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A sushi boat at O-Ku Sushi.
O-Ku Sushi has locations in Nashville, Charleston, D.C., Atlanta, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
O-Ku/Facebook

Where to Eat Sushi in Nashville

For sushi in Nashville, these are the nine best bets

by Delia Jo Ramsey and Stephanie Carter Updated
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O-Ku Sushi has locations in Nashville, Charleston, D.C., Atlanta, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
| O-Ku/Facebook
by Delia Jo Ramsey and Stephanie Carter Updated

While Nashville certainly has a handle on biscuits, hot chicken, burgers, and the like, many of the sushi options can be less compelling. But there are some restaurants bringing fresh fish and perspectives to Nashville. Charleston-based O-Ku Sushi serves rule-bending rolls filled with offbeat items like goat cheese, while fancy Jell-O shots sharing menu space with high-end sake. Meanwhile, the family-run, Japanese-owned market Sonobana serves harder-to-find bites alongside classic preparations using fresh, high-quality fish.

Here are a handful of restaurants offering sushi, sashimi, and over-the-top rolls to quench a craving right now in Nashville.

Don’t see a personal favorite on the list? Sound off in the comments or shoot us an email (nashville@eater.com).

Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission.

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O-Ku Sushi Nashville

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The Nashville outpost of this Charleston-based family of restaurants makes believers out of those who don’t think Nashville has a grip on Japanese cuisine — A-5 wagyu beef prepared tableside; head-turning rolls like the NashVegas with crab, goat cheese mousse, spicy salmon, sweet soy glaze, and spicy aioli; and pristine nigiri. Next to a sake menu split by flavor profile are fun cocktails and fancy jello shots.

81 Van Buren St, Nashville, TN 37208
(629) 900-0021
(629) 900-0021

Also featured in:

Two Ten Jack

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A run-of-the-mill sushi restaurant Two Ten Jack is not, but some of Nashville natives’ favorite sashimi is found at the popular little East Nashville izakaya and ramen house. There are sections on the menu with dressed-up specialty sashimi, nigiri options, and crowd-pleasing maki (plus plenty of hot dishes for non-sushi lovers).

1900 Eastland Ave #105, Nashville, TN 37206
(615) 454-2731
(615) 454-2731

Also featured in:

Dear Sushi

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Sort of a sushi oasis on the Donelson side of town, there are no frills at Dear Sushi — just a selection of standard rolls that are well-executed. The menu offers nigiri, traditional rolls, and a section they’ve dubbed “fancy sushi” including plenty of fully cooked rolls for the most raw-averse of diners.

557 Stewarts Ferry Pike, Nashville, TN 37214
(615) 712-6497
(615) 712-6497

Also featured in:

Virago

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Serving contemporary sushi rolls and sashimi in swanky surroundings since 2000, M Street’s sushi-focused restaurant is what many locals call their go-to sushi spot. A wide menu of nigirizushi (composed sushi), sashimi, and sushi rolls gives plenty of options — or just trust the chef and go with the omakase option (dine-in only). Be sure and ask if they have any toro, a buttery off-menu delight.

1120 McGavock St, Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 254-1902
(615) 254-1902

Also featured in:

Sunda

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Sunda’s Pan-Asian menu covers a lot of ground, but the sushi options alone make it worth a visit. Fan favorites include the chili albacore sashimi served with crispy leeks, and the spicy “tail of two tunas” roll.

592 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 610-7566
(615) 610-7566
An assortment of rolls at Sunda.
An assortment of rolls at Sunda.
Facebook/Sunda

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Samurai Sushi

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The cozy Japanese restaurant has a lot of loyal followers. Beyond the raw fish options, plenty of cooked rolls fill out the menu including an entire menu section of deep-fried rolls.

2209 Elliston Pl, Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 320-5438
(615) 320-5438

Also featured in:

Sonobana

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Hidden in a strip mall on White Bridge Road, this family-run, Japanese-owned restaurant with an adjacent market wins with quality, value, and fresh sashimi. The menu offers a long list of classic sushi rolls, nigiri, and bento boxes, plus harder-to-find bites like fermented soybean dish natto, kaki fry, otoro ochazuke, negima, and umeshiso maki. Sushi chef and owner Tsuyoshi Kajisa was recently diagnosed with leukemia, and the family has set up a gofundme account to help cover medical bills and related expenses.

40 White Bridge Rd, Nashville, TN 37205
(615) 356-6600
(615) 356-6600

Also featured in:

Hai's Sushi & Pho

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The 8th Avenue strip mall sushi sleeper is one many people haven’t heard of before. The family-run restaurant serves Japanese and Vietnamese dishes, but sitting at the sushi bar and letting the chef bring out whatever is freshest is the only way to go.

