Top 15 sushi restaurants in Lebanon 2021-2022.
After the economic crisis, most sushi places changed fish quality. From replacing imported salmon with local trout, to using lower quality ingredients overall. I tried all sushi restaurants in Lebanon, for updated reviews, to publish the top 15 sushi restaurants list. This list does not take price into consideration, focus is only on taste and quality.
1) Nara Nori (by Mayha)
Nara Nori is a delivery concept by the owners of Mayha. Mayha is currently closed for dine in (at the time of writing this post). Nara Nori offers authentic sushi delivery. It is one of the most expensive deliveries in Lebanon, but offers the most premium and fresh fish. Their menu is limited to authentic sushi: Nigiri, Sashimi, Fish on rice bowls. They offer a variety of fish like Salmon, Real Crab, Bluefin Tuna, White fish and others. Highly recommended if you love authentic sushi and don’t mind paying a premium price. Available only through Toters delivery.
2) Mitsuya in Gemmayzeh
Mitsuya is a high end expensive place in Gemmayze that offers authentic Japanese dishes. It also offers the authentic sushi Omakase experience (chef’s choice courses at the bar). If you like authentic sushi (nigiri, sashimi, limited makis selection) and different types of fish marination dishes, you will love this place. Expect high prices, among the highest for sushi in Lebanon. Here’s Mitsuya’s review.
3) So in Ashrafieh
So is a prestigious high end sushi (and Italian, a little too prestigious) restaurant in Ashrafieh. It serves high quality ingredients and different types of fish. It’s more classic than modern, with few makis choices. Here’s So’s full review.
4) Steak Bar Sushi in Naccache
Fun pub-like atmosphere and fresh premium quality fish. Their ura makis mixes aren’t great, but Steak Bar Sushi reached the top 4 rank because of the very high quality fish they use and proper storage, apparent in fish taste. Handling high quality steak isn’t very different than handling fish. Their Sashimi, Nigiri and Temaki are highly recommended. Make sure to read its full review before going to know what to order.
5) Shogun in Verdun
Shogun is a high end old sushi restaurant in Verdun Dunes. Despite the crisis, the place didn’t change their fish quality, always using premium ingredients and scottish/norwegian salmon (like all restaurants mentioned on this list). It’s a mix between modern and classic sushi. Excellent quality crunchy temaki.
6) Kampai in downtown (or Ni cafe)
Although overtpriced for the value, Kampai is still one of the top places in Lebanon, offering high quality sushi within a high end ambience. It also caters Ni cafe, and its owners are the owners of Ai sushi, the new sushi restaurant. Their Temaki and salmon salad are exceptional. Here’s Kampai’s review.
7) Tsunami
Tsunami is a consistent place, with a little more affordable pricing than the restaurants mentioned above (although they recently increased their prices significantly with smaller pieces). Ashrafieh and Hazmieh branches were better than Antelias branch upon a recent visit. Tsunami is the top 7 recommended sushi place on this list. Here’s Tsunami’s full review of Hazmieh’s branch (now closed).
8) Ginger & Co in Hazmieh
Great value for money restaurant, but avoid their special set pieces with too much sauces. Ginger & Co offers great quality salmon and big sushi pieces. They have branches in Hazmieh and Jal El Deeb. Here’s their full review.
9) Qatch in Qraytem
Qatch is also a great value for money restaurant. Being a modern fishery, not just a sushi restaurant, they offer daily fresh sushi and fish (big pieces). Their pokes are also very tasty. Here’s Qatch’s review. You can also shop their recommended sushi cake and earn store credit online here and their Scottish salmon fillet here.
10) Aki by Aishti SeaSide in Antelias
Aki is a new modern sushi restaurant by Aishti seaside. It is a high end place with a very attractive atmosphere; pub style indoors and next to sea outdoors. I thought it was just a prestigious location, it turned out that it offers high quality sushi. Aki’s full review here.
11) Sai in Mtayleb
Sai is a consistent good quality cozy sushi restaurant in Mtayleb. It is very similar to Tsunami (too similar), and uses high quality ingredients. Their Sai special mini cake is a good item to try. Their “USA roll” is also popular, but I found it with too much sauces, order it mild sauce. Checkout Sai’s full review here.
12) Osaka in Minet el Hosn
I had given Osaka the top score on this list a couple months ago and it was competing for the first two spots on this list. But another visit recently turned out to be very average (attached below), making this restaurant inconsistent (the staff said it was because the main chef was absent). Still, Osaka is one of the top sushi places in Lebanon always offering high quality ingredients. Don’t miss their sashimi and crunchy temakis. Here’s Osaka’s most recent review.
13) Kami in Jbeil
Kami is a good quality sushi place in Jbeil. For a couple of months, they started changing quality but got back on track to remain one of the top places on this list. Try their special items, much better than the regular sets, such as the flying shrimp makis. Here’s Kami’s full review.
14) Le Sushi Bar
Le sushi bar in Lebanon is a famous old sushi restaurant. It uses good quality ingredients, but it is overpriced and I expected it to be much better to live up to its name and reputation. It is still a good sushi restaurant and one of the top 15 sushi places on this list. Don’t miss their marinated salmon salad, one of the best salmon salads I tried. Here’s Le Sushi Bar’s full review.
15) Bamboo in Sour/Tyre
Probably the best sushi place in south, expensive prices but offering good quality ingredients. Don’t miss their marinated salmon dish. Here’s Bamboo’s full review.
Which one is your favorite? Let me know.
