There’s been a revelation of sorts in the world of sushi. Sushi has lost some of the mystique that once clouded even adventurous diners and seems now more like a strip-mall staple than exotic fare. No longer can foodies simultaneously impress and appall their friends with tales of nigiri, maki, or eel. But the rise of sushi as a favored food has given us a multitude of opportunities that we never had before - even the strip-mall sushi joints serve up respectable fare. And with the upswing in chic dining and fusion menus, sushi is making a name for itself with bold, fresh tastes and artsy presentations. You’ll find a few customary Atlanta sushi (or sushi-featured) restaurants on this list, with a few new favorites.
BLUEPOINTE 3455 Peachtree Road Atlanta, GA 30326 (404) 237-9070 Hours: Monday-Friday 11:30am-11pm; Saturday 5:30pm-11pm; Sunday 5:30pm-10pm Part of the Buckhead Life restaurant group, BluePointe markets flash in every form. The dining room, the skyscraper that contains it and the seen-and-be-seen crowd are all out of an Absolut advertisement. Skip the overdone entrees and go straight for the sushi. The Super Crunch Roll, Shrimp Tempura Roll, Real California Roll, Rainbow Roll, Spicy Tuna Roll, Eel Avocado Roll, and Spider Roll are all equally tasty. For the very adventurous the Sashimi Tasting Plate is a must. Order a light wine or mixed drink to go with it - the bar here is known for its apple martini. Expect icy service in step with the cold beauty of the interior.
Estimated Price: $30-40
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
GENKI 3188 Roswell Road Atlanta, GA 30035 (404) 844-8319 Hours: Monday-Friday 11:30-10:30; Saturday-Sunday 5:00-11:30 Despite its traditionally Japanese fare - including rice and noodle bowls as well as sushi - Genki is best if you usually order your sushi with extra ketchup. Ignore the small, tough nigiri and go for the most Americanized of the maki selections. Items like the super crunch, with cream cheese, avocado, salmon, remoulade and teriyaki sauce come off well, as do the broth-heavy noodle bowls. Don't come here expecting authentic Japanese; do come here expecting a drum-and-base crowd, friendly service and a few hits in the food department.
Expected Price: $10-15
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day: Closed; Valentine's Day: Open; Easter: Open; Thanksgiving: Closed; Christmas Eve: Closed; Christmas Day: Closed; New Year's Eve: Open
HASHIGUCHI JAPANESE RESTAURANT 3400 Around Lenox Road NE Ste C520 Atlanta, GA 30326-1408 (404) 841-9229 37 Windy Hill Road, Suite A5 Marietta, GA (770) 955-2337 Hours: Monday-Friday 11:30-2:00; Monday-Thursday 5:30-10:00; Friday-Saturday 5:30-10:15 Equally well equipped for a business luncheon or a family dinner, Hashiguchi is known for its pleasant atmosphere, its reasonable prices and its truly traditional Japanese fare. Native Japanese have been known to venture here for a homesickness cure. Try a few starters for a taste of Tokyo or go straight for their super-fresh sashimi. If you're feeling adventurous, ask for their special American-influence-free menu.
Estimated Price: $15-25
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day: Closed; Valentine's Day: Open; Easter: Open; Thanksgiving: Closed; Christmas Eve: Closed; Christmas Day: Closed; New Year's Eve: Open
GOLDFISH 4400 Ashford-Dunwoody Rd Atlanta, GA 30346 (770) 671-0100 Hours: Monday-Thursday 11:30am-10pm; Friday-Saturday 12pm-11pm; Sunday 4pm-10pm Located in Perimeter Mall, Goldfish makes a splash with the timidly adventurous, on-road-only Land Rover suburban set. Goldfish's high-class seafood menu spans the seas to bring you crab cakes, Sole Muinere and sushi all at once. Here, less is more: stick with the basics, like tuna and salmon nigiri and California rolls, and you may find yourself eating a better-than-expected, well-prepared meal without all the nouveau fuss.
Expected Price: $30-40
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day: Open; Valentine's Day: Open; Easter: Open; Thanksgiving: Closed; Christmas Eve: Open; Christmas Day: Open; New Year's Eve: Open
HARRY AND SON'S N. Highland Ave NE Atlanta, GA 30306-4507 (404) 873-2009 Hours: Monday-Friday 11:30am- 2:30pm, 5:30pm-11: 30pm; Saturday 12pm-11: 30pm; Sunday 12pm-10: 30pm A Virginia Highlands mainstay, Harry and Son's is often packed tight with newbie-yuppies, their cell phones and their admirers. Run by the same people as neighboring Surin's, Harry and Son's imports the Thai standards and reasonable prices offered across the street, but adds a notable sushi bar. Everything here is fresh and well prepared, though usually not cutting-edge, with special attention to the presentation of both the sushi and let the good-times-roll crowd.
