11 of Atlanta’s Top Sushi Restaurants

Open for lunch and dinner, with à la carte options and omakase feasts, Brush Sushi brings a truly elegant dining experience to Buckhead Village. Gorgeous wood interiors, extensive Japanese whisky and sake menus (and pairing options!), and signature Nikiri Shoy-brushed nigiri make Brush one of the top sushi spots in ATL.

If you’re looking for the omakase experience at Brush, O by Brush is where you will find it. Promising an artful, innovative, and whimsical experience, Brush’s 25-course omakase is available only Thursday-Saturday in an intimate dining room. Book those seats here.

There’s a reason that Mujō received a prestigious and coveted star in the first-ever Michelin Guide to Atlanta. The intimacy and precision of the entire omakase-only, tasting menu experience serving modern Edomae sushi presented by chef J. Trent Harris is exquisite and unique. The menu changes daily and reflects the best seasonal ingredients available and fish flown in from Japan. The experience, $225 per person, consists of a series of small plates and progression of seasonal nigiri and is inspired by the concept of omotenashi, but rooted in Southern hospitality and reflecting Atlanta’s energy.

Boasting a new location on the Westside and a Michelin star to go with it, Hayakawa is one of the best — and most entertaining — omakase experiences in town. You’ll enjoy an intimate eight-seat table for a 16-course omakase, with Atsushi “Art” Hayakawa leading you through the journey. While slicing and preparing your dishes, he provides educational commentary about where he sources his fish (Toyko’s Toyosu market and all over the globe) and humor over his headset microphone. His passion shines through as he engages with diners and takes pictures with them post-meal. More than a meal, eating at Hayakawa is an experience.

Come for the sushi, stay for the small plates, cocktails, and ambiance. The Alpharetta location of Monkey 68 relaunched recently with a new menu centered around a standout omakase offering ($130) and à la carte robata dishes. The redesigned interior gives the space an elevated vibe, while still serving up your favorite innovative cocktails and signature dishes like angry ribs.

Creative. Fresh. Colorful. Your dishes at Eight Sushi are sure to be all of these and more. Start with the kunsei bruschetta (yes, bruschetta) with sake kunsei, cream cheese, honey, capers, and you’ll never think about bruschetta the same again. Pair that with fresh sashimi and signature rolls, like the colorful Island Breeze with spicy salmon, tuna, avocado, serrano pepper, and mango, for a fresh fish feast. Don’t skip on the crafted cocktails or curated sake list, either.

A Roswell mainstay, Zest serves an array of sushi and small plates in a lively atmosphere. Its vibrant energy spills onto the Canton Street patio, so grab a seat on the umbrella-shaded sidewalk terrace and enjoy people-watching while sipping a lychee martini or yuzu margarita. Enjoy classic and specialty rolls, like the Roswell Roll with spicy yellowtail, scallions, albacore tuna, wasabi cucumber sauce, and sriracha, or share the Tuna Symphony, where fresh tuna is prepared and presented in four ways. The menu is expansive, so bring a few friends, stay for a while, and try as many rolls and small plates as you can.

Since 1972, Nakato Japanese Restaurant has been serving authentic Japanese dinner in Atlanta. Along with a fresh selection of sushi, the legendary Cheshire Bridge restaurant also has hibachi/teppanyaki and Japanese street food dishes in a vibrant, yet refined atmosphere. Here you’ll find sushi roll favorites done right — like crunch roll, rock and roll, rainbow roll, salmon skin roll, and more — plus an assortment of sushi course options, hand-selected by the chef. If you’re going on a sushi journey of Atlanta, this storied restaurant is a good place to start. More info here.

Your see-and-be-seen, date night, girls’ night, friends-in-town spot is Umi. This swanky Buckhead sushi hot spot unites classic and modern Japanese flavors in a contemporary setting, while serving fresh fish from around the world, alongside an impressive drink menu. A selection of aburi, slightly cooked sushi-grade fish, accompany an assortment of starters, soups, salads, sashimi, nigiri, and specialty house and traditional rolls. Start with the signature spicy tuna crispy rice and yellowtail jalapeño before diving into the many sashimi and nigiri options. And if you’re looking for a cooked dish, look no further than the rock shrimp tempura, a fan favorite. More info here.