I grew up in Tarpon Springs and went to high school in Tampa. Every time I come home to visit, this is the only restaurant on my must-go-to list.Sushi is perhaps my favorite meal-food, so I've had a lot of sushi in my days. Since graduating, I've lived in Miami and Boston. I visit Orlando so often I may as well say I've lived there. Same with NYC. I've found very few sushi places as good as Kaiko. If you want good, fresh sushi, this is it, folks. Nothing too over the top fancy like most sushi places these days.Charlie keeps it simple and oh so delicious.Order the Scott Roll. It's only on the specials board, not on the paper menu.And if you make it to dessert, the fried ice cream is pretty damn good too.Also, if you adore the sushi as much as my friends and I do, there's a special tip jar above the sushi bar to show your appreciation."

JoTo Japanese Steak House

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (104) • $$

"Anytime I have the desire for Japanese food I head directly to Jo tos. I was going once a month. If I could I go once a week. It's delicious. Better than any Japanese steakhouse in town. It's too bad it's not a little more beautiful, but what they lack in luxury they make up for once the food is made."

Oishi Sushi Habachi

★★★★★ 4.6 (61)

"Went for dinner tonight for the first time, it was fantastic! The employees were all super nice, service was good and the food was delicious! We got a variety of food, we would order every thing we got again. If you're in the area ... check them out ... you won't be disappointed."

Haiku Tampa

★★★★☆ 3.9 (493) • $$$

"The family took my son for his birthday and we had an amazing time. Folks don't know that they are open for lunch so we had the place almost completely to ourselves. The food was great, the service was excellent and the atmosphere and decor is great! I don't know how their service is during peak time, but lunch was a pleasure. Their Chicken Ramen was AMAZING!"

Sakura Sushi Hibachi

★★★★★ 4.7 (67) • $$

"Wonderful food and service. The hibachi came out quick and steaming hot. The filet had wonderful flavor and was super tender. Our three rolls were delicious. We thoroughly enjoyed our dinner here."

Sekushi

★★★★☆ 4 (101)

"Why did we wait so long to stop in? We recently drove past, went home, and back in the car we headed to Sekushi. Yay! What a gem!We were able to get a seat at the bar, and Robert greeted us immediately. Sake for me and a Jai Lai for my guy. We looked at the menu and decided to graze from the happy hour menu.3 each of Chicken Yakitori1 Tuni/Sushi/SashimiSpicy Tuna RollChicken Bao BunPork Belly Bao BunJapanese Gyoza (fried) Will order steamed next timeEvery item was delicious and nicely presented. Nice ambiance, awesome service, and very comfortable.We met many folks and had lots of fun. Definitely go-to for us now. Oh, my dessert Expresso Martini was divine.The owner greeted everyone, and the bartender, Robert, ensured everyone had a very nice experience.Located in a strip mall, so parking was easy."

Sushi Ninja Tampa

★★★★☆ 4.1 (421) • $$

"A Japanese and Korean restaurant located on Kennedy Blvd is my go-to for sushi and its delicious freshness and menu variety. I typically order pickup and given a 15-20 minute window for pickup and rarely have to worry about waiting a full 20 minutes for my order to be ready. The ambiance is nice, quiet, and enjoyable dining experience the few times I dined in."

Sushi Masa Japanese Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4 (88)

"My partner is not a fan of sushi, so I took advantage of a recent trip he took to go out and try Sushi Masa. I did the lunch all you can eat and what a great value. My server, Christian, was fantastic. He consistently checked in with me to see what I'd like to experience next. I loved that this was an order as you want rather than a walk up buffet. Here are my thoughts on what I tried. Miso Soup - bland Edamame was great Boston Roll - good but too much kale for my liking. Rainbow Roll - delicious Bon Temps Roll - My Absolute FavoriteCrunchy Roll - just ok, not really "crunchy" but liked the flavors Gyoza - hot and fresh I would definitely go back."

Koto Steakhouse & Sushi Bar

★★★☆☆ 2.9 (310) • $$

"it's honestly not a bad place. Very happy families go there. The sushi chef he's very nice. The food is good. I do get an eerie feeling from the management. The food is good."

