Sushi just might be the perfect food. Low-fat, high in nutrients and surprisingly low in calories (typically 7 to 9 pieces of sushi contains between 400-450 calories), sushi provides protein and omega-3 fatty acids. Best of all, it's delicious! We've provided a listing of some of the best sushi restaurants in the Fort Lauderdale area. From extravagant to reasonable, from large to small, the list covers a wide range of places to get sushi. Have a great time trying them all of them.
Japan Inn 1781 North University Drive, Plantation, FL 33322 (954) 424-8855
Hours: (Mon - Thurs) 11:30 am - 11 pm, (Fri - Sat) 11:30 am - 12 am, (Sun) 11:30 am - 10 pm Cuisine Type: Sushi/Japanese
Holidays: Never closed
With two locations in South Florida and two more in the Washington, D.C. area, Kaye & Hori, the owners of the popular Japan Inn, have figured out the recipe for success. The ingredients are simple: fresh food, beautiful presentation, pleasant surroundings, and great customer service. Throw in a dash of reasonable pricing and convenient hours. Make sure portions are oversized and it's no surprise that the Japan Inn pleases crowds in both South Florida locations! The Inn's sushi and sashimi appetizers are a great way to start a meal. Innovative rolls like Dynamite in the Shell (white fish and flying fish eggs and quail egg) and Sunomono (conch, octopus or crab or mixed with cucumber) are beautiful and tasty. Cooked food and hibachi items are also available at both restaurants.
Estimated cost per person: $15-$20
Sushi Blues Cafe 2009 Harrison Street, Hollywood, Florida 33020 (954) 929-9560
Sushi Blues Café is a great place for good food and a fun party. Under the watchful eye of co-owner Kenny Millons, the Hollywood café has discovered that Japanese food and American blues create the ideal recipe for success. The food here is first-rate. Crunchy handy hand rolls, glistening sashimi, and more innovative dishes such as gyoza dumplings with spicy sesame sauce look and taste delicious. (Non-sushi eaters can order an American sandwich or salad.) The weekend live music is every bit as good as the food. Sometimes soulful and sad, other times jazzy and upbeat, the music draws huge crowds every Friday and Saturday night. Reservations are strongly suggested most nights; on weekends, they’re a must.
Estimated cost per person: $25-$30
Tamarind 949 S. Federal Highway, Deerfield Beach, Florida 33441 (954) 428-8009
Taking its name from the unique Thai spice, Tamarind is one-of-a-kind. The restaurant serves up an eclectic blend of sushi, Japanese and Thai cuisine. Sushi diners can sit at the sushi bar and watch as experienced chefs deftly prepare their orders. However, table service is quieter and sometimes more available. Servings here are huge, so decide if the appetizer portion will suffice before ordering a full size dinner. Love sushi but hate the carbohydrates? Some sushi items wrapped in sheer rice paper are available. This innovative preparation preserves the taste and mouth feel of the high carb version while cutting carbohydrates and sugars. Reservations for parties of 4 or more are accepted.
Estimated cost per person: $15 - $20
Heart Rock Sushi 1970 E. Sunrise Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 (954) 779-2735
Located in the quirky Gateway Shopping Center, this Fort Lauderdale favorite packs in the crowds day after day. At first glance, it's easy to see why. The owners have hit on the perfect formula for a sushi restaurant: soft lighting, comfortable seating, and, of course, fresh fish served in generous portions. Sushi and sashimi can be ordered by the piece or in platters. Mix it up a bit and order a combo platter; you won't be disappointed with the results! Sake, plum wine or Japanese beer provides a great accompaniment to the menu selections. Check out the dessert section of the Heart Rock menu, a course not taken seriously at most other sushi restaurants. The banana fried in a spring roll skin and served with honey and chocolate or caramel sauce is a sweet way to end a great sushi meal.
