SANDFISH SUSHI & WHISKEY @ PHOENIX AZ The sushi was extremely fresh and super light! I loved the drinks and our waiter was so sweet. This is definitely the place for a date night vibe or to take some pics w the girls--they even have an all day happy hour! Overall 5/5 read more

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Cute little place in Melrose. The rolls were pretty basic stuff, wasn't a fan of the sauces on some of them. Some were too sour and the other rolls just tasted like eel sauce. The crudos were ok, maybe the sauce combos were a little overpowering for me in the wrong way. We tried the duck bao, that was awful. From the bao quality to the dry shredded duck. Couldn't really eat it. The nigiris were the best dishes there, but the fish quality was just mediocre. A little fishy tasting to it and a little bit more chewing than I'd expect for a higher ended sushi restaurant. Overall it was ok, we went for happy hour so it wasn't so bad. 3 of us was $300.00. I don't mind paying $300/person as long as the quality matches. The quality just wasn't there. Based on the reviews I read, I expected greatness. read more

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Really a nice spot for grabbing dinner with a great vibe. We really enjoyed our dinner and drinks. Lots of beautiful Cocktail choices and they were well done. We started with the blue crab zushi. It was beautiful but could have used some more seasoning/flavor. The crab was bland as was the sauce. Yellowtail crudo was nice and very fresh. Pink Hanabi roll was delicious- loved it! Wish one or both had some kind of spicy or kick. We also tried the duck and al pastor bao buns. Fun and a nice small bite but would probably try something else next time. My only request for this restaurant is to add some kind of spice/ heat element to your menu. I tried to order something spicy and none was. Sat on the patio and enjoyed the quiet vibe. Service was so great! Will be back probably on a happy hour night. read more

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This place is a whole vibe, whether you're celebrating a special occasion or just want to sip a cocktail with some ambiance. The interior is thoughtfully decorated and very chic. I visited on a Sunday evening, and personally enjoyed that we were among just a few other patrons. We were able to sample several dishes and didn't try a single thing we didn't like. In fact, we ordered two of the Tuna Tataki Tacos. My personal favorite was the A5 Tokyo Beef Crunch roll. I found it unique, and the fat from the beef made it a delightful bite. The cocktails deserve an honorable mention as well. I always know a bartender's talent based on their ability to make a great martini, and they served up a few excellent dirty martinis this particular night. A couple FYIs/opportunities before you dine. 1) Off-street parking is extremely limited. I believe there were maybe three spots. However, there were several street spaces available. This may not be the case on a busy Friday or Saturday night. 2) I found their regular menu pricing to be high. Even their happy hour pricing was a bit too high for some items in my opinion. They are serving great quality fish and beautifully curated dishes. However, if you prioritize value over experience, this might not be your top destination. I would definitely visit again and look forward to trying more of their menu. read more

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Really enjoyed our dinner here! The only thing I didn't love were the tuna tacos though my partner liked them. The gyoza, potatoes, the sushi rolls and the crab zuhi were all yummy. Everyone enjoyed their drinks too. Love that they have all day happy hour! We went around 530 pm and it wasn't too busy either which was nice read more

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Came here for dinner for the first time and let me tell you...the food was outstanding!!! All of the fish was very fresh and flavorful. We ordered several dishes to really try the menu and all its glory. My favorite small bite was the Blue Crab Zuhi, do not skip this item, it was so fresh and the crispy rice was magical! 10/10 recommend this place for a date night dinner! The back patio was beautiful and we had stunning views of the sunset as we enjoyed our sushi and glasses of wine. Our server, wish I remembered her name to give her a shout out, was great too! We will be back way sooner then later!! read more

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Our server was very nice and helpful explaining the menu. The spritz was fruity and refreshing. Mixed tempura was airy. Expected a little more from the A5 wagyu hot stone given the price point, the meat is very thin, loved the 3different sauces it came with though. Expected a little more from the yellowtail crudo. read more

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We had dinner at Sandfish last night, this was our 2nd time and it was absolutely amazing! The 1st time we were blown away with the creativity and presentation with all of our delectable dishes and overall experience was stellar. The flavor and detail of each dish is an experience that is unbeatable. The Spicy Tuna Tostadas and the Sweet Chili Langoustines are a must for a starter! Essence of yellow tail was so gooood! Of course the Sandfish Roll was amazing and so were the Tuna Tataki... Everything was perfect! The drinks are beautiful, tasty and are worth every penny... The Lychee martini is a must, sweet but not too sweet and super smooth! Can't wait to try more of the menu on our next visit... The service is impeccable and attentive, all the folks are excellent! A 10 out of 10 for the 2nd time! read more

Sandfish Sushi & Whiskey - Sandfish Sushi and Whiskey - Sushi Bars Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

