Ah, sushi⁠—the way to a true foodie’s heart. But what if you’re looking for the best sushi in Salt Lake City? You might be thinking great sushi would be hard to come by in such a landlocked city, and while we completely understand this assumption, we can’t wait to prove you wrong.

Salt Lake City has some phenomenal restaurants that serve incredibly fresh and delicious sushi because that’s just how they roll (get it?). Without further ado, let’s dive into our guide to the best sushi in Salt Lake City. The sooner we’re done, the sooner you can go enjoy some! 

10. Tsunami Restaurant & Sushi Bar

Tsunami serves some of the best sushi in Salt Lake City and it’s clear everyone else agrees because we’ve never been here when it’s not packed. One of the things we love most about this popular Japanese restaurant is their not-so-secret “secret menu”. On this menu you’ll find one of our favorite rolls at Tsunami, the Regal Roll, filled with tempura shrimp, asparagus, and avocado, then topped with hamachi, lemon slices, scallions, as well as garlic ponzu, sweet soy reduction, and habanero sauce. It’s pure deliciousness. Another roll we’re fond of, this time from the house menu, is the Jenny Roll, filled with crab and avocado, then topped with fresh salmon, paper-thin lemon slices, and ponzu sauce. Tsunami has sushi that is well worth your time for its flavor, uniqueness, and quality.

9. Itto Sushi

Itto Sushi is a low-key spot that serves up creative, reliable sushi in a cozy, friendly environment. We highly recommend our favorite roll, the Lion King, that’s filled with tempura shrimp, jalapeño, cilantro, and tuna, then topped with spicy crab, lime slices, mango, and eel sauce. The spicy jalapeño complements the sweet mango in an unbelievably mouthwatering way. We also recommend the Sushi Vampire—shrimp tempura, cucumber, and avocado topped with baked baby lobster tail (spicy!) and eel sauce—if you’re looking for a sushi roll with even more of a kick. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, we can’t recommend the Romeo and Juliet Roll enough. This interesting little roll features coconut shrimp, cream cheese, and crab topped with ebi, mango, avocado, mango sauce, and eel sauce. It has an incredible coconutty flavor that will leave you wondering why you don’t always eat dessert for dinner. Itto Sushi is perfect for a last-minute night on the town or really anytime you’re craving some of the best sushi in Salt Lake City!

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8. Kyoto Japanese Restaurant

Kyoto is an authentic Japanese hideaway and a Salt Lake City institution that has been winning the hearts of sushi lovers since 1984. Because we’re all about #GirlPower and great food, we’re absolutely obsessed with Kyoto’s Pink Power Roll. Filled with shrimp tempura, cucumber, asparagus, avocado, and spicy mayo, this roll is wrapped in pink tofu paper for an extra delicious (and cute) touch. We also recommend their X96 Roll, named after a well-known local radio station, and tempura fried with albacore, crab, yamagobo, marinated onions, and topped with wasabi dressing, sriracha, and green onions. Kyoto definitely knows what they’re doing with their tempura—it’s not too thick and has the perfect crunch. If you’re a fan of tempura or just great sushi in general, snag a reservation at Kyoto and indulge in some of the best sushi in Salt Lake City.

7. Sushi Groove

Sushi Groove in Salt Lake City puts a groovy spin on traditional Japanese cuisine and we are here for it! This place is always packed and the rolls are always fresh, flavorful, and funky in the best way. We recommend polishing off two of their most popular rolls if you’re new here. First, the Groovalicious—shrimp tempura, strawberry, and cream cheese topped with crab, marlin, avocado, seared tuna, mango, and eel sauce. This roll is as innovative and as it is delicious, with the sweet flavors of mango and strawberry pairing like a match made in sushi heaven. Second, the Coco Loco—coconut shrimp and avocado topped with spicy tuna, mango, albacore, cilantro, and roasted serrano ponzu. We can’t get enough of this roll’s classic shrimp tempura texture mixed with its coconutty plot twist. Sushi Groove is a great hidden gem with modern, unique rolls and a fun environment to match. This is no doubt some of the best sushi in Salt Lake City.

