The sushi craze has hit Greater Hartford! In the past few years, a preponderance of sushi restaurants have cropped up in the Hartford area.
For those already infatuated with the traditional Japanese cuisine, these restaurants are a sure delight. The preparation is flawless and the sushi and sashimi are unparalleled. For those still leery of raw fish, these fine restaurants offer a vast assortment of delicious cooked cuisine as well; however, once you take a chance with the sushi, you may never eat cooked food again!
The brand new Sake Café is a great place for parties, a date, or a quick stop at the bar. The ambience is very cool and classy—muted wood tones make for a very relaxing feel to go with great service and excellent food. There is a hibachi area, a separate dining area for a more quiet dining experience, a full drink bar, and most importantly, a fabulous sushi bar. Unlike many sushi restaurants, Sake offers two widescreen televisions at the bar to enjoy the games. Tony the Sushi chef will keep you entertained as you marvel at his fine preparation of some of the best rolls in the state. The Fantastic roll is just that: fantastic. With mouth-watering deep-fried white fish on top, snow crab inside, and Tony’s special sauce, the Fantastic roll is a delicious, unique serving that’s sure to have you coming back.
KOJI 860-247-5654 17 Asylum St. Hartford, CT Hours: Sun-Thurs 11am-1am; F-Sat 11am-2am Estimated cost pp:$25-35
Koji—a crucial ingredient in sake brewing—is also a very hip and popular Pan-Asian restaurant and bar in downtown Hartford. Koji is usually crowded with young businessmen and women drinking sake and trying the yakitori. Yakitori is a Japanese dish consisting of pieces of seasoned and marinated meat, fish, and vegetables roasted and grilled on skewers, not served elsewhere in the area. Aside from the trendy atmosphere and food, Koji has become a popular choice because of its assortment of excellent sushi. The only single roll they offer is on its appetizer menu, made up of tuna, crab, salmon, avocado and scallions; otherwise, the dinners are made of chef-selected roll choices. Allow the sushi chefs to prepare something special for you; the selections are sure to satisfy any sushi lover.
LITTLE SAKU 321 W. Main St. Avon, CT 06001 860-676-9997 Hours: M-Th 11:30am-10pm;F-Sat 11am-11pm; Sun 12pm-10pm Estimated cost pp:$20-30
For the past couple years, Little Saku has been known as one of the finest hibachi restaurants in the state. The chefs are skilled at preparing delectable grilled steak, chicken, fish, shellfish and vegetables as well as delighting diners with their culinary tricks. Though hibachi is the main attraction, you'll also find a strong selection of expertly prepared sushi and sashimi, served à la carte or in generous combinations. If the vast selection makes it difficult to decide, try the Dinner Box, which allows you to sample a variety of tastes. All of the sushi rolls are very fresh and well prepared. In fact, the sushi at Little Saku, billed as "French style," is more creative and delectable than many sushi restaurants. For those who shy away from raw fish, vegetarian rolls, such as the Cucumber Roll, and rolls featuring cooked components, such as the Shrimp with Avocado Roll, are tasty alternatives.
FENG ASIAN BISTRO 860-549-FENG 93 Asylum St. Hartford, CT Hours: M-Th 11:30am-2:30pm, 5pm-10pm; F 11:30am-2:30pm, 5pm-11pm; Sat 5pm-11pm; Sun 5pm-9pm Estimated cost pp:$20-30
Feng is a very pleasant, sophisticated dining experience in the heart of downtown Hartford. The first thing one notices is the beautiful interior; wood floors and brick walls lined with Asian artwork gives it a contemporary yet antique feel. The service is always good, even when it gets crowded, which is often. Once you have the food, you’ll understand why. Their rolls are artful as well as delicious. Chef Yoshi and his staff create remarkable and different delights and their inventiveness and willingness to please is remarkable. Orders are by the piece, so ask for suggestions and don't be afraid to be adventurous. If you are daring, try the traditional dish called Uni Uzura, which has Uni (sea urchin roe), Uzura (quail egg - raw), and grated Japanese mountain potato (yamaimo).
