When Tatsu opened its intimate 10-seat Deep Ellum space in May 2022, it immediately upped Dallas’s sushi game. Chef Tatsuya Sekiguchi is a fourth-generation sushi chef who came to Dallas from New York, where he worked at some of the city’s best sushi joints. Now he’s hosting thoughtful omakase dinners at two seatings each night, serving fresh fish atop perfectly seasoned rice with technical precision.
How to book: Reserve via Tock.
This 13-seat omakase restaurant has been one of the hardest reservations in town since it opened in the middle of 2021. Chefs Jimmy Park and Shinichiro Kondo turn out 15-plus courses each night, offering two menu options. The Edo set stays true to classic Edomae-style sushi, while the Sho set embraces the chefs’ creativity and includes flourishes in ingredients and presentation. You can’t go wrong with either.
Akira Back is a prolific chef with modern Japanese restaurants stashed across the world, from Beverly Hills to Bangkok. Recently his resume was updated to include a DFW suburb when he opened an Akira Back outpost in The Colony’s Grandscape development. Expect a variety of hot and cold dishes and creative rolls, plus a variety of nigiri and sashimi. If you can’t decide, try Chef Akira’s Sampler for a rotating selection of sushi and rolls.
Since opening in 2015, Uchi continues to impress with its food and polished service. The tightly curated sushi menu features fish flown in straight from Japan’s famed Toyosu Market, complementing classic favorites like salmon and tuna with rotating options you don’t see everyday like bluenose trevally and sea robin. If you're still hungry, there’s a variety of hot and cool small plates on offer, from Walu Walu (oak-grilled escolar) to Kinoko Nabe, a rice dish loaded with seasonal mushrooms, egg yolk, and 72-hour short rib.
Located just above Uchi, Uchiba serves largely the same direct-from-Japan sushi menu as its sibling restaurant. It also dishes up one of the best happy hours in Dallas, with nigiri bites starting at just $2 each—so, if you want to eat well and save a few bucks, head upstairs. But it’s not all the same. The more casual concept also sports a full bar, plus Bao, Dumplings, and Yakitori Skewers, perfect for snacking between rolls.
Teiichi Sakurai was ahead of the game when he opened Tei-An in 2008, bringing fresh soba noodles and sushi to Arts District diners. He hasn’t slowed down since, and today his restaurant is still a much-loved destination. Though a soba house at its core, the menu—whether you opt for a la carte items or the omakase pre-fixe—features enough nigiri and sashimi to warrant an enthusiastic inclusion here. Bonus: The bar boasts one of the city’s best collections of Japanese whisky and stirs up a perfect Highball.
How to book: Reserve via Tock.
Restaurants
Bars & Nightlife
Things to Do
Get Out of Town
More City Guides
Discover the best things to eat, drink, and do
with our expertly curated city guides.