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6. Fat Fish

Fat Fish is a lesser-known sushi spot that opened its doors in 2013 but has quickly established itself as an authority in dishing out some of the best sushi in Salt Lake City. For classic rolls with a Vietnamese twist, grab your favorite dining partners and get to Fat Fish ASAP. Every single roll here is thoughtful, balanced, and so dang delicious. If you’re going to make us pick favorites, we will, but we won’t do it willingly. In no particular order, our favorite rolls from Fat Fish are 1. The Albacore Garlic Roll made with crab, albacore, fried garlic, avocado, and cucumber. 2. The Dragonfly Roll made with salmon, tempura shrimp, spicy crab, jalapeño, lime, and avocado. 3. The Devil Roll made with crab, tempura shrimp, salmon, avocado, and cucumber. Seriously though, go with a group and order A LOT of sushi so you can try more than these three rolls. We promise you won’t regret it.

5. Blue Marlin

Blue Marlin is the newest contender (est. 2018) included in our guide to the best sushi in Salt Lake City, and we couldn’t be happier they made their home in the Beehive State. With a variety of plates and rolls on their menu, Blue Marlin aims to focus on sustainability, local and healthy ingredients, and a blend of New American and traditional Japanese cuisines. We recommend starting with the Maguro Zuke, which features tuna marinated in a smokey soy sauce, seared lightly and cubed, served with jalapeño garlic chips, or the Brussels for brussels sprouts that are flash-fried and tossed in truffle oils and salt, then served with yuzu sauce. For sushi, we adore the Brooklynn Roll and the Shinano Roll and know you will too. Blue Marlin takes their sushi seriously, and we really appreciate it. Run, don’t walk!

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4. Sapa Sushi Bar & Asian Grill

Sapa Sushi doesn’t necessarily serve the most traditional sushi in Salt Lake City, but they still serve some of the best. A sushi bar and Asian grill with Vietnamese and Thai influences, this downtown restaurant serves everything from Thai noodle dishes to a wide variety of sushi rolls. Be sure to try the UFO, Lowrider Roll (off the menu and spicy), or the Maui Wowie. Low priced and eclectic, Sapa Sushi is a great lunch or dinner spot for friends who are adventurous and willing to try something different!

3. Kobe Japanese Cuisine

We love Kobe, an inconspicuous sushi sanctuary at the bottom of Millcreek Canyon, because they are consistent. A visit to Kobe always guarantees a good time and even better sushi. Whatever you do, make sure the Duke Roll hits your table. It’s made up of salmon, yellowtail, and green onion topped with seared tuna, scallions, spicy aioli, and eel sauce, and it’s amaaazing. A perfect mix of crunch and chew. It’s the roll that we first fell in love with and it’s the one that keeps us coming back. We’re also big fans of Kobe’s Sunshine Roll, which is a little bigger than your typical sushi roll, but don’t let that scare you. This roll is filled with tempura shrimp, spicy tuna, and an assortment of veggies and spicy sauces that are unbelievably fresh and flavorful. The next time you’re cruising down 2-15, take a detour and get yourself some of the best sushi in Salt Lake City!

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2. Chopfuku Sushi Bar & Asian Cuisine

The sushi at Chopfuku is so good, it’s otherworldly. While you peruse the menu for rolls, order some apps to start. One standout from the starter menu is the melt-in-your-mouth Cajun Salmon which features fresh, seared salmon topped with tobiko, daikon, carrots, and is served with spicy ponzu sauce.When you’re ready to dig in, take the chef’s recommendation and order the one-of-a-kind UK Roll. This bad boy is filled with deep-fried bacon (yes, bacon!), snow crab, and avocado, then topped with tuna, salmon, white fish, jalapeño, tobiko, lemon, spicy mayo, and eel sauce. For the more adventurous sushi aficionados, we recommend the Best in the Box Roll, which is a surprise roll that is smoked and revealed at your table. So much fun! Chopfuku is a great spot for a lunch or dinner date, an evening out with family, or a quick solo meal at the bar. We love their creativity and are so thrilled to include them in our guide to the best sushi in Salt Lake City.

1. Takashi

Takashi is the best sushi in Salt Lake City, no contest. It’s no wonder this place is packed from open to close every. single. day. But braving the crowd is absolutely worth it to dine at Takashi because dining here means you get to experience nirvana in roll form. The calamari, gyoza (steamed, not fried!) and miso soup for starters will definitely impress, but the nigiri sampler, Crunch Ebi Roll, and Sunshine Roll will completely blow you away. If you happen to have room for dessert (isn’t there always room for dessert?), make sure to order their house-made panna cotta. Takashi offers a delicious, vibrant, exciting dining experience and should be at the top of your SLC sushi bucket list, just as it’s at the top of ours.