These Restaurants Maki The Best Sushi In Pittsburgh!

• Fun Fact: While Japanese cuisine has been around for centuries, the U.S. didn’t see sushi in its restaurants until 1970, when advances in refrigeration technology made it possible to ship fresh fish overseas.

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The first American sushi bar was opened in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles and with all of their success, then began the rise of sushi restaurants to other major American cities, such as New York City and Chicago. Because of this expansion and the ever-changing preparation and serving techniques, sushi has become a go-to for lunch all over the country, including Pittsburgh which now hosts its own variety of sushi restaurants.

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Today we're going to be breaking down the best of the best sushi in Pittsburgh, no matter what you're looking for. We've done the legwork so that you don't have to. So let’s get cooking!

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1. Andy’s Sushi Bar

A great selection of sushi from Pittsburgh Staple Wholey's Fish Market!

Delicious sushi fresh and ready to eat while you’re there or to go! Image courtesy of the Andy’s Sushi Bar Yelp photo page.

1711 Penn Ave | Pittsburgh | wholeyscurbside.com

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Ask any Pittsburgher where to go for fish, and they'll tell you Wholey's in the Strip. Ranking amidst other local legends like PennMac and Primanti's as a Pittsburgh classic, Wholey's Fish Market has been Pittsburgh's go-to source for fresh seafood so it just makes sense that the top-ranked sushi in the 'Burgh is located within it as well. Andy's Sushi Bar is operated by Andy himself, a fun and exciting sushi chef who's ready to whip up amazing sushi creations.

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There’s a great selection of dishes at Andy’s Sushi Bar like the Seaweed Salad, Ama Ebi (Sweet Shrimp), Tekka Maki (Tuna), and combination rolls!

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After picking up some of Andy’s sushi, be sure to explore the rest of the market. Wholey’s offers a selection of soups, fudge, and peanut butter, among the rest of their seafood selection, which includes fish filets, seafood steaks, and squid. Since it is a stand, there isn't a seating area right next to Andy’s, but Wholey's does have a seating area upstairs.

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“I never knew this existed but boy am I glad I learned! The sushi was amazing and Andy is hilarious. I went with a couple of friends and he had us laughing the entire time we were there.” -Yelp Review

2. Mount Everest Sushi

Donuts and tacos made out of…sushi? Intriguing, count us in!

128 Oakland Ave | Pittsburgh | mteverestsushi.com

Looking for an excellent sushi roll that won't break the bank? Head over to the “college town” Oakland for delicious, creative, budget-friendly sushi located in the heart of Pitt's campus. Just a few minutes walk from the Cathedral of Learning, Mount Everest offers A La Carte options, Specialty Rolls, and Hand Rolls (like the California or Eel Avocado Roll).

If you’re feeling adventurous, opt for one of the Chef’s Specials, such as the Sushi Donut or the Sushi Crispy Taco for a different way to consume the traditional dish- in this case with your hands. Mount Everest also offers Poke Bowls, which are chopped raw fish over rice with veggies, in case you aren’t feeling like sushi that day.

Order online, over the phone, or in person for takeout, or if you’re shopping in the area, sit down upstairs to be served something off of their versatile menu. You can also have it delivered via Grubhub or Postmates!

“I absolutely LOVED this place. The service was amazing, crazy friendly and accommodating. Felt like we were regulars. Walked in and was not expecting such an enthusiastic welcoming vibe. We sat upstairs, ate and visited with old friends. 10/10 will come back next time we are in town!” -Yelp Review

3. Umami

A stellar place for aesthetically pleasing and great tasting sushi in Pittsburgh with cocktails on the side!

202 38th St | Pittsburgh | umamipgh.com

Steeped in character and history, Lawrenceville is home to some of Pittsburgh's trendiest venues, from theaters that showcase internet-famous felines in their annual Cat Video Festival, to cider houses, classic French patisseries, and the best of all: Umami!

Named after the fifth category of food taste — and the Japanese word for "deliciousness" — Umami is located on the third floor of a Lawrenceville building on 28th Street. Umami is an Izakaya, or Japanese Pub, dedicated to Umami flavors, which are rich and salty like cheese and cooked meat. 

Umami’s menu offers Nigiri (raw fish over pressed rice), Sashimi (thin pieces of raw fish/meat) and Sushi Hand Rolls. Top off your late lunch/dinner with a hand crafted cocktail from their bar.

While the sushi bar closes at 10 p.m. during the week, Umami serves drinks until as late as 2 a.m. In addition to their fun cocktails, they also have Sake, beer, and wine to go with your meal. Make a reservation for this trendy sushi joint today!

