Top Best Japanese Restaurants in Phoenix

"Alright, so this is a Scottsdale location, but it was too good to pass on. With locations in the Chicagoland area, Houston, and San Francisco, this chain Japanese steakhouse has some of the best sushi we’ve ever tasted."

"Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user leesean used under CC BY-SA 2.0. If you want to eat at Hiro on a weekend or evening be sure to book in advance because this little gem is a well-known spot for some of the best sushi. The fish is always fresh, the staff delivers excellent customer service and there is a good friendly atmosphere."

"This Scottsdale sushi house has been a local institution since 1997, back when sushi was still a curiosity with many diners. This cozy neighborhood sushi restaurant offers some of the city's best chirashi bento boxes. The inventive menu includes Italian-style whitefish with scallions and tomato with olive oil."

"During lunch, Harumi speeds up service for busy downtown diners by having them place orders at the cash register and then pick up their food. There’s an even faster option of grabbing freshly made, pre-packaged rolls and sashimi from the to-go counter. At dinner, it switches to sit-down service."

"My boyfriend and I always eat at Harumi's when we travel to Phoenix. Last night we brought my entire family a party of 13 from…”more"

"If you want dim lighting, a lengthy sushi bar, and a BYOB policy, head just north of the intersection of Seventh and Missouri avenues to Hana Japanese Eatery. This small family-owned and -operated eatery offers dishes like squid maruyaki, scallop edamame kasane age, Hana tempura, and various bento box lunch options. The restaurant's closed Mondays, but on other nights you can enjoy your favorite craft beer or a bottle of sake with a Hana Pecha roll or maguro teriyaki."

"Lori Hashimoto’s laid-back family affair is rightly lauded as one of the best neighborhood sushi joints in town. Here, you’ll find a mix of classic maki and nigiri built on a solid foundation of excellent seafood and rice alongside Hashimoto’s more brash, contemporary creations. Among them: the Hana Egg, a soft-boiled, tempura-fried egg paired with a zippy mentaiko sauce; and grilled lamb marinated with miso and pomegranate juice."

"What is it: An intimate and casual setting is what you get at Hana, letting you focus on satisfying your appetite. Some sweet, glazed eel nigiri can lead the way to specialties like the Hana mint leaf, where uni or tuna is wrapped in shiso leaves before getting battered and fried. Why go: Ask any Phoenix foodie about great sushi in town and Hana will often, if not always, be at the top of the list."

"This Japanese-inspired restaurant was an immediate sensation at its debut back in 2010, famous for the artistic sensibilities of local James Beard Award-winning chef Nobuo Fukuda. The chef-artist is a critical darling for his iconoclastic take on traditional Japanese cuisine. By day, nosh on the elegant small plates and light, impeccably constructed salads, sandwiches and bowls."

"Few restaurants in the Valley are taken for granted like Nobuo at Teeter House, and that needs to change. Nobuo Fukuda serves dazzling food that’s smart and precise. But the way he has so naturally married the techniques and ethos of his native Japan to the soul and flavors of Arizona is what makes his work unique."

"Nobuo at Teeter House is named after it’s chef, Nobuo Fukuda. Chef Nobuo was born and raised in Tokyo and has 30 years of experience working as a Chef in Arizona. He was known to serve traditional Japanese dishes with a modern flair."

"Kodo Sushi Sake is the sister restaurant to the famed Harumi Sushi in downtown Phoenix. Though both are tucked away and don't appear to be much on the outside, they are both amazing sushi places. With cucumber rolls that are to die for, fresh sashimi, and inventive rolls such as the Oh My God roll, which is set on fire when served to you, Kodo Sushi Sake is a must-try for those who like unique, delicious sushi."

"Akaihana already started delivering top quality sushi even when it still goes by the name Mr. Sushi. It has been serving original Japanese main entries to the mid-Phoenix area. To further show their world-class sushi they decided to merge into a corporation."