Tsukiyomi Sushi

★★★★☆ 4.4 (31) • $$

"One of the best sushi places we've found with lots of variety. We've eaten sushi in NYC and Boston due to travel and this place rates on the "very good/repeater" in our minds. Their servers are fast and offer extras like sauces you might not thing of. The ambiance is traditional and comfortable. We get take out but also enjoy eating in because it's fresher if you eat it right away. No complaints here just compliments because they work hard to keep us happy."

Hibachi Japanese Express

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (133) • $

"Every single time I order, whether through Uber eats or dine in, this food is so spot on its ridiculous! Everything is perfectly portioned, warm, fresh, and so darn good! They never disappoint! When I done in or pick up, customer service is always fabulous! They consistently prepare my food quickly every single time! I would have given 5 stars if the inside of the restaurant were cleaner. That's the only downfall. Floors are sticky, tables need wiped down. Clean up and 5 starts you'll receive!"

Tori Bar

★★★★★ 4.6 (199) • $$

"This spot was pretty good. A couple of neighbors and I decided to try this spot for their happy hour. There's not a lot, but street parking is available. I'm not from the area, but it looked like it could be hard to find parking at certain times, but not impossible. We had the opportunity to sit on the patio. This particular night, it was a little chilly, but with the outdoor heaters on, it was really nice. We tried a few different things on the menu. The service was a little slower than I would have liked, but it was very busy then. The patio had a live band that came around 6:30 or 7pm. I enjoyed my time and will return."

Hibachi Express Zephyrhills

★★★★☆ 4 (44)

"The staff really went out of their way to make our dinner enjoyable. Dad and I both loved our meals. The portions are large, it was enough for two meals for me. The location is in a strip mall, don't let that fool you. Also, it's right next to the Zephyrhills hospital, so a nice break if you are visiting someone there. They have bubble tea in a tea, a bunch of different flavors. Not quite the same as fresh made, but it's nice that they offer it."

Kōsen

★★★★☆ 4.3 (37)

"Such a wonderful meal. It is a glorious dining experience. It isn't cheap, but it's worth it. Splurge for this. The head chef serves up everything fresh and explains it all. The vibe is electric yet focused. The staff are attentive."

Shogun Japanese Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.4 (147) • $$

"Really nice clean place. Sushi is above par. The saki is severed delightfully hot. I've been twice now, early afternoon lunch. I bet it pops for dinner."

Kobe Japanese Steakhouse - New Tampa

★★★★☆ 4 (46) • $$$

"Our family decided on Kobe while in Tampa as there isn't one in our area. Delightful servers---Anubis and Mr. Beast---thoroughly entertaining and efficient. Food was well-prepared and in massive quantities. It was noisy in a festive, not obnoxious manner. Leftovers fed us the next day!"

The Olde Heights Bistro

★★★★☆ 4.2 (134) • $$

"I never would of found this place if not suggested by a friend. He loves hole in the wall type places and this one definitely fits the bill. I showed up and parked in the back and couldn't figure out how to get into entrance of the restaurant. So I called and was told to hang tight and that they would meet me in the back to help me access the restaurant. I literally walked through the patio, through the kitchen and then to my seat. As a yelpie, this was a great experience as I got to check out a behind the scenes of their operation. I chose the tuna and my friend had the lomo saltado (he's Peruvian). My tuna salad was a bit different than pictured on yelp but was very delicious and tasted fresh. My friend said his lomo saltado was good and had the perfect amount of spice. The recipe is said to come from a visit the owner had in Peru, and the recipe was given to him from a local owner of a restaurant. Can't get any more authentic than that. They do have a decent beer selection and the service was great. The concept is Asian fusion since one owner is Japanese and the other is a southern dude. Phil said that they were going to expand the backyard patio, add a garden and looked towards growing out the space. This was a great visit and we really enjoyed our meal."

Chanko

★★★★★ 4.5 (178) • $$

"Never disappointed here! Walk into the old type diner order on the kiosk. It's all cashless pay with your card. A few minutes later your food comes out. Find a seat inside or out. Enjoy it. I got the marinated deep friedChicken. Chico sauce, Japanese pickles, extra pickled cabbage, delightful. My husband went for the beef, curry, spicy and delicious even on the medium side. Choices of sake as well as fruit drinks, parking all around on the side."

