Dublin’s superb sushi restaurants

Our sushi guide kicks off with one of Dublin’s most renowned restaurants in the form of Yamamori. It’s not so much of a restaurant as it is a foodie institution, with two restaurants on either side of the River Liffey, as well as a cocktail bar and one of Dublin’s coolest dance clubs. Yamamori South City has been open since 1995 and provides an excellent space complete with an authentic Japanese dining experience. If it’s your first time, Yamamori staff are excellent at providing advice on the most popular offerings.

We’d recommend kicking off with the bluefin tuna norimaki. The norimaki is served with black zakkoku rice, which is an exquisite alternative to white rice, emphasising Yamamori’s mission to curate an authentic Japanese dining experience. Eight rolls come in at €13.75 and it’s a great place to start for newcomers. 

However, if you’re a sushi connoisseur and looking for something new, Yamamori offers a Negitoro Gunkan two-piece. It’s a ‘boat styled’ sushi topped with finely chopped bluefin tuna and spring onion for €7. Yamamori brings a truly great sushi experience without the eye-watering price!

From Georges Street in town to the Georges Street of the seaside, Soup Ramen is a neighbourhood sushi spot, which hosts local DJs and guest beer taps. It’s the ideal place for a date and is very casual. 

Soup Ramen offers a three-course meal, ranging from snacks up to medium plates, but there’s no pressure to go for the full monty (we’d absolutely recommend you do though!). Kick off with some deep-fried kimchi, it’s a great way to start your evening and it comes in at €7. Moving onto the small plates, the Umami Salad is one of the highlights. Pickled mushrooms, cannellini beans, seasoned egg and smoked sesame seeds are blended to perfection and served with a shoyu dressing for €12.50.

If you’re in the market for the best sushi rolls in Dublin City, look no further than Zakura Izakaya. Beautiful lanterns and Japanese artwork adorn the warm wooden walls of the restaurant, bringing some excellent ambience and a comforting atmosphere. The dishes are presented for optimal Instagram pictures, making it a great spot for a low-key date. 

Zakura features a vast amount of sushi rolls in many different styles, but here our are top picks. If you’re looking for something light, we’d suggest you choose the norimaki medium sushi roll, which can be filled with crab cucumber, chicken tempura, or salmon avocado among many other offerings. Why not add one of the best California rolls in town for less than €10 while you’re at it?

The chef’s selection is a real treat and will undoubtedly impress your date. The Kiyomi Sushi selection is a great share plate at €15.50, with four fish pieces of your choice, four pieces of Sushi Nigiri, and a sushi roll of your choice. For big groups, the Zakura Kings Platter provides up to 10-piece sashimi, nigiri, four futomaki rolls, and a plethora of other rolls for €55.

Rounding off this list is Banyi, a great space to pop in for a lunch when you’re mulling about Dublin City. 

To start out, we’d recommend grabbing theiGyoza dumplings, six pieces of chicken, pork, or beef for €7.50. The pork dumplings are of a high standard and they’re truly unmissable! However, Banyi offers a brilliant selection of ‘mix and match’ sushi plates for a truly good price. Select from two-piece nigiri sushi, with tako octopus, ama ebi sweet shrimp, and seabass sushi for €12. There are plenty of sushi sides on offer too, so you won’t be short on options. Banyi also offers a number of sharing plates, so if you’re out with a group and looking to experience a genuine Japanese street food restaurant, Banyi is the first stop.