"Located just north of Shea on Tatum inside an outdoor shopping area near Whole Foods and the Verizon Store, Iron Chef offers great sushi and a nice down home ambiance. There’s nothing fancy or pretentious about it, just great tasting sushi for the residence of Paradise Valley and its neighboring areas. For those dining in or carrying out, Iron Chef offers a special half off on all sushi rolls (some are 40% off and the deal is not available for delivery patrons)."

"Named as one of the best Japanese restaurants near you by Phoenix New Times, Blue Fin is about as authentic as it gets. The teriyaki chicken (their specialty) is grilled daily over pumice stones and all of their sauces are made from scratch. Because it is so popular, calling ahead and picking up your takeout order at their pickup window is the best way to go!"

"separates itself from other restaurants with their counter-service and standard Japanese meals. Established in 1981, Blue Fin’s service is top notch with affordable prices to match. The small family run restaurant also serves fresh sushi daily, with the California roll as the most popular."

"Blue Fin opened its doors to the public in November 1981 just along Downtown Phoenix. It went on to have an unprecedented success. Their offerings of home-cooked Japanese food are a hit to the locals."

"Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing. You’re guaranteed fresh and delicious sushi each and every time that you visit Sushi Brokers. There is a large variety to choose from and we adore the fact that you can even get a burger here."

"Fresh top quality fish, expertly prepared by our amazing sushi chefs. Choose from over 20 creative sushi rolls that are interesting and tasty!. A nice selection of wines are offered for the perfect pairing."

"Run by the Arizona Historical Society, this small museum tells the story of Arizona. Plan on spending about an hour here."

"This museum is located in Heritage Square, across the street from the Children's Museum of Phoenix. Plan to stay:More than 3 hours"

"Located near the Arizona State University in Tempe, Insomnia Cookies is yet ANOTHER cookie joint is famous for its freshly baked cookies, ice cream cookie sandwiches, cookie cakes, ice cream pints, long shop hours, and late-night deliveries. *Open daily Monday-Wednesday 11:00am-1:00am, Thursday-Friday 11:00am-3:00am, Saturday-Sunday 12:00pm-3:00am, minis, vegan, gluten-free options & nationwide shipping also available. *Unlike Crumbl Cookies & Dirty Dough, Insomnia Cookies focuses MORE on the actual cookie dough taste and LESS on the wild fillings and toppings"

"Insomnia Cookies will cure your sweet cravings with warm, delicious cookies, brownies, cookie cakes, cookiewiches, ice cream and milk. The store is conveniently located near campus and Mill Ave and offers delivery around the Tempe area through 3 a.m."

"Scoop and Joy in Scottsdale is best known for creating adorable little faces out of candy, cookies, and pretzels on the top of your ice cream (just say yes when they ask if you’d like a surprise!) They serve Lappert’s ice cream from Hawaii plus boba tea, Dole whip, coffee and homemade baked goods; you can also buy pints. Churn — with locations in Gilbert and Phoenix — is a classic ice cream shop with retro vibes."

"Scoop and Joy Lounge rotates its flavors, so you’ll always find something delicious and new. (Don’t worry – the old stand-bys are always there.) They also have boba tea, milkshakes, fruit smoothies and ice cream sandwiches."

"I love their cute ice cream scoops and I love Lappert's ice cream. If you're nearby, you have to stop here!"

"Chef/owner Country Velador’s menu of small-batch, handcrafted confections changes regularly, so there’s always something new to delight sweet-lovers. And with whimsical offerings like Coffee Banoffee with Extra Toffee Pie, S’mores Got Bored!. and Yuzu Pistachio Fudge, it’s easy to see why this Old Town gem has a loyal and fun-loving following."

"Super Chunk is a small-batch, hand-crafted sweets & treats boutique shop that has treats with a modern and unique twist. The executive pastry chef of Cowboy Ciao, Country Velador and her husband, Sergio opened this shop about seven months ago. Her claim to fame is her unique caramel corn!"

"Genie G's, a New American breakfast and brunch diner in Maryvale, is another economical go-to, with four stars out of 93 Yelp reviews. Head over to 7349 W. Indian School Road to give it a try for yourself."