The Top List of Sushi Restaurants-Orlando, FLThe sushi scene has made a splash in Orlando. by Melody Carpenter
The popularity of sushi has grown over the past few decades to become part of the mainstream meal. Now, numerous sushi eateries can be found all over the country. The Orlando area boasts about 30 sushi restaurants that are mainly found downtown, in the nearby Winter Park suburb and in the tourist area (near Disney and Universal). The sushi restaurants range from inexpensive to upscale and one even includes traditional Japanese drum performances. Sushi has something for everyone since the inside can be filled with an endless variety of items like cucumber, salmon, crab or tuna. If you're unfamiliar with eating sushi, I'll only warn you once about the green wasabi paste. Trust me, a little of the fierce wasabi goes a long way. Don't forget to compliment your meal with sweet plum wine, Japanese beer or some powerful sake (rice wine). Sushi is an exotic experience that everyone should try at least once. If you've never tried sushi, you don't know what you're missing.
ICHIBAN 19 S. Orange Ave. (407) 423-2688 Hours: Monday-Friday 11:30 a.m.-1:45 p.m.; Monday-Thursday 5:30 p.m.-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 5:30 p.m.-11 p.m.; closed Sunday; Voted best sushi restaurant by the readers and the food critic of the Orlando Sentinel, 2000. Located in the hub of downtown, this small eatery is bustling during lunchtime with many white-collar sushi lovers. The inside atmosphere is enhanced with understated lighting and the stylish decor. You can sample the fare from a stool at the long sushi bar or at a table. The portions are substantial and the prices are reasonable. The sushi choices include cucumber, sea urchin, tuna, asparagus tempura, eel and the California roll. The sushi assortments are artfully presented in boxes with a variety of delicious sauces. The entrees include seafood tempura, sukiyaki and many combination platters. Make sure to get your reservations for dinner on the weekends, because this local hot spot can get jam-packed.
SUSHI HOUSE 1311 Florida Mall Ave. (407) 812-9767 Hours: Monday-Saturday 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.-10 p.m.; closed Sunday Sushi House, near the Florida Mall, is a great addition to the local sushi scene. The ambiance is set with rice screens, paintings and even a delicate geisha doll in a glass case. You'll be amazed as you watch your sushi being made at the brightly lit sushi bar that is decorated by red lanterns. The sushi offerings are numerous and can be purchased a la carte. Have a go at the sushi dishes that include whitefish, crab, eel, avocado, tuna, cucumber, salmon or sea urchin. If you can't make up your mind, try a sampler or combination dish. The entrees include udon noodles, tempura, miso soup and teriyaki. The staff makes you feel right at home in the Sushi House.
SUSHI HATSU 24 E. Washington St. (407) 422-1551 Hours: Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; Monday-Thursday 5 p.m.-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 5 p.m.-11 p.m.; closed Sunday; This downtown Japanese/Korean eatery is good if you have a hard-core sushi craving but you don't want to break the bank. The picture filled menu offers many a la carte sushi selections that are top-notch, tasty and fresh. The sushi choices include white fish, crab, sea urchin, green mussel and the dancing eel roll. Try the delicious salmon roe, which is a thick roll of moist fish eggs. The fried oyster appetizer, served with a savory dipping sauce, is a perfect mix of crispiness on the outside and a creamy center in the middle. The vegetarian sushi dinner, which includes soup and salad, is a generous amount of rolls that are filled with cucumber, asparagus and carrot. Finish your feast with the sweet red bean ice cream or the refreshing orange slices.
RAN-GETSU OF TOKYO 8400 International Drive (407) 345-0044 Hours: 5 p.m.-11:30 p.m. daily; sushi bar closes at 11 p.m.; This upscale Japanese eatery gives you exactly what most of the tourist area restaurants are famous for: entertainment and good food. Ran-Getsu offers amazing drum show performances twice a night on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The restaurant specialties are sushi, sukiyaki and new Florida cuisine. Sushi fanatics gather in droves at the long S-shaped sushi bar that serves up the scallop roll, spider roll, spicy tuna roll, rainbow roll and the crab roll. The entrees are prepared at your table and are served with soup or salad and rice. The sushi entrees include the sashimi platter, sushi America and the AJ boat. The full bar includes mixed drinks, Japanese beer, wines and of course sake. Try one of the creatively named mixed drinks like the "samurai," "green dragon," "Tokyo rose" or the "sake zero." Conclude your meal with the sushi dessert, green tea crème brûlée, plum wine sherbet or the chocolate cheesecake.
Estimated Price: $25-40
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day: Open; Valentine's Day: Open; Easter: Open; Thanksgiving: Open; Christmas Eve: Open; Christmas Day: Open; New Year's Eve: Open; Call ahead since the holiday schedule is subject to change.
FUJI SUSHI 1499 Lee Road, Winter Park (407) 645-1299 Hours: Monday-Friday 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; Monday-Thursday, 5 p.m.-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 5 p.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m.; Voted best sushi by the readers of the Orlando Weekly, 2000. Fuji Sushi provides a sizable menu with enormous portions. The small eatery sets a soothing scene with fish tanks and dainty Japanese lanterns. The inexpensive chow is beautifully presented and the staff is attentive. You can watch the sushi artists create masterpieces at the large sushi bar or enjoy your meal at a table. The variety of sushi includes vegetarian rolls, the crazy roll and the spicy conch roll. The sushi is inspiringly named after local attractions like the Rollins roll, Orlando Magic roll, Lee Road roll and the Beauty and the Beast roll. Top off your meal with the tasty fried cheesecake.
