Looking for a yummy Japanese meal near you?
Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top Japanese restaurants around Columbia, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of the best places to satisfy your cravings.
1. Kome Sushi
Topping the list is Kome Sushi. For sushi fans, it offers attractively arranged and price-competitive maki, nigiri and sashimi. The menu goes well beyond raw fish though, to encompass soba and udon soups, fried rice and hibachi-grilled steak, shrimp, scallops and vegetables.
Located in an unassuming strip mall at 7106 Minstrel Way, Suite G, it is the highest-rated Japanese restaurant in Columbia, boasting 4.5 stars out of 168 reviews on Yelp.
Yelper May A. wrote, "Great sushi and very good service. We enjoyed the rolls and the sashimi. Very fresh and flavorful."
2. Sushi Nari
Next up is Sushi Nari, situated at 8640 Guilford Road. On the menu, look for specialty rolls like the Hot Night (shrimp tempura, spicy salmon, cucumber, jalapeño and wasabi aioli) and Let it Snow (spicy tuna, masago and avocado). A range of Japanese cuisine is also represented, from appetizers like baked mussels with cream sauce and grilled octopus with bonito flakes, to numerous rice, noodle and ramen options.
At lunchtime on weekdays, there's a $10 special, which comes with 10 pieces of nigiri, a maki roll, miso soup or house salad, and a side of edamame.
With 4.5 stars out of 167 reviews on Yelp, the sushi bar has proven to be a local favorite.
3. Sushi Sono
Sushi Sono, located at 10215 Wincopin Circle, is another top choice, with Yelpers giving it four stars out of 390 reviews. The atmosphere is set by floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Lake Kittamaqundi and the waitstaff dressed in kimonos.
The restaurant serves a traditional Japanese menu of appetizers, like yakitori, seaweed salad and octopus with vinegar sauce; sushi, including a long list of nigiri, sashimi and rolls; plus teriyaki options, like pork loin in soy ginger sauce and seafood teriyaki.
For dessert, consider the tempura green tea ice cream.
4. Sushi King
Sushi King at 6490 Dobbin Road is another go-to, with four stars out of 371 Yelp reviews. Enter to a calming fountain, then head to a table, the sushi bar or one of two private rooms. There you'll order from a menu that includes sides like gyoza, soft-shell crab, fried squid and spinach salad. Then move on to cooked or uncooked sushi, maki rolls, teriyaki and tempura.
A variety of beverages are on offer, including tea, juice, beer and wine, including imported Japanese brands.
5. Katana Sushi of Lakeside
Then there's Katana Sushi of Lakeside, which has earned four stars out of 48 reviews on Yelp. A very long menu lists your options, from Japanese appetizers, noodles, sushi and tempura, to Thai cuisine, including pad thai, curries and basil fried rice.
The sushi board will let you know what's fresh that day, whether salmon, eel or octopus. Or look for the chef's specials, mostly rolls like the Captain Roll with lobster tempura and mango with spicy tuna on top.
You can find the restaurant at 8865 Stanford Blvd., Suite 105.
