10 of Denver’s Best Sushi Restaurants

The sushi scene in Denver has never been better. That’s thanks in part to advances in seafood sourcing and our ever-evolving population of talented chefs, the combination of which makes it possible for diners to feast on the freshest preparations of raw fish in a landlocked city. Whether you’re an omakase fiend or don’t know unagi from hamachi, there’s a Japanese restaurant in town to please every type of sushi lover. Here, where to find the best sushi in Denver right now.

Editor’s Note: This is a living list of the best sushi restaurants in Denver that was last updated on July 11, 2024. Did we miss your favorite? Email us at dining@5280.com.

Nozomi

Nozomi in Sunnyside, which opened in early 2023, has a bar stocked with beautiful seafood and a menu with lots of options—including nigiri, sashimi, rolls, and temaki (hand roll) preparations that are harder to find in Denver. That encourages patrons to try fresh flavor combinations, such as seared scallop with decadent tobiko butter and citrusy yuzu kosho or ponzu-glazed seared yellowtail with chives, under the care of a friendly staff in a laid-back environment. Mosey in with the regulars during happy hour (Monday–Thursday, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.; Friday–Saturday, 12 to 3 p.m.) for bomb deals such as $6 drinks and appetizers and three temaki for $12. 4100 Tejon St.

Sushi-Rama

Sushi-Rama promotes the idea that eating sushi should be fun. Kaiten-zushi restaurants, where dishes are delivered to diners via a conveyer belt, are a common find in Japan. But chef Jeff Osaka was the first to bring the model to Denver in 2016. At the RiNo eatery, parades of colorful plates topped with nigiri and maki rolls snake by patrons, who can also order drinks and à la carte specialties from servers. Plus, Sushi-Rama is the only non-buffet restaurant in town where you don’t have to commit to an entire six- or eight-piece roll. Instead, the rolls come in affordable two- or three-piece sets (priced between $2.75 and $4.29), so you can add variety to your meal without denting your bank account. Altogether, it’s a kid-friendly dining experience that brings joy to pint- and full-size sushi lovers (like myself). 2615 Larimer St.

Sushi Den

This South Pearl Street institution, which turns 40 this December, has stood the test of time. That’s due in part to owners Toshi and Yasu Kizaki’s dedication to sourcing the highest-quality ingredients; the restaurant was one of the first in the country to ship its fish from markets worldwide, including their native Japan. Seven days a week, patrons from near and far pack into the two-story, light-wood-furnished restaurant to order eel, red shrimp, snapper, king salmon, and other catches from the deepest sushi lists in town. Whether you want to savor a platter of aburi-style sushi (flame-seared seafood nestled atop pressed rice) or thick slices of truffle-laced kanpachi (similar to yellowtail), Sushi Den’s army of chefs will craft you something beautiful and satisfying. Make reservations for dinner, or be prepared to wait for a table (we like to slip in during lunch, when it isn’t as busy). 1487 S. Pearl St.

Hapa

The menu at Hapa—named after the Hawaiian word for someone of multiracial ancestry—is packed with fusion flavors. While some of the restaurant’s dishes are deliberately controversial (see: the aïoli-drenched, tempura-fried Multiple Orgasm roll), the brand’s reach is convenient for fans of cheekily named rolls and cross-cultural specialties. The Colorado-born chain has four locations across the Front Range (the first debuted inside Boulder’s Fox Theatre in 1999) and is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. or later, making it easy for locals to satisfy their cravings any time of day. My go-tos are the poke bowl loaded with a generous portion of sesame-seed-freckled tuna (yellowtail and salmon are also available) and chirashi, an assortment of sashimi and pickled veggies over rice. Multiple locations

Ototo

After a three-year, pandemic-induced hiatus, Ototo turned its lights back on in spring 2023. Since then, the younger sibling of Sushi Den and adjacent Izakaya Den has churned out the exquisite seafood preparations that South Pearl’s “Den Corner” is known for, as well as more innovative Japanese fare, like bacon-wrapped mochi and seared pork and kimchi crowned with chile threads in a sizzling skillet. That creativity and attention to detail now extends to Sunday brunch, which the restaurant resumed serving this spring. Patrons complement plates of crispy karaage chicken with matcha waffles and a riff on bagel and lox (a rice cake topped with whipped tofu, salmon, capers, cucumbers, and red onion) with selections of sushi and sashimi. I like the sushi sampler—two pieces of the oshizushi (pressed sushi), two nigiri, and four slices of sashimi. 1501 S. Pearl St.