AMURA JAPANESE RESTAURANT 55 Church St. (407) 316-8500 Hours: Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; Saturday 12 p.m.-3 p.m.; Monday-Thursday 5 p.m.-11 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 5 p.m.-12 a.m.; Sunday 5 p.m.-11 p.m.; This downtown eatery, near the lively Church Street Station, offers a relaxing inside atmosphere. Also, the courteous staff is eager to answer any questions about the menu items. The menu includes numerous fresh fish items and various other creative dishes. You can park yourself at the sushi bar to watch the chefs in action or enjoy quiet conversation in an intimate booth. Some of the sushi options are cucumber, carrot, eel, egg and the cream cheese rolls. The Mexican roll (avocado and shrimp) is very popular with sushi-lovers. If you like it spicy, the volcano spicy tuna served on rice will fire up your taste buds. The entrees like the teriyaki and tempura are always culinary winners.
Estimated Price: $15-23
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day: Open; Valentine's Day: Open; Easter: Open; Thanksgiving: Closed; Christmas Eve: Open; Christmas Day: Closed; New Year's Eve: Open; Call ahead since the holiday schedule is subject to change.
KOBE JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE & SUSHI BAR 2110 E. Colonial Drive (407) 895-6868 5605 S. Kirkman Road (407) 248-1978 8350 International Drive (407) 352-1811 Hours: 5 p.m.-10:30 p.m. daily; Voted best Japanese restaurant by the readers of the Orlando Sentinel, 2000. Kobe, with over six locations in Central Florida, always offers an enjoyable dining experience. Kick off your feast with one of the house specialties like the seaweed salad. Or try one of the sushi rolls like the vegetable, salmon skin, California, Mexican, tempura or the fiery dynamite hama. The entrees come with stir-fried vegetables, soup, salad and rice. Make sure to bring the kids since there is a children's menu that offers chicken, shrimp and sirloin. An added bonus is that the chefs are accommodating for those who request food with no sodium or cholesterol. The mixed drinks menu includes the "sake martini" (sake and vodka), the "geisha sansu" (passion juice, rum and apricot brandy) and the "Kobe cooler" (sake with plum wine). You can also have a birthday celebration at Kobe, which includes a fanfare of booming Japanese gongs when you receive your dessert. Finish your meal with one of the desserts like the flavored ice cream, ice cream cake or the sherbet.
Estimated Price: $15-30
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day: Open; Valentine's Day: Open; Easter: Open; Thanksgiving: Closed; Christmas Eve: Open; Christmas Day: Closed; New Year's Eve: Open; Call ahead since the holiday schedule is subject to change.
SEITO SUSHI 510 N. Orlando Ave., Winter Park (407) 644-5050 Hours: Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; Sunday-Thursday 5 p.m.-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 5 p.m.-11 p.m.; Located near the Regal Winter Park Village 20 movie complex, Seito offers a convenient choice for an enjoyable dinner and a movie night. Seito consistently serves up sushi at an affordable price. The newly opened restaurant has a beautiful interior that is decorated with polished wood and paper lanterns. The sizable a la carte sushi menu has imaginatively named rolls like the dragon skin roll, hurricane roll and the rock n' roll. The sushi is offered stylishly and the taste will never disappoint you. The entrees include salads, sample platters, tempura and sashimi. End your meal on a high note with a dish of flavored ice cream.
HANANAMIZUKI 8255 International Drive (407) 363-7200 Hours: Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5 p.m.-10:30 p.m.; closed Sunday; This authentic Japanese restaurant, near the Mercado on I-drive, offers upscale food that is well worth the money. Hananamizuki can get almost full to capacity, so dinner reservations are highly suggested on the weekends. The kimono dressed staff adds elegance to the traditional Japanese atmosphere. The menu is extensive and the dishes are innovative. Pull up to the small sushi bar and enjoy the salmon roll, tuna roll, sweet shrimp roll or the squid roll. The miso soup (made from soybean paste) is included with the dinner entrees and is quite flavorful. Save room at end of this indulgent meal for a scoop of green tea or red bean ice cream.
Estimated Price: $25-40
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day: Open; Valentine's Day: Open; Easter: Open; Thanksgiving: Open; Christmas Eve: Open; Christmas Day: Open; New Year's Eve: Open; Open on all holidays unless it falls on a Sunday.
YAE SUSHI 2050 N. Semoran Blvd., Winter Park (407) 677-1088 Hours: Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; Monday-Thursday 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 5 p.m.-10 p.m.; closed Sunday; Yea Sushi, found on a main thoroughfare, has a huge menu that is full of inventive sushi and sashimi dishes. Yae Sushi has over 50 types of a la carte sushi rolls that include the avocado, shrimp, tuna and eel. Sports fan can express their team loyalty in the sushi like the Orlando Magic, Rollins Tar or the Seminole. The UCF Knight roll (shrimp tempura, avocado, cucumber and hot sauce) is a favorite of local alumni. For those who like a little spice in their life, there is the scorching banzai roll and the hot ikaten roll. Some of the entrees options are the vegetable teriyaki, grouper teriyaki, tempura, combination platters, cutlets and soups. Cool off your taste buds with one of the desserts like the ice cream, fried cheesecake or the fried banana.
Estimated Price: $15-25
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day: Closed; Valentine's Day: Open; Easter: Open; Thanksgiving: Closed; Christmas Eve: Open; Christmas Day: Closed; New Year's Eve: Open; Call ahead since the holiday schedule is subject to change. Closed on a holiday if it falls on a Sunday.
The Top List of Sushi Restaurants-Orlando, FL
