Smaller Indiana

Making people and ideas findable

Michael Reynolds

The Best Sushi in Indianapolis

I thought I would take a break today from the business world and write about one of my passions in life: sushi! I love sushi. I could eat it just about every day. And lucky for me, Indianapolis is full of great sushi restaurants. I frequently get asked what my favorites are, and I don't really have one favorite that stands out above all others, but I can certainly comment on the ones I really prefer. Here is my list of favorites.

Naked Tchopstix
North Side / Broad Ripple
http://www.tchopstix.com/

This is at the top of my list. Both the Broad Ripple and North side locations are outstanding. The atmosphere is classy and the sushi is always excellent. The Broad Ripple location gets very crowded on the weekends so be warned if it's a Friday or Saturday night. They also have a great mango fizz and a variety of ice cream flavors. My favorite roll here is the sunset roll.

Miyagi's
 North Side
http://indymiyagi.com/

This is one of Indy's newer sushi places and has a very classy atmosphere. Miyagi's seems to specialize in the artistic presentation of sushi. Great service, although a little pricier than some. My favorite roll here is the Special Saporro roll - it is freaking awesome.

Benihana
North Side
http://www.benihana.com/locations/indianapolis-in-in

I was surprised when I discovered that the Benihana in Indianapolis serves excellent sushi! It is recently remodeled and has a great atmosphere. The prices are pretty average and the service is good. They also have a nice assortment of smoothies for those (like me) who like that sort of thing. My favorite roll here is the Alaskan Roll.

Kona Grill
Carmel
http://www.konagrill.com/

I would vote this as Carmel's best sushi. Not only is the atmosphere very classy and comfortable, but the sushi is outstanding. The outdoor seating is also very nice and it seats plenty. The prices are a little high but it's worth it. I don't have a favorite roll here but everything is good. A nice bonus of Kona Grill is the dessert - they have some incredible stuff on the dessert menu. I'm a big fan of the Ultimate Fudge Brownie.

Ichiban
South Side
http://www.indy.com/streetcred/location/1949

Ichiban is an incredible value. The sushi is first-class and the price is lower than any other place I have ever been. It's fairly small and intimate and they also have some recessed-seating booths, which is kind of cool. I loved the Ichiban Roll when I went there.

Bistro Tchopstix
Downtown
http://cityguide.aol.com/indianapolis/restaurants/bistro-tchopstix/...

If you find yourself downtown, I recommend Bistro Tchopstix. It is a small, intimate sushi place in the heart of downtown and it serves up excellent sushi at a reasonable price. I know that some people enjoy The Mikado for a downtown sushi experience but Bistro Tchopstix provides quality that is on par or better at a much lower price. I don't have a favorite roll here, as I usually get nigiri when I'm at Bistro Tchopstix. Service is also friendly.

While I'm sure others have their own preferences on the best sushi, these are my top picks for consistently high-quality sushi and a great atmosphere. I welcome your comments below if you would like to add any experiences of your own. Itadakimasu!

Share 

Comment

You need to be a member of Smaller Indiana to add comments!

Join this Ning Network

Carla Feagans Comment by Carla Feagans on July 4, 2009 at 11:50am
Tegry Bistro has amazing sushi, not to be missed! Kona Jack's is good too, also The Journey, and 45 Degrees. (Btw, "Oishi" means "delicious!")
Patrick Sullivan Comment by Patrick Sullivan on July 4, 2009 at 12:34am
Just a footnote- Oishi Sushi at 10th and Shadeland was the Editor's pick in the Star's "Indy's Sexiest" survey for sexiest table at a restaurant:
"What's better than a private table? One inside your own tatami room, where you can close the curtains, settle side-by-side on the floor cushions and share some sashimi with the one you love. Make sure to get an end table for maximum privacy; that way, your disturbed neighbors can only bang on one wall."
Robby Slaughter Comment by Robby Slaughter on July 3, 2009 at 4:56pm
Sakura is the best sushi in Indy, but I love the atmosphere at Naked Tchopsticks in Broad Ripple.

I've also been impressed lately with the take home sushi from the Marsh deli section. It's surprisingly good and reasonably priced!
Mike Seidle Comment by Mike Seidle on July 3, 2009 at 4:18pm
PK - I'm with you on Asaka - Saito does a great job, and always has great service and great food (we always get a kick out of the fact our family names are pronounced the same). I'm going to have to head to Asaka for Sushi Happy Hour some time. My other favorite Japanese place appears to be out of business: Ichiban Noodles over on Bash. It was a little converted house, but the food was always great, the sushi was always good and I loved the atmosphere.
Lorraine Ball Comment by Lorraine Ball on July 2, 2009 at 9:03pm
Ocean World on 86. Not pretentious, just good basic sushi, reasonable prices, and the best soft shell crab in the city
Michael Nolan Comment by Michael Nolan on July 2, 2009 at 6:41pm
My wife and I returned to Indianapolis in 1992 after living in San Francisco for 14 years. My sushi standards were high, my spirits were low. My cousin Bob recommended Sakura and from then on I had a touch of Japantown at 71st and Keystone. There's no better in Indy.
Michael Reynolds Comment by Michael Reynolds on July 2, 2009 at 2:19pm
Wow! Looks like I need to go to Sakura more often :)
Bill Bean Comment by Bill Bean on July 2, 2009 at 2:19pm
Throwin' in my vote for Sakura!
Michael Reynolds Comment by Michael Reynolds on July 2, 2009 at 1:03pm
PK,

I have been to Asaka and they used to be my favorite but I have not been impressed with them, lately.

And yes, I know Sakura is awesome... I rarely go there, though, and since it's my list I guess I just overlooked it :)

Thanks for all the comments! Keep 'em coming :)
Shelly Arens Comment by Shelly Arens on July 2, 2009 at 1:01pm
As a vegetarian who doesn't eat fish, it is a challenge to find a great sushi place that serves a variety of vegetable "sushi" offerings. My vote for best is Naked Tchopstix (north/broad ripple) and H2O.

Groups

Discussion Forum

Kim Brand

Any excuse to get together...

Started by Kim Brand Sep. 1, 2008.

About

Pat Coyle Pat Coyle created this Ning Network.

Help

A few things to consider before joining Smaller Indiana:
1. Please use your real name (first and last) when you sign up, or we cannot open your account

2. Please do not use logos or commercial images for your profile photo

3. Events should be posted in the events calendar

4. You can post pretty much anything you want on your own personal page (self promotion, etc), and you can change the style of your personal profile page to reflect your corporate identification if you so choose.

5. Please keep all comments civil and polite. It's OK to feel strongly about a subject, and it's OK to be critical of ideas, but please refrain from personal attacks of any kind.

If you witness or experience any issues, please contact admin@smallerindiana.com and we will look into the matter.

6. Smaller Indiana is supported by its members, and by corporate sponsors. If you're interested in learning more about sponsorship, please call Pat Coyle at 317 332 7878.

© 2009   Created by Pat Coyle

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Privacy  |  Terms of Service