“Really fantastic food, drinks, and ambiance! Always a pleasant experience to come here with such attentive and friendly service as well. My personal favorites on the menu are the Better than the Parlor lychee martini and the Yaki Udon - both are absolutely delicious!” -Yelp Review

4. Nakama

Satisfy your sushi craving at one of Pittsburgh's most well-known spots!

1611 E Carson St | Pittsburgh | nakamass.com

Nakama is a classic Japanese steakhouse and sushi bar in Pittsburgh. Their lengthy sushi menu can satisfy any craving, plus you can get in the Yinzer spirit with a Pittsburgh specific signature roll, such as the “South Side,” “Pittsburgh Penguins,” or “Steelers Rolls.” You can visit any of the Nakama locations or order it to your door via Uber Eats or Postmates. 

Nakama has hibachi as well — making for a perfect outing for a birthday or similar celebration, it’s especially entertaining for kids! Try one of their signature martinis to pair with your meal, or a specialty drink in a souvenir ceramic mug.

The Nakama food truck is perfect for parties or corporate functions, so if you love what Nakama has to offer you can look to see about hiring it!

“This is a great place if your looking for good sushi, drinks and atmosphere. There is a great selection of food in addition to sushi. There is a sushi bar, sit down bar and a hibachi area. Lots of fun fire entertainment.” -Yelp Review

5. Umi Japanese Restaurant

A delicious sushi meal to come back to from an award winning chef!

Buy An Umi Japanese Restaurant Gift Card

5849 Ellsworth Ave | Pittsburgh | umi.rest

Mr. Shu, the head chef at Umi uses the freshest ingredients available to make some of the best sushi you’ve ever had. Every single part of the meal is made to perfection and no small detail is left overlooked, so if you like real care built into your food then head over to Umi Japanese Restaurant. 

A small climb up the stairs to the third floor is where you’ll find Umi- (though they do offer dining areas on the first floor by request). You can stop in at Umi for sushi, Sashimi or Maki (hand rolls available upon request). For an interesting date night, try Omakase, which is Japanese for “to entrust” and gives the diner a unique seven or eleven course meal, plus dessert. Sushi chef Mr. Shu makes it a meal to remember.

“Wow, this place is off the charts spectacular. We went with the eleven course setting which I initially thought would be a little much, but was definitely the way to go. The old fashioned was a 10 as well.” -Yelp Review

You can Purchase a GiftYa Gift Card to Umi Japanese Restaurant here!

6. Mola

A laid-back spot to enjoy the best sushi in Pittsburgh with your loved ones!

Text A Mola Gift Card

6018 Penn Ave | Pittsburgh | themolafish.com

Award winning chef Alex Tang has lovely memories watching his mother and grandmother prepare truly delicious food growing up, and with that he decided he wanted to spread that joy to others. 

That’s where Mola in Pittsburgh comes in. Mola is Alex’s and his business partner Mimi Lee’s dream come true. They are providing people with an authentic and rich experience eating tasty Asian cuisine.

Their extensive menu is full of fan favorites that use only the freshest and finest ingredients on the market like their Organic Miso Soup, Spicy Crab Salad, Bluefin Tuna, Fresh Water Eel, hand rolls like the Yellowtail Scallion, and more. Plenty to eat at Mola!

“Amazing quality sushi and their rice is has such a unique flavor. 10/10 recommend giving it a try. Their fish is so fresh! Best sushi i've had in awhile. The servers are also very knowledgable and helpful. Don't miss out on their cool cocktails, they all have a Japanese flair!” -Yelp Review

You can Purchase a GiftYa Gift Card to Mola here!

7. Ginza Japanese Restaurant

Simple. Fresh. High-quality. What more could you want from sushi?

4734 Liberty Ave | Pittsburgh | ginzapa.com

Ginza Japanese Restaurant prides itself on serving simple and fresh high-quality sushi with a “refreshingly unassuming” atmosphere, price, and location. And to us? That sounds exactly like the spot where we want to spend an afternoon eating some of our favorite foods. 

Their meu is classic, offering rolls and bento boxes, which include a six-piece California roll, two pieces of Fried Shumai Dumplings, and Rice. Pair it with a beverage of your choice at this BYOB- aka “Bring Your Own Bottle” restaurant for a quick and tasty meal.

“Always love coming here for the sushi! The take out is always quick and efficient. I love that they have a wide assortment of nigiri and sashimi. The tuna mountain is sooo good, it's topped with a mango sauce! A great place for fast and delicious sushi.” -Yelp Review

8. Sushi Too

Full service bar serving Japanese dishes, sushi rolls, and more!

5432 Walnut St | Pittsburgh | thesushitoo.com

Sushi Too has been offering some of the ‘Burgh’s best sushi rolls since 1991. And over the past three decades they have gained a loyal following of those who love truly fresh, high quality rolls. Everyone on the team will make sure you have an enjoyable experience at this restaurant! 