Estimated cost per person: $25-$30
Wasabi Cafe 1506 E. Commercial Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334 (954) 772-0555
Holidays: New Years Day, Easter, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas
Outside, traffic builds on busy Commercial Boulevard, accompanied by the sound of occasional sirens and blaring horns. Inside, the atmosphere of this small, clean café is quiet, pristine and pure. Polished wood and soft lighting create a mural for the eyes, carried through in the presentation of each food order. Soft music and plants complete the mood of calmness and harmony. The Wasabi Café has one of the best collections of premium sake in the area. The sushi is always fresh and delicious. Sit at the bar, sip sake, and watch the talented chefs prepare your order for an added show. The cooked food here is just as good as the sushi. Tempura is fresh-fried and arrives hot and delicious. Steak, while not a traditional Japanese dish, is a standout.
Estimated cost per person: $20-$30
Shizen 716 E Las Olas Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 (954) 763-8163
What an experience! The name "Shizen" translates to "natural" in Japanese, and the owners of this Las Olas pearl have gone to considerable time and expense to carry that theme to perfection. The restaurant is small, accommodating less than 100 diners at one time, but each seat and booth has been placed carefully for maximum effect. Soft pillows adorn the platform booths and the wood paneling in the room imparts a clean pure shine. Seafood is flown in daily from the northeast, ensuring that the sushi is fresh and delicious. The sushi and sashimi here are innovative; try a Mr. Rolls Royce platter and let the talented chefs design a masterpiece just for you. The house sake changes weekly.
Estimated cost per person: $25-$35
Tokyo Sushi 1499 SE 17th Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316 (954) 767-9922
The folks at Tokyo Sushi really know what they're doing. The restaurant is run like a well-oiled machine, with everyone from chefs to greeters working together to ensure that diners are coddled from the moment they arrive. The efforts are successful, judging from the blissful looks of the patrons. In addition to great service, Tokyo Sushi is known for its stellar rolls. Spicy and cut into several pieces, the rolls are a must-have menu item. Standard sushi items are available as well. Your server will be happy to tell you which fish is the freshest, or help you pick a roll or two for the table. Cooked items are great here, too. Tempura batter is light and airy and noodle hot pots are cooked just right.
Estimated cost per person: $15-$20
Sushi Rock Café 2315 South University Drive Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33324 (954) 452-8202
Sushi joints come and go along Las Olas Boulevard, but this little gem has lasted for years. What gives Sushi Rock its edge? The answer is simple. The food here is fantastic and prices are reasonable. Portions are huge - one roll often has eight or ten pieces - and everything is bursting with flavor. Cooked seafood sizzles in colorful ceramic dishes. The few meat dishes on the menu please the non-fish eaters in the crowd. Sushi Rock's downtown location makes it a great place for people watching. You might have some time to indulge in that sport if you don't call ahead for reservations, as the wait for a table can be quite lengthy during peak hours.
Estimated cost per person: $10 - $15
Japanese Village Steak House 350 East Las Olas Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301 (954) 525-8386
Japanese Village gives you the best of both worlds - some of the best sushi in town and grilled Japanese food. A preparation "stage show" is part of the charm of Japanese Village, so plan to see a lot of knife twirling and fancy cutting as your sushi order is prepared. When the "show" is over, expect fresh fish in huge portions to be put down in front of you. Enjoy your sushi with Japanese beer or premium sake. Later, order a grilled dish and have fun watching as the chef prepares it on a hibachi. Or simply sit back and order another round of the delicious sushi and view the fancy preparation again.
Estimated cost per person: $25-$35
Tatu Asian Bar & Grill Seminole Paradise at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 5750 Seminole Way,Hollywood, FL 33314 (954) 583-1499
Prepare to be impressed when you visit Tatu. Part of the sprawling Seminole Hard Rock complex in Hollywood, the restaurant is visually stunning. The modern décor is accented with red and white, and the lighted sushi bar in the center of the room grabs your attention. The wow factor continues when you view the presentation of each dish. Sushi is picture perfect with garnishes perfectly placed. Fortunately, the taste matches the presentation. Fish is super fresh with many ingredients flown directly from Japan. Expect huge portions since the restaurant prepares everything to be shared. How about a great drink? The Scorpion Bowl for two (or more), a blend of rums and fruit juices, served in a silver bowl with straws, is a great way to kick off the sushi meal.
The Top List of Sushi Restaurants - Fort Lauderdale, FL