Estimated Price: $10-20
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
NIKIMOTO'S 990 Piedmont Ave NE Atlanta, GA 30309-4109 (404) 253-2010 Hours: Monday-Thursday 11:30am-11pm; Friday 11:30am-12am; Saturday 12pm-12am; Sunday 12pm-10pm Upholster a traditional diner in black, add some techno and replace the eggs with lightly flavored rice and there you have Nikimoto's. The sometime mascot of Midtown's gay-culture-driven resurgence, Nikimoto's offers a luscious veneer and an eye-candy crowd however the menu is limited. If you yearn for sushi here, go with the maki rolls: the Alaskan, the super crunchee and the dynamite are particular standouts.
Estimated price: $15-20
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day: Dinner only; Valentine's Day: Open; Easter: Open; Thanksgiving: Closed; Christmas Eve: Closed; Christmas Day: Closed; New Year's Eve: Open
RU-SAN'S 1529 Piedmont Rd NE Atlanta, GA 30324-5000 (404) 875-7042 2315 Windy Hill Road, SE Marietta, GA (770) 933-8315 Hours: Sunday-Thursday 4:30 pm-11:00 pm; Friday-Saturday 4:30 pm-12:00 am Turn up the volume in your car, put on a semi-sexy outfit and steel yourself for Atlanta's loudest sushi scene. Despite a fast food atmosphere, hassled service and a semi-ridiculous menu featuring trademarked items like the "Gone with the Wind" and the "Kamikaze," Ru-San's remains freewheeling, cheap and immensely popular. Their one-dollar sushi list is extensive and includes a number of evening specials. Other, dinner-size specials, like a collection of large maki rolls with salmon, cream cheese and a sweet teriyaki sauce, are constantly tasty. For a more exciting dining experience, share the treasure hunt soup with a friend. Floating sushi, a filling broth and the potential for a hidden prize are more than enough to satisfy the hunger and entertainment cravings of two people.
Estimated Price: $10-15
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
MF SUSHI BAR 265 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Unit B Atlanta, GA 30308 (404) 815-8844 Hours: Mon.-Fri. 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Dinner: Mon.-Thurs. 5:30-10:30 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. 5:30-11:30 p.m.
A standard favorite in nearly every “Best Of” list for Atlanta sushi restaurants, MF Sushi Bar is popular with the glossy ‘be seen’ crowd for its slick attitude and trendy popularity but it also commands recognition as a place to get good sushi. The “Magic Fingers” of brothers Chris and Alex Kinjo have brought a gem of a spot to Atlanta diners. Serving up only the freshest of fresh fish and even grating wasabi at tableside, MF Sushi Bar easily earns the accolades it receives.
Estimated Price: $15-30
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
SUSHI AVENUE 308 W. Ponce De Leon Ave. Ste C Decatur, GA 30030-2435 (404) 378-8448 Hours: Monday-Sunday 11:30-2:00, 5:30-10:00 Part of the resurgence of interest in Decatur's old-timey town square, Sushi Avenue pairs an intimate, friendly atmosphere with expertly crafted, occasionally cutting-edge sushi. Chef Kunio Ozawa sculpts his sushi with precision; other dishes, like the tempura and the authentic rice bowls, come out equally balanced and light-handed. The predominantly native Japanese servers can have their awkward language moments but are friendly enough to have cultivated a firm following of neighborhood regulars.
The hippest of the hipsters live in Castleberry Hill, the still gentrifying neighborhood just south of the downtown business district and as hipness goes, Wasabi is no exception. With a sparse menu consisting of rolls, sashimi and sushi the deft hands in the kitchen are freed to prepare and serve some of the best sushi plates in the city. Owners Benjamin Krause and Nhan Le both hail from the west coast and it shows in Wasabi’s style and atmosphere – cool and comfortable with all the panache they could fit in such a small space. There’s also a great cocktail menu highlighted by a signature wasabi vodka martini, with cucumber, ginger and even a bit of tuna sashimi.
Estimated Price: $20-24
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
The Top List of Sushi Restaurants - Atlanta, GA