Uchi

Among the ocean of sushi joints slinging standard menus of tempura and hamachi crudo, six-year-old Uchi marches to the beat of its own drum. The resulting cuisine— masterminded by Austin-based, James Beard Award–winning chef Tyson Cole—features eclectic yet harmonious plates that you can’t get anywhere else in Denver. Slide into a booth in the sleek dining room to devour glistening slices of yellowtail bathed in Thai-chile-spiked ponzu and beautifully sculpted nigiri showcasing salmon belly, Spanish mackerel, and other fruits of the sea delivered to the restaurant six days a week. Uchi’s offerings are pricier than most other sushi spots, though: A lot of the plates, of which you’ll need roughly five to seven for two diners, cost between $5 and $30. For a special occasion, the market-price omakase (around $150 per person) is worth the splurge. 2500 Lawrence St.

Sushi Sasa

If you’re a raw bar lover that doesn’t live in LoHi, a meal at Sushi Sasa might make you wish you did. The 19-year-old low-key neighborhood spot from chef-owner Wayne Conwell offers a lengthy roster of well-prepared hot and cold small plates, soups and salads, entrées, and other dishes, along with a paper-and-pencil sushi menu. Go for traditional favorites such as the sashimi platter—15 pieces of velvety tuna, yellowtail, salmon, octopus, whitefish, and other high-quality cuts—or order a plate infused with fusion flavors like the Sasa Trio salmon tartare, spicy tuna, and hamachi with Granny Smith apple, pine nuts, caviar, and red chile sauce). Visit during lunch to take advantage of some great deals, such as the aforementioned sashimi platter for only $24 (versus $38 at dinner). 2401 15th St., Unit 80

Mizu Izakaya

Those who want to see and be seen while they devour their unagi nigiri and salmon skin roll will feel right at home at eight-year-old Mizu Izakaya. Restaurateur Hong Jian Lee (also behind East Moon Asian Bistro in Westminster and the just-opened Krav Cafe in LoHi) looked to Japan’s izakayas for inspiration for Mizu’s ambience and food offerings. In the chic space bedecked with dark woods and pendant lights, stylishly garbed Denverites linger over espresso martinis spiked with Japanese vermouth and gin while they devour fat soft-shell-crab-stuffed spider rolls, briny Santa Barbara uni, and buttery bluefin tuna. If you’re not in the mood for seafood, the menu features tons of options for landlubbers, from tonkotsu ramen to furikake-loaded fries. 1560 Boulder St., Unit 100

Kumoya

In fall 2023, seasoned sushi chef Corey Baker (formerly of Sushi Den, Sushi Sasa, and others) joined forces with the Culinary Creative Group to open ultra-modern Kumoya in Highland. The romantic restaurant—which features exposed brick, cozy velvet banquettes, and globe lights—has an ever-changing sushi menu based on seasonal seafood and a selection of inventive hot dishes. Taste Baker and his team’s culinary prowess at the sushi counter, where you can enjoy a market-price omakase experience that shows off the restaurant’s dry-aged fish program. Or for a more casual affair, pair the slightly smoky Endo cocktail (mezcal, gin, elderflower, spring pea, and lemon) with a six-piece nigiri set and the sandoitchi, a milk bread sandwich filled with chicken thigh katsu and Japanese curry egg salad. 2400 W. 32nd Ave.

Go Fish Sushi

One Concept Restaurant Group’s eateries—which include South Colorado Boulevard’s Bronze Empire, Thornton’s Chubby Fish Sushi, and multiple local outposts of Kung Fu Tea—are known for their approachability and consistent quality. Go Fish Sushi, which has locations on South Broadway and in Broomfield, is no exception. Patrons who grab a table at the casual, no-frills spots can expect speedy service and a worth-the-spend spread of sushi restaurant staples. Look for the tight selection of specials written on the chalkboard such as seared A5 Japanese wagyu, Kumamoto oysters, and Scottish salmon, or tuck into the sushi for two platter, a veritable feast that includes 18 pieces of chef’s choice nigiri, a rainbow roll and a tuna avocado roll, and two sides of miso soup or salad for $75. 1 Broadway, Unit 108; 2055 W. 136th Ave., Unit B106, Broomfield