FUJI JAPANESE RESTAURANT 860-232-1732 1144 New Britain Ave West Hartford, CT Estimated cost pp: $15-25 Hours: Sun 1pm-9:30pm; Mon-Thurs 11am-9:45pm; F-Sat 11am-10:45pm
Few Japanese restaurants in the Hartford area can rival Fuji Sushi for food quality and friendly service. It is a very simple, laid-back environment and it has been a fixture in the Elmwood section of West Hartford for over 20 years. Fuji will reinvigorate your passion for sushi with innovative, colorful and tasty rolls that you won't find everywhere. The spicy Mexican Roll and the Spider Roll, which can hardly contain its crunchy, tempura-battered soft-shell crab filling, are particularly tasty. Whether you choose to sit at the sushi bar or at a table, you'll be able to catch a glimpse of chefs preparing fresh sushi and sashimi selections. There are also ample options for vegetarians and those who are averse to consuming raw fish, including veggie sushi, noodle dishes and a full complement of traditional Japanese cuisine from teriyaki to tempura.
The owners of Ichiban recently relocated to a bigger home to showcase their delicious menu of Korean and Japanese dishes. Now in the historic West-end of Hartford, visitors are sure to enjoy the excellent sushi, udon noodles, miso soup, dumplings, tempura and hot-pot dinners. Hot-pot dinners are a Korean specialty—generous cauldrons of soup filled with vegetables, seafood, tofu, pork and spicy kimchi (fermented cabbage). If you come specifically for sushi, you are sure to find something you like from their vast selection. The favorite choices here are the salmon skin maki roll and the eel and avocado maki roll. The assortment of sashimi is also excellent, in particular the yellowtail.
SAPPORO JAPANESE RESTAURANT 860-721-8477 1295 Silas Deane Hwy Wethersfield, CT Hours: Sun. 1-10 p.m., Mon.-Thurs. 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. and Fri. & Sat. 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Estimated cost pp:$15-25
Sapporo offers a friendly atmosphere good for any occasion. The two hibachi grills, the outgoing staff and the large, open dining area make the restaurant ideal for large parties. Of course, you can also find a quiet seat at the sushi bar and unwind as an assortment of delicious rolls is prepared before your eyes. The sushi offering is vast and very creative, not to mention inexpensive. The spicy tuna roll will set off every one of your taste buds and the California Dream roll, overflowing with three different types of fish and vegetables, is unforgettable. To wash down your delicious meal, choose from a selection of sake, or try the Japanese beer that bears the name of the restaurant: Sapporo.
For a truly private dining experience, Japanica offers booths enclosed by bamboo curtains, decorated with Japanese artwork. These booths are intimate enough for a romantic date and large enough for a business lunch. The restaurant is architecturally brilliant and contains a very spacious dining room. The staff is always very courteous and eager to please. Lunch is popular amongst the many businesspeople that work in the adjoining offices of The Exchange building where the restaurant is located. The sushi selections are extraordinary. Hamachi Nega Maki is so simple—a thin slice of yellowtail rolled in rice and seaweed—yet it is out of this world. The skilled chefs prepare much more creative rolls as well, each selection exceptionally prepared.
WASAB JAPANESE RESTAURANT 860-651-5777 142 Hopmeadow St. Simsbury, CT. Hours: M-Th 11:30am-10pm, F-Sat 11:30am-10:30pm, Sun 4pm-10pm Estimated cost pp:$20-30
WasaB, a new restaurant in Simsbury, is always busy. The reason is simple: excellent food. To stand out amongst a large number of Japanese restaurants in the Hartford area, WasaB has an incredibly diverse and extensive menu that includes tempura and teriyaki dishes, sushi, sashimi, noodles and hibachi dinners. The popular restaurant also offers the most extensive selection of vegetarian options you'll find anywhere. For true sushi lovers, they offer many fresh sushi specials every day. They are known for their innovative sushi rolls, such as the Rock 'n' Roll—a gargantuan, spicy ensemble that incorporates yellow fin, white tuna, salmon, scallion and tempura flake. Those who find raw fish intimidating can order the beginner dinner and ease into this cuisine by sampling sushi made from fully cooked components.
SZECHUAN TOKYO 1245 New Britain Avenue West Hartford, CT 06110 (860) 561-0180 Hours: Sun 11am-10pm, M-Sat 11am-11pm Estimated cost pp:$20-30
Szechuan Tokyo is a one-of-a-kind experience. Located in a beautiful new building, they offer sensational sushi and live jazz! In fact, it is one of the premier jazz venues in the Hartford area. It also has one of the best assortments of Japanese and Chinese cuisine in the area. The Chinese menu highlights Szechuan home food, which cannot be found outside of NY City. They also offer a wide variety of sushi which is always fresh and delicious. Go to Szechuan prepared to have a good time: the drinks are huge, the food is incredible, the jazz is contagious, and don’t be surprised if people suddenly get the urge to get up and dance.
The Top List of Sushi Restaurants - Hartford, CT