Akira

★★★★☆ 3.9 (100) • $$

"Food is still amazing! We've tried several of the local sushi places over time and realized we prefer Akira to all others. The Gyoza and Crab Rangoon are also delicious! They recognize us and know our order ha. Friendly staff Atmosphere is always nice as well."

Kyoto Express

★★★★★ 5 (5)

"Grabbed takeout from this place and it was delicious! The order was ready super quick and the portions were great. The poke bowl was $13 and filling. This is definitely going to be my go to poke spot! The sauce was great and the food tasted fresh."

BG Robata

★★★★★ 4.7 (59)

"First impression is that the place is very clean, great decor and vibes, and the owners very clearly put lots of care into the place. We enjoyed that the appetizer selection was different than most sushi spots and the happy hour gave us a chance to try a handful of different bites. The "deconstructed" krab rangoon with taro chips is the obvious popular pick here, and executed well, but there's also unique options for more adventurous eaters. We chose a few rolls to try out the different sushi types. An Americanized fried and sauce-laden Monster roll, a classic spicy tuna, and a sushi novice's California roll. The monster roll was fried to perfection and certainly something even the sushi purist could enjoy. The spicy tuna was SO fresh; not even a hint of fishiness, and the perfect amount of spice. I liked that they made their own spicy sauce instead of just squirting sriracha on top. The California had a bit of roe on top, which I appreciate for the added texture. The cherry on top was the very attentive service. Overall it was a great experience. Looking forward to trying out their hot dish menu!"

Juju Taiyaki

★★★★★ 5 (6)

"So, there's a new treat in town. Juju Taiyaki just opened at the end of August 2022. Have You Heard of Taiyaki Waffle Fish? This is the cutest little Japanese Snack Food. It's a Waffle shaped like a fish & it has a sweet filling inside. It is crunchy on the outside and soft and warm on the inside. This portable snack is perfect for on the go because they are the size of your hand. Cost: $3 for Single. They also sell as 1/2 dozen and dozen. See my pic for prices. You can also message ahead of time or call ahead to preorder and pick up. Flavors: Nutella, red bean, guava and cheese, Ube, custard, and cinnamon. I picked Nutella, Guava & Cheese, & Nutella. Nutella was my fave! You can bring eat them right away, or take them home and toast them in the air fryer.Location & Day: Find these amazing taiyaki fish at Juju Taiyaki. It is currently a pop-up every Monday at the Baking Box location in South Tampa. You can also find them at K-Deli right next to USF. They carry them there in their fridges, & just take them home and warm them up.Definitely don't hesitate picking them up. The only other place I know off hand to find them in Tampa is in the freezer section at MD. These don't compare. They are fresh not frozen. Also served with a smile! Support this small Filipino business! And Enjoy!"

Sage Sushi Lounge

★★★★☆ 4 (59) • $$

"Not sure how I did not discover this place before. Ambiance is nice. Music in background. Several booths but mostly tables. Service was excellent. Good was absolute delish."

Ayoki Japan

★★★★☆ 4.3 (51) • $$

"Ayoki Japanese Restaurant is located in Lutz, North of Tampa off State Road 54 & Collier Parkway in a plaza next to Esporta Fitness and Sweet Frog Froyo. Ayoki serves Express Hibachi, Teriyaki, poke bowls, and tea. Food: 8/10 Kitchen Speed: 9/10Value: 7/10 Service: N/AAmbiance: 4/10Romantic: 3/10 Ayoki does not offer table service. You have to walk up to the counter to select your toppings, order, pay, and then you can so at whichever open table you'd like. There was 1 person in front of us and the wait was not long to order. The guy creating the orders was not too professionally dressed and had a ton of tats but he was nice. I got the Dynamite Bowl 2 scoops tempura shrimp, cucumber, avocado, green onion, mixed greens, carrot, wakame seaweed, masago, tempura flakes, and spicy mayo sauce for $15.95 which is a bit higher than average but the serving size was large and the dish was tasty. Ayoki's ambiance has an old school run down 80s vibe that makes this spot not ideal for a date. There's brown wood paneling on the walls and nasty old brown tile, ugly uncomfortable brown chairs, and no booth seating. The restaurant could use a serious renovation. The lighting is also bright and not dim or romantic. There's a lot of more modern poke spots with nicer interior decor that cost less than Ayoki. However, the serving size was pretty large and it didn't take too long to get my order."