Sushi. It's a food that most people either love or hate. It's also the kind of treat many of us likely expect to be at its best the closer you get to the ocean. However, if you haven't yet personally sampled some of the better Japanese eats Nashville has to offer, you might be surprised to discover there are some genuinely incredible options at select spots right here in town. Whatever your taste and preference - from the classic makimono to sashimi to nigiri - you're bound to walk out blissfully full and satisfied after scratching your sushi itch at any one of the following establishments.
Granted, this is just a tiny fraction of the options in and around the city (according to Yelp, Nashville and its surrounding area is home to roughly a hundred of them!), but I have tried many, and the below selections have more than earned their spots at the top of my list of favorites. And this is the Gringo talking here. When it comes to food, you can trust that I'll never lead you astray.
I should also mention that most if not all of these places offer other menu selections in addition to their sushi options, but with this issue's column focusing more on sushi specifically, understand that their place on this list is based solely on that.
BITE A BIT
Of the selections in this list, this is the newest to the city and fourth on my list in order of recommendation. Having set up shop in the old Rudie's off McGavock in East Nashville in 2021, it was a welcome upgrade to what came before it. The ambience is more modern and laid back than you might expect from your typical sushi joint (huge props to whoever chooses the music), but the star of the show here is their sashimi. Strikingly fresh and melt-in-your-mouth tender, it secured its place in my memory after just a few bites, and all at a price that won't make your eyes bug out when you get the check. Definitely worth a visit.
O-KU
Coming in third mainly due to its price-to-portion ratio is O-Ku. This spot resides in Germantown and is a little more bougie than the others (okay, a lot), but the quality of the selections here is second to none. With the soft glow of their mood lighting and top-notch cocktails, it's a perfect setting for the sushi lover who's looking to impress. O-Ku offers, as they put it, the best of authentic and innovative Japanese cuisine, and after one bite of their nigiri alone, you'll likely find it difficult to argue with that claim.
MARU (EAST)
More like a tie for first than a second-place entry, Maru is the sushi haven I currently frequent the most. They boast the friendliest and most professional staff, an immaculately bright and modern yet cozy space, efficient and expedient seating and service, and excellent prices. But how's the food? Listen here. I've tried almost everything on the menu - sushi and otherwise - and every bit has been stellar. Great selection, variety, and sushi so fresh you'd think you were in the Caribbean. 'Nuff said.
SAMURAI SUSHI
Finally, the ultra-consistent tried-and-true, Samurai Sushi. Having moved right next door to their OG location off Elliston Place not long ago, this classic and beloved spot has been around forever, and as soon as you try their menu for the first time, it becomes instantly clear to anyone why that is. With more of a traditional, charming hole-in-the-wall vibe, this Japanese eatery is the coziest of them all. Their menu is straightforward and not too extensive, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Every roll is fantastic, with a great balance of cooked to fresh maki, and they knock every one of them out of the park. They know what works, and they do it like no other, and at a great price. Reliably fantastic for ages, it's hard not to list it at the tip-top of my most beloved sushi spots in Nashville. And so, I have done just that. Tell 'em the Gringo sent you.
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