Colourful, artistically prepared, and perfect for sharing: sushi is a fantastic treat for lunch, dinner, or a snack. Edinburgh is filled with superb eateries for enjoying authentic and elegant sushi dishes – you just need to know where to find them. Without further ado, here are our favourite sushi restaurants in Scotland’s capital city.
Yomato
Tucked away in bustling Tollcross, Yamato offers a true taste of Japan with its array of authentic dishes and beautifully designed restaurant. This culinary haven specialises in premium A5 Wagyu beef, delicate tempura, and exquisite sushi and sashimi. Yamato is led by Max Wang, the chef-owner and Wang’s passion for Japanese cuisine ignited during his youth and was further refined under the guidance of renowned Japanese chef Andy Matsuda in California 18 years ago. A master in Nigiri and sashimi, Wang is dedicated to delivering the genuine flavours of Japan to the Scottish capital. Menu highlights include their salmon and avocado hand rolls, tuna maki, incredible dragon roll and their sashimi salad.
Web: www.yamatosushiedinburgh.co.uk
Umi
Umi is the newest venture by restaurateurs Kenny and Jimmy Zhong, who also brought Bentoya Japanese Fusion and Kenji Sushi to the Edinburgh food scene. Located in Stockbridge, as you step down to this basement restaurant you are transported to a little slice of authentic Japan. Umi has over twelve types of Sashimi ranging from Tuna, Salmon, octopus, sea bass and many more. Their sushi rolls offers diversity in their flavours and they are pieces of art in themselves and the quality of the sushi presentation and taste is incredible. For ramen lovers opt for their home made ramen bowls which come in various flavours and spice levels. This is our new favourite sushi restaurant in Edinburgh.
Web: umiedinburgh.com
Harajuku Kitchen
This restaurant has been awarded an official rosette by the AA, and it is easy to see why. Its menu is populated with recipes that have been developed by, and kept within, the owners’ family for decades. Now, they are presented for everyone to enjoy! Offering a simple, stylish, bistro feel, this airy restaurant decorated with potted plants serves up a list of tempura dishes, traditional gyoza dumplings, noodles, curries, and more. When it comes to the sushi, there is an abundance of choice. Whether you opt for the octopus and squid sashimi or the tuna nigiri, the sweet potato tempura temaki or the cucumber and salmon maki rolls, you can be sure that it will all be delicious. There are also various sushi options that you do not always find in restaurants in the UK, such as gunkan (featuring enticing flavours such as snow crab and salmon roe), futomaki rolls (try the spider roll for a taste sensation), and a wide range of rice dishes.
Yes Sushi
Always buzzing with happy customers, this lively joint in Edinburgh’s New Town is famous for its comforting hot pots and for its all-you-can-eat sushi buffet. When enjoying the all-you-can-eat buffet, you can choose either sushi by itself, or a sushi and hotpot combo for a little extra. There are also unlimited drinks refills to go with your meal. This restaurant is brilliant for any time when you and your friends want to enjoy some sushi on a budget – and when you are feeling particularly hungry so that you can get your money’s worth at the buffet bar.
Web: www.facebook.com
Kanpai Sushi
Simplicity is right at the heart of the philosophy behind Kanpai. This eatery offers diners the three key ingredients of sushi, sake, and tempura. And what more could you wish for? As the word ‘Kanpai’ comes from the Japanese word for ‘cheers!’ you will not be surprised to hear that this restaurant provides various full bodied, delicious sake options. The sushi selection is scrumptious, with plenty of hand rolls filled with everything from snow crab to eel, and lots of sashimi and nigiri options too. Try the 20 piece sashimi set if you want to share with a couple of other people – or if you just feel super hungry!
Web: kanpaisushiedinburgh.co.uk
Maki and Ramen
Part of a chain of three restaurants dotted across Edinburgh, Maki and Ramen offers soothing bowls of broth with braised bean curd (or try the ‘Hell Ramen’ if you dare!) and then plenty of fresh sushi to have on the side or as an additional course. This is probably the best sushi restaurant on this list for vegetarians, too, thanks to its thoughtful and delectable vegetarian set dishes.
Web: www.makiramen.com