On the menu, you will find a variety of Japanese cuisine from Noodles and Fried Rice to Sushi and Sashimi, Milk Tea, and Chef’s Kitchen Specials. They also offer Poke Bowls and Japanese Bendon along with Deluxe Sushi Platters and Mochi Ice Cream for dessert!

“Ordered some lunch via Door Dash and it was delicious! The chicken katsu was crispy and sat on a bed of lettuce. The shrimp spring roll was quite flavorful. And the portions for the California roll and rainbow roll were perfect.” -Yelp Review

9. Lins Asian Fusion

Noodles, fried rice, teriyaki, and sushi served in a small space with street seating!

2018 E Carson St | Pittsburgh | linsasianfusion.com

Lins Asian Fusion brings together multiple Asian cuisines and offers guests some of the best in sushi, Chinese, and Japanese specialties. They offer a casual spot to come by after work or for an afternoon meal while you’re shopping in town.

There’s a little something for everyone at Lins, like Lo Mein, classic Fried Rice with your choice of meat or seafood, Grilled Chicken Soup, combination Bento Boxes, and sushi of course! A lot of sushi staples and stuff you’ll see at other restaurants but it does not disappoint when it comes to flavor.

“Don't walk, run to this restaurant. Great atmosphere and amazing food! Super cute restaurant with a great menu from teas and smoothies to amazing Asian cuisine. The best food in Pittsburgh! Great service, fresh, and delicious food.” -Yelp Review

10. Sushi ATARASHI

Customize your hand-crafted sushi roll from the beginning to your first bite!

120 Oakland Ave | Pittsburgh | sushiatarashi.com

Originally called “Sushi Fuku”- the newly named Sushi Atarashi has rebranded to become a bigger and better chain of sushi restaurants with three locations and one cafeteria in Pittsburgh. Their Oakland restaurant is close to Carnegie Mellon University and thus has become a popular location among college students. They also draw a local crowd -- especially due to their presence of multiple food delivery apps.

Their menu features rolls like the Crunchy Salmon Roll, Crab Rangoon Roll, and Flamin’ Tuna Roll. They also offer Poke Bowls, sides like the Fried Veggie Spring Roll, and a Build Your Own option for those who are particular about their sushi tastes. What’s not to like?

“I've been searching for a good sushi burrito since moving here a year ago. Atarashi is the chipotle of sushi and has endless opportunities for vegans and vegetarians. I will happily be back soon to grab another roll.” -Yelp Review

11 Kiku Japanese Restaurant

A relaxed atmosphere awaits, serving the best in sushi, tempura, and teriyaki!

Image courtesy of the Kiku Pittsburgh Instagram page.

225 W Station Square Dr | Pittsburgh | kikupittsburgh.net

Kiku Japanese Restaurant has been around since 1983. ‘Kiku,’ the Japanese word for chrysanthemum, is a huge part of Japanese culture and has its celebration from late October through mid November. The owners chose this name to showcase beauty, culture, and tradition and to share it with Pittsburgh locals. 

Now as for their food, specifically their sushi, they offer Specialty Rolls, Maki, Temaki, Nigiri and Sashimi. The list of specialty rolls is extensive and includes favorites like Shrimp Tempura paired alongside Pittsburgh inspired rolls like the ‘Steelers Roll’ and ‘Allegheny roll.’ If you’re looking for Japanese sushi with Pittsburgh flair -- look no further!

“This is my favorite date night spot! The staff's really pleasant. We always come here for the sushi lover for two. The toro is my favorite it just melts like butter. Highly recommend this place for high quality sushi in Pittsburgh.” -Yelp Review

12. Little Tokyo Bistro

A quaint space serving traditional Japanese cuisine with a sushi bar.

2122 E Carson St | Pittsburgh | littletokyopittsburgh.com

Little Tokyo Bistro specializes in everything Japanese cuisine, from Sushi, Hibachi, Teriyaki, Tempura, Udon Noodles and appetizers. They also carry selections of Japanese beer and sake! Owner, Frank Lin is proud to offer a wide selection of Japanese items at this location and his other.

As for the sushi, they offer Maki and Nigiri along with Chef Specialties. Specialties can be a combination of sushi boats and rolls. However, with the extensive list of sushi offerings, you’ll be spoiled for choice, and it’ll take you a few visits to really get a taste of everything they have on the menu!

“Found this little gem, and I'd def go back! As a matter of fact I did 2x.  Had ramen, sushi, and the chicken katsu and all was great.  Its nice and quiet and on Carson st. if you need some noise there after!” -Yelp Review

There’s so many places that offer some of the best sushi in Pittsburgh and you can try them all! From speciality rolls to classics you know and love, there’s plenty to go back to at any of these wonderful restaurants.