Even if you haven’t already given up on sushi elsewhere, your kitchen isn’t always the best place to experience authentic Japanese cuisine. Baltimore’s restaurants, on the other hand, never run out of pristine fish, warm sake, or equally passionate chefs, all while giving you the ability to savor flavors you might never recreate at home. Here are some of our favorite places to find exceptional Japanese food around the city.
New Asian Taste sushi & Ramen Noodles
$ | (410) 467-0100 | WEBSITE
With its cozy atmosphere and custom-built bar area, there’s really not a bad spot at New Asian Taste. And no matter how busy it gets, the friendly staff always finds a way to accommodate everyone. This Japanese spot in Baltimore feels more like a neighborhood gem, attracting diners with warm, welcoming service. Grab a boba drink while you’re at it, but order their ramen and sushi with confidence—it’s fantastic, and you’ll be delighted by the generous portions.
KAJIKEN BALTIMORE
$ | (443) 835-4617 | WEBSITE
This cozy ramen spot near Johns Hopkins is the student-friendly comfort food destination. That probably has a lot to do with the dishes, like spicy tonkotsu, karaage, and, famously, the aburasoba with poached egg, that are packed into the menu. On busy evenings, students (and locals) huddle at the small tables to savor steaming bowls. Order a bowl of tonkatsu ramen, admire the fresh vegetables, and enjoy the friendly service.
Chiu’s Sushi
$$ | (410) 752-9666 | WEBSITE
We don’t keep a fish counter, but we’re pretty sure Chiu’s Sushi has fresher seafood than any other spot in Baltimore. They also have solid rolls (get the Beauty Alaka), and if you’re here for a casual lunch, you can get them for reasonable prices. Instead of typical sushi bar decor, there’s a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere with simple wooden tables and soft lighting. This place feels more like a neighborhood hideaway than a formal restaurant.
You don’t actually need to be a sushi expert to enjoy a meal here.
Yama Sushi Bar
$$ | (410) 235-6888 | WEBSITE
Yama Sushi Bar in Baltimore is the city’s go-to sushi spot. And enjoying fresh, affordable rolls in a casual setting is why you’re here. Well, that, and the spicy tuna roll (among our favorites in town). This is a great sushi restaurant because they serve pretty much every roll you could want. And bring all your friends. There’s plenty of space up front with the wheelchair-accessible seating.
Kyodai express
$ | (410) 801-8941 | WEBSITE
Kyodai Express is where you can get every Japanese dish imaginable on one menu, and also simple enough that you might end up sharing a table with a stranger (or chatting with a regular) and comparing your massive portions. For busier times, they keep the service quick and efficient to handle the steady flow of customers. There’s also a huge variety of affordable options, and while they don’t have a public restroom here, Kyodai Express lets you focus on the food without breaking the bank.
Azumi
$$$$ | (443) 220-0477 | WEBSITE
The same team that created Baltimore’s top waterfront dining destinations has perfected Japanese cuisine at Azumi. The modern interior is less of a formal dining room, so it’s ideal if you’re celebrating a special occasion with a group. They maintained the attentive service of fine dining—all the professional staff and even the panoramic views are here. And now there’s a menu of outstanding Hibachi entertainment from Chef Ryan, located right in the dedicated room.
Hibachi Express Japanese Grill
$ | (443) 275-1996 | WEBSITE
There isn’t one corner of Hibachi Express Japanese Grill in that shopping center that lets you forget that it solely exists for people to order, eat, talk about, and enjoy fast Japanese food. Every surface has that no-nonsense fast food layout, with simple tables and a counter for quick service. Spot the little mascot that looks like Firey from BFDI while waiting for your order.
And everyone else who wants more than just takeout, grab your shrimp and crab rolls and head to one of the basic tables. The place can feel a bit cold with staff in t-shirts, and it might get a bit dirty late at night, but the food is consistently great for the price. The hibachi chicken with fried rice is filling, and the beef and shrimp with noodles makes a large shareable portion.
Service is efficient and friendly, parking is convenient, and you can even get DoorDash delivery with their discount system. It’s a straightforward spot that delivers tasty, worthwhile food without any fuss.
Mizu Sushi
$$ | (410) 522-0888 | WEBSITE
Mizu Sushi offers a dozen creatively designed rolls, so you won’t have to worry about settling for the same old California roll. This is a takeout spot with all its “freshness” dials turned up to the max: there are America Dream and Rainbow rolls with sashimi-sized fish pieces, pork gyoza and veg spring rolls for hot appetizers, and an excellent filling-to-rice ratio in every bite for all to appreciate.