The food here was excellent. This is by far my favorite $$-$$$ sushi restaurant in Phoenix now. There are a few good sushi spots around this price range, but after visiting here, Sandfish is pretty hard to beat. Service was great. I came for a friend's birthday party and they accommodated us very well, we had a more secluded table which made the atmosphere more intimate and very comfortable, especially for a larger group. As for the food, the fish had a very clean taste, the flavor combinations made sense, and I got to enjoy a few pieces of nigiri I hadn't tried before. The Toyosu Market Special was well thought out and featured familiar nigiri toppings that felt more elevated and better executed than what you'd typically find elsewhere. The only note I have is about the maki rolls. While they all tasted great, the preparation could have been better. I would've liked more even distribution of rice and a more consistent presentation. I think most people probably wouldn't notice once they taste it, but since this is a higher end sushi spot, I'd expect a bit more precision, especially for such a basic roll. Nevertheless, it was an excellent experience for my first visit, and I expect to come back as often as my wallet allows. read more

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Loved the sushi here. The bluefin toro, A5 wagyu, and yellowtail were all fresh and tasty. You order one piece at a time, so you can try something like the bluefin without it turning into a giant splurge. They have a great selection of fish, plus some tasting options, and the rolls are more interesting than the usual rainbow roll and caterpillar roll lineup. The Korean vegetarian bao was great too, and they have quite a few non-sushi entrees. The only downside is the location. It's more of a strip mall, parking-right-out-front kind of spot. The patios are not the strongest part either. The front is by the cars and the back has a walled-in concrete patio vibe. Fairly typical for Melrose, but it does make me wonder if the setting totally matches the high-end sushi. read more

What an incredible experience!! Did have reservations. Seated at a small 2 top. Perfect for ordering a few dishes at a time. Started with drinks. And then... we begin our ordering. Everything was fresh, colorful and delicious !!! I think we tried most of the appetizers. Then we moved onto the rolls . I can't wait to return. It is just the coolest place. Parking is at a minimum. FYI. read more

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6/23/26 - went to Sand Fish for the first time for our party of 6. We were there to celebrate my son's birthday. It was a fantastic dining experience....let me start by saying Jillian totally made the evening a huge success...she was super attentive, helpful, cheerful and really made the evening special. She answered all our questions about the menu, drinks, did not rush us and was just a terrific 'ambassador' for Sand Fish! The food was excellent as we tried a lot of different dishes....Jillian's recommendations were spot on! We didn't really have any dishes that disappointed. It's a very nice spot - smallish, open sushi bar, played good music and they have a small outdoor dining area in front of the restaurant but it was too hot to consider that...maybe in the Fall. Thank you to the entire Sand Fish team for making our son's birthday a very special event...we will be back!!! read more

It was good, but not that exciting of a sushi place. Vibe was great and we enjoyed the company, but service was lackluster and the food was a bit underwhelming for the price point. However, I did hear that maybe they have an omakase menu and that's what you should go for. Not sure if it's true so you might want to do your research, but the regular restaurant menu is take it or leave it for me unless someone else really wants to go. read more

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Came here for happy hour to give it a try and everything was delicious! We got the bao buns, gyozas, Brussels, Akami and yellowtail crudo, the sweet and spicy maki, the essence of yellowtail, and the octopus. There wasn't anything that we were unsatisfied with. Everything had a different flavor from all other sushi places. The dishes came out quick and the waitress was very kind. read more

Sandfish Sushi & Whiskey - Sushi Bars Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

This may have just taken its rightful place as my #1 sushi spot in PHX. I honestly want to gate-keep it but iykyk! I had been wanting to bring my parents while they were town because we all love sushi and my dad is a big whiskey guy. He said their old fashioned was in his top 3 of best he'd ever had. I had their drink of the week which was a basil gimlet and it was one of the most well balanced cocktails I have ever had! Casey was our server and she was so sweet and helpful every step of the way and never steered us wrong! When it came to food we stared with the hh menu and got the spicy edamame, salmon carpaccio, and yellowtail crudo. Then we have a few maki rolls. And when I tell you we did have a single bad thing, we did have anything that was not outstanding. Vibes inside were nice and classy. Natural wood tones, fun accent wall paper, mermaid tiles behind the bar all complimented each other so well, good vibes. Will 110% be back! read more

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This place has been on my list of places to try for some time and after visiting Saturday evening, I'm disappointed that I didn't visit sooner! Perfection is the only way to describe my experience at Sandfish. The service received was amazing. Katie was phenomenal, being both attentive and kind. She even provided superb recommendations. To drink, I had the lychee martini which was light and fruity. The fish here is extremely fresh and the portions are great for someone like myself who prefers their sushi fish forward vs having mostly rice, sauces, or fillings. Some of my favorites include all three crudo options, the nigiri sampler, and the essence of yellowtail maki. The location is intimate but still could accommodate larger parties. The ube oil cake was the cherry on top for a perfect evening of delicious food. I cannot wait to come back and try other items on the menu! read more

Sandfish Sushi & Whiskey - Ube Oil Cake - Sushi Bars Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

