Top 5 Sushi Restaurants in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv has become a bit of a sushi mecca in recent times, a position consolidated with the opening of Tel Aviv’s 100th sushi restaurant a few days ago. Wow, 100 sushi restaurants! To put it into comparison, Tel Aviv is now the world’s third largest sushi market in per capita terms, behind New York and, not surprisingly, Tokyo.
OK, so not all of the 100 restaurants are strictly concentrating on sushi – some 62 Japanese restaurants and eateries specialize in sushi only, while 25 specialize in take-away sushi, and another 13 restaurants where sushi forms a big chunk of the menu. But that’s still a lot of sushi!
Anyway, from that list of 100 we’ve selected the 5 we think you really should try. They, in our opinion, are the best sushi restaurants in Tel Aviv, they are also stalwarts of the Tel Aviv sushi scene that will probably still be around (credit crunch willing) when you come looking for some sushi. And we have even added a few at the end that just missed out on fame and glory on igoogledisrael.
In no particular order…
- Onami: This place has a great name in Tel Aviv sushi circles and is considered perhaps the finest of all in Tel Aviv. It’s not cheap, but the variety available is impressive. You should try their renowned Agadashi Tofu. I’ve been here a couple of times myself, but always left expecting more. Maybe I came at the wrong time of day or just ordered the wrong stuff…but others do rave about this place so give it a try.
HaArba’ah 18, 03-5621172 (www.onami.co.il – takes a loooong time to load) - Kai: I do believe this is the first sushi restaurant where I picked my faves from the revolving belt that circulates throughout the place, with different color plates for different prices. Loved the concept of “like what you see, take it”. The place is modern and fairly spacious, nicely designed and the sushi is great. I used to live just down the road from Kai, so the wife and I would often practice our new-found sushi skills here after a quick bike-ride. I’m sure many wouldn’t add this to the list of finest sushi restaurants in Tel Aviv, but for me it was king of the hill for a long time.
HaBarzel 4, 03-6446485 (More details) - Sushi Samba: Quite probably the funkiest sushi restaurant in Tel Aviv, this worldwide chain know how to produce the goods. The sushi is excellent, but a little pricey, but you’re also going for the experience and the fusion between Latin American and Japanese cuisine (yes!). Stylish and sassy, with an in-house DJ keeping you in the groove, this place isn’t for you if you’re looking for a quiet little corner for a romantic date.
HaBarzel 27, 03-6444345 (www.sushisamba.com – but annoyingly hard to find anything about the Tel Aviv branch!)
- Sushido: A great little place at the southern end of Rothschild Street the happening part of town, has a great atmosphere and the sushi is excellent. It’s been awhile since I was last here but it was great. A cool place that you could easily take a date to impress, the sushi is great, but not cheap. Also has a speedy home delivery service, so they say.
Rothschild 15, 03-5177794 (More details) - Moon: Another of the conveyor belt crowd, though Moon claims to be the first sushi bar in Tel Aviv to use this, and frankly, who are we to argue. Their use of the conveyor belt system promotes sitting at the bar because they only have 3 tables to sit at, which are often occupied. Great sushi, nice place. My wife was particularly impressed by the couple of Israeli celebs she spotted in the place. They also have a good delivery service which shouldn’t be sneezed at.
Bograshov 58, 03-6291155 (More details)
So there you go, the 5 best sushi restaurants in Tel Aviv. Hope you’ve got your chopsticks primed and ready. And please feel free to let us know of any hidden gems that we might have missed out…hopefully the following list includes some of those brave attempts but not quite Top 5 restaurants…
- HaSushiya: If ever a website was going to tempt me to go buy some sushi, this is the website
- Yakuza: Good mix of Asian foods, with good service and some excellent sushi
- Yoko: Out on the town in downtown Florentin, you’ll want to end up here
One thing I have noticed – a lack of English restaurant websites, and even a lack of the bare essentials in English. Guys, get it together, tourists and visitors to Israel also like sushi!
* We removed the Tel Aviv branch of Kyoto from this list because they closed down and now operate in Herzliya. A great restaurant, but not in Tel Aviv…
Popularity: 36% [?]
Category: Out and About, Restaurants
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I’m so glad you mentioned Kai. Their miso soup, with the — in my opinion — essential addition of shitaki mushrooms to the usually-mushroomless recipe — is to DIE FOR. Literally. I would commit crimes for that soup.
*le slurp*
Mushi mushi!
Yep, I still like Kai, as we’re still living pretty close. Never tried the soup, will have to now….
[...] doug wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptTel Aviv has become a bit of a sushi mecca in recent times, a position consolidated with the opening of Tel Aviv’s 100th sushi restaurant a few days ago. Wow, 100 sushi restaurants! To put it into comparison, Tel Aviv is now the world’s … [...]
[...] unknown wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptYour one-stop guide for all things Israel. Search, find, enjoy! [...]
wonderful article!
Seems to be missing my personal favourite: Sakura on King George St.
There’s something fresh and unique about that place. Definitely top-form.
OK MC, I’ll have to check it out one day and then update this list. Maybe. Or make a new one.
[...] it seems that the Japanese have fallen in love with sushi restaurants in Tel Aviv. The number of Japanese tourists, as well as those from other Asian countries such as China, has [...]
Got here whilst googling for Moon’s address. Nice list, though I would have thought Sushi Bar Basel (on Ashtori HaParhi) is surely in the top few…
Cheers Michael, don’t know it personally but am thinking to update this list. A LOT of people are looking for sushi in Tel Aviv!
You got to try Tsuki on Rambam the best sushi I had in tel aviv si far and ibeat sushi three times a week!
Cheers Shadow, that’s another one I’m not familiar with!
Ashley, haven’t you tried kyoto?
where is that located shadow?
Toni, I think you missed the first one on my list :-)
Tsuki is located on rambam 14 next to the shuk hacarmel in the nechlat midrachov…..I ate there tonight the fish is so fresh and you got to try the avocado eggroll!!!!! I spoke with the chef he brings in the fish daily and if it isnt fresh he throws it out!!!! who does this?? He even explained that the reason hes closed on saturday is because the fish is supplied on friday and by saturday it aint fresh. Finally sushi that is great value and has taste!!! I seriously reccomend it to anyone who is a sushi freak like me.
Shadow, you’ve got me drooling, and I don’t even like fish!
[...] in Tel Aviv is one of the finest sushi bars in Israel. It has, of course, been on our list of top sushi restaurants to visit in Tel Aviv for some time, but I thought it was about time Moon got it’s own private little review. For [...]
Looks very delicious. super sushi
Thanks
I’m sorry but I have to bring this to people’s attention – this MOON restaurant is a rip-off.
They advertise that “all rolls are 12 shekels on Sunday.”
What they don’t mention is how while most restaurant’s “rolls” consist of 6-8 PIECES, theirs consists of 2. Small pieces at that.
If you do the math not only is that NOT a good deal, its BAD one. 6 Shekels a piece? I shouldn’t have to take a second mortgage just to eat some fish.
Do you support this business.
Thanks for the feedback John!
Wasn’t aware of this deal and yes, it doesn’t sound great. Maybe they’ll read this and change things (and no, I have no connection with the place, I just enjoyed eating there).