2617 8th Ave S #112, Nashville, TN 37204
(615) 760-5800
(615) 760-5800
Hai’s Sushi & Pho/Facebook

The Eastern Peak

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With a trio of locations on Thompson Lane, in Bellevue, and the newest outpost in the Gulch, the Eastern Peak serves both Thai food and sushi like several other spots around town. The Eastern Peak is a favorite of many for its sashimi and sushi rolls. Menus vary by location, and the newer Gulch outpost includesludes everything from classic spicy tuna rolls to Nashville-named Titan Roll, uni, and octopus.

536 Thompson Ln, Nashville, TN 37211
(615) 610-4888
(615) 610-4888

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O-Ku Sushi Nashville

81 Van Buren St, Nashville, TN 37208

The Nashville outpost of this Charleston-based family of restaurants makes believers out of those who don’t think Nashville has a grip on Japanese cuisine — A-5 wagyu beef prepared tableside; head-turning rolls like the NashVegas with crab, goat cheese mousse, spicy salmon, sweet soy glaze, and spicy aioli; and pristine nigiri. Next to a sake menu split by flavor profile are fun cocktails and fancy jello shots.

81 Van Buren St, Nashville, TN 37208
(629) 900-0021
(629) 900-0021

Two Ten Jack

1900 Eastland Ave #105, Nashville, TN 37206

A run-of-the-mill sushi restaurant Two Ten Jack is not, but some of Nashville natives’ favorite sashimi is found at the popular little East Nashville izakaya and ramen house. There are sections on the menu with dressed-up specialty sashimi, nigiri options, and crowd-pleasing maki (plus plenty of hot dishes for non-sushi lovers).

1900 Eastland Ave #105, Nashville, TN 37206
(615) 454-2731
(615) 454-2731

Dear Sushi

557 Stewarts Ferry Pike, Nashville, TN 37214

Sort of a sushi oasis on the Donelson side of town, there are no frills at Dear Sushi — just a selection of standard rolls that are well-executed. The menu offers nigiri, traditional rolls, and a section they’ve dubbed “fancy sushi” including plenty of fully cooked rolls for the most raw-averse of diners.

557 Stewarts Ferry Pike, Nashville, TN 37214
(615) 712-6497
(615) 712-6497

Virago

1120 McGavock St, Nashville, TN 37203

Serving contemporary sushi rolls and sashimi in swanky surroundings since 2000, M Street’s sushi-focused restaurant is what many locals call their go-to sushi spot. A wide menu of nigirizushi (composed sushi), sashimi, and sushi rolls gives plenty of options — or just trust the chef and go with the omakase option (dine-in only). Be sure and ask if they have any toro, a buttery off-menu delight.

1120 McGavock St, Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 254-1902
(615) 254-1902

Sunda

592 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203

Sunda’s Pan-Asian menu covers a lot of ground, but the sushi options alone make it worth a visit. Fan favorites include the chili albacore sashimi served with crispy leeks, and the spicy “tail of two tunas” roll.

592 12th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 610-7566
(615) 610-7566
An assortment of rolls at Sunda.
An assortment of rolls at Sunda.
Facebook/Sunda

Samurai Sushi

2209 Elliston Pl, Nashville, TN 37203

The cozy Japanese restaurant has a lot of loyal followers. Beyond the raw fish options, plenty of cooked rolls fill out the menu including an entire menu section of deep-fried rolls.

2209 Elliston Pl, Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 320-5438
(615) 320-5438

Sonobana

40 White Bridge Rd, Nashville, TN 37205

Hidden in a strip mall on White Bridge Road, this family-run, Japanese-owned restaurant with an adjacent market wins with quality, value, and fresh sashimi. The menu offers a long list of classic sushi rolls, nigiri, and bento boxes, plus harder-to-find bites like fermented soybean dish natto, kaki fry, otoro ochazuke, negima, and umeshiso maki. Sushi chef and owner Tsuyoshi Kajisa was recently diagnosed with leukemia, and the family has set up a gofundme account to help cover medical bills and related expenses.

40 White Bridge Rd, Nashville, TN 37205
(615) 356-6600
(615) 356-6600

Hai's Sushi & Pho

2617 8th Ave S #112, Nashville, TN 37204

The 8th Avenue strip mall sushi sleeper is one many people haven’t heard of before. The family-run restaurant serves Japanese and Vietnamese dishes, but sitting at the sushi bar and letting the chef bring out whatever is freshest is the only way to go.

2617 8th Ave S #112, Nashville, TN 37204
(615) 760-5800
(615) 760-5800
Hai’s Sushi & Pho/Facebook

The Eastern Peak

536 Thompson Ln, Nashville, TN 37211

With a trio of locations on Thompson Lane, in Bellevue, and the newest outpost in the Gulch, the Eastern Peak serves both Thai food and sushi like several other spots around town. The Eastern Peak is a favorite of many for its sashimi and sushi rolls. Menus vary by location, and the newer Gulch outpost includesludes everything from classic spicy tuna rolls to Nashville-named Titan Roll, uni, and octopus.

536 Thompson Ln, Nashville, TN 37211
(615) 610-4888
(615) 610-4888

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