Order up some America Dream rolls and veg spring rolls, and revel in the beautiful yet rare art of prompt service even for takeout.
Arigato Hibachi
$$ | (410) 882-2002 | WEBSITE
As average as casual Japanese spots typically are, Arigato Hibachi is the opposite. This Baltimore place right in the heart of the city is spacious, with plenty of booths for 4-6 people and 2-tops for various party sizes. There’s also ample parking and wheelchair accessibility, if you can manage bringing your own alcohol and enjoying it. But if you can’t, there’s super polite and very friendly staff to keep you comfortable while your food is being prepared fresh in the kitchen.
Sarku Japan
$ | (667) 677-9060 | WEBSITE
This Japanese restaurant in Baltimore doubles as a place to get a quick, satisfying meal without breaking the bank. Because, practically speaking, there’s no better way to feed a hungry family after a long day than with a big platter of chicken teriyaki that comes in under budget.
As far as food goes, this place has a standard menu of sushi, gyoza, and teriyaki—but the highlight is the California roll with its familiar flavors, consistently good quality, and a boatload of convenience thanks to their ordering app.
Gachi House of Sushi
$ | (410) 859-4250 | WEBSITE
If you’re at BWI Airport, we hope you like sushi. Or, at least own a pair of chopsticks you can use to pretend to. This Japanese spot is one of the best places in the terminal to grab fresh fish, bento boxes, and miso soup (and one of the only decent dining options at the airport for that matter). There’s also a welcoming atmosphere, friendly staff, and reasonable prices compared to other airport joints.
When you’re in the mood for rolls, you can also try the excellent Spicy Tuna that everyone keeps talking about.
Shoyou Sushi
$$ | (410) 685-2989 | WEBSITE
No one should doubt the near-universal appeal of sushi burritos and seaweed salad. This cozy Japanese spot will probably be filled with people eating all of the above, and calamari, and nigiri. Whether you savor every bite of the dragon roll or whether it’s all raw fish to you, this intimate restaurant is for everybody.
Osaka Japan
$ | (410) 284-1212 | WEBSITE
If you can’t decide whether you’d rather have chicken or shrimp for dinner tonight, tell everyone to order from Osaka Japan in Baltimore. The teriyaki chicken is one of the best in the city—it comes with fried rice and noodles made to order, so your meal can feel like it was prepared just for you while everyone enjoys their own dish. But because of carry-out inconsistencies, you might wind up with an underfilled container, which recently got reported by some customers.
Grab one of their shrimp dishes for prime flavor—they taste delicious and sort of feel like being at a proper Japanese restaurant.
Toki Underground
$$ | (443) 449-5392 | WEBSITE
Combine a ramen shop with a speakeasy and you have Toki Underground. Granted, there isn’t a secret password at this Baltimore Japanese restaurant (there should be), but there is a unique underground ambiance and a view of the kitchen while dining. Some pork belly buns in the corner are the only appetizer option, but at least the ramen is creamy and flavorful, and the half-outdoor seating area is pretty.
Just ignore the fluctuating temperature during winter and limited parking during busy times—this place might make you feel like a noodle that needs perfect seasoning after. It’s as cozy as it feels, after all.
Nanami Cafe
$$ | (410) 327-9400 | WEBSITE
Nanami Cafe is Baltimore’s answer to a classic Japanese waterfront spot. It’s a cozy, welcoming restaurant with stunning harbor views and more seating options than some of the fancier places in Fells Point have in actual dining space. The indoor area is split into comfortable sections with window seating that allows for cross-legged dining, and the outdoor patio is one spacious area with pirate ships docking right by the tables.
Quickway Japanese Hibachi
$$ | (443) 835-4853 | WEBSITE
If you treat grabbing a quick meal like a pit stop in a race, then Quickway Japanese Hibachi is a good place to go. They serve generous portions that will keep you satisfied for the entire day, a solid sushi selection, and a fast service, which doesn’t necessarily help in the case of a noisy crowd or the salmon not being as fresh as you’d hope, but doesn’t hurt.
Matsuri Restaurant
$$ | (410) 752-8561 | WEBSITE
A table in Matsuri’s upstairs dining room—all appropriately cozy and quiet—is the next best thing if you don’t have a reservation for one of their sought-after sushi nights. On weekends, this place is guaranteed to be busy, but with several well-spaced tables and soft lighting, there’s not a bad spot to enjoy the meal.
Service is wonderful, so whether you need a celebratory Matsuri Special Roll or an order of consolation tempura, you’ll at least be satisfied with your food, special occasion or not. A few sake options and plenty of bottled choices are available, including some tropical drinks made with passionfruit.