On repeat. I have wanted to try this spot for soooo long, but it's a bit out of the way for me and other places got ahead of it. No longer. This is going on repeat. The interior is rather minimalist, but it suits the tone of the food, lets the food be the star. We were in time for happy hour and took advantage of several offerings on the HH menu. Old fashioned was spot on. Right amount of orange to sweet to whiskey ratio, tasted like Bullitt, but not sure. We had the tuna tataki tacos (2 on HH menu). They were spicy and crunchy, the right amount of fresh tuna to tortilla. We also had the HH nigiri, chef's choice, and each morsel was not only beautiful but distinctly flavored. Sorry, don't remember the choices but some I have avoided because of past experiences but these were lovely. We also ordered the sweet and spicy roll, a combination of crab and spicy tuna with chili garlic crisp delicately dabbled across the top. . Delicious. Our final roll was a yellowtail tuna. Spicy. Packed with tuna. Can't wait to go back. Service was nicely paced, plates came and west effortlessly. read more

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We had a great meal here for a birthday dinner! The ambiance was nice, not like over the top or anything but good vibes. Service was fast and efficient. Food is where it's at. The Brussels are a must get as well as the tuna tacos - and they don't skimp on the tuna. In fact, given the price point we never felt like we got skimped on any fish or portion sizes - which was awesome. All the rolls were amazing. Duck bao was fine. Would definitely come back for more apps and sushi! read more

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I saw this restaurant highlited in an AZ magazine (cannot recall which one) but as soon as I did I knew it would be the venue of my daughters birthday dinner. It was like the universe made Sandfish for her as the name itself boasts her two favorite indulgences... sushi and whiskey! Learning that Chef Engjn Onural is an award-winning sushi chef opened the door for a new experience to add to her non-existent sushi bucket list. We arrived in time for happy hour, which offered some appetizers and specific cocktails for a discounted price. Which we took advantage of. This is not your 50% off all apps and cockies HH. We had HH beef and chicken Gyoza, which were a hit with my family. The fillings were light in flavor to compliment its smooth casing but I didn't like the sauce it was in. The sauce had a very strong vinegar flavor I'm not partial to but everyone else loved them. The grilled octopus was good also...from what I heard. Im sure I explained in a prior post, my family loved the grilled octopus but my irrational fear is that the a peice will suction to the roof of my mouth so...carry on fam. The menu has changed so I cannot recall all the rolls we had but suffice to say they were all exceptional! One was topped with fried crawfish tails (in photo) that was my favorite. Sandfish is small, elite and $$$ for good reason. read more

A hidden gem, although not that hidden! Right off of 7th Avenue, in the Melrose District, this restaurant sits quietly in plain sight. I have passed by this location several times, and am surprised I hadn't noticed it before, but I am quite aware of their Palm Springs location. My family came to Sandfish to celebrate a birthday, and the experience did not disappoint. I unfortunately did not get my waitress' name, but she such a delight! The restaurant was modern, sleek, and dare I say....sexy? I can totally see myself returning for a date night, as the atmosphere provides such nice intimacy. The food... A+ all around! We decided to try a little bit of everything, not only because we were hungry, but because we wanted to try a little of everything. We started with Chicken Gyoza & Brussels Sprouts, unfortunately no pix of either, but that's because we ate them up so quickly. I will say the Brussels Sprouts blew our minds with out delectable they were. For dinner we moved to 3 sushi rolls and two entrees. To be clear all three rolls were absolutely fantastic, but if I had to rate them in order, I would say my favorite was Koko, followed by Lollipop, then Savory Albacore. The two entrees were both delicious, but of course, the Wagyu was the star. Lastly the waitress was nice enough to surprise us with a birthday dessert, and let me tell you that the cheesecake is perfection. It is rich, creamy, and the perfect size to enjoy but not overindulge. Fantastic place, needs more attention on it! I know I will be back, and bringing with me all my friends and future dates. read more

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Sandfish was great! My family and I came here to celebrate a birthday, after hearing about it on Yelp. The food, drinks, and service at this intimate little sushi restaurant were all so good. The restaurant is located in the Melrose district right next to a coffee shop. It has just a handful of tables inside as well as bar seating. We made dinner reservations a couple days prior thru their website, and the staff was kind enough to adjust our reservation time on the day of. For the table, we ordered a sashimi platter, tuna taster, shishito peppers, and the Essensu no Hamachi. For individual entrees, we got the grilled octopus, scallop tiradito, Sandfish roll, Melrose roll (special not on menu), yellowtail crudo, and duck bao. Our favorites were the sashimi--especially the snapper which was surprisingly buttery--and the yellowtail crudo because of the sauce. Our least favorite was the duck bao (tasted good but just not worth the price). The food was all really great quality and they had a HAPPY HOUR menu all day Sun-Thurs. Portions were small especially considering the price, but the quality of the seafood is there hands down. For dessert, they gave us an ube oil cake for the birthday boy. Shoutout to Jillian for the wonderful service! read more

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Well prepared sushi and a deep whiskey list: what's not to like? I sat at the bar and had a good time chatting briefly with the bartender throughout the evening. He was open with suggestions about the whiskey list, and I was pleased when he said to just drink Kavalan Concertmaster neat or on a rock rather than mess with a good whiskey. The uni nigiri was one of the standouts, as it was Hokkaido sea urchin that just arrived that day. Everything was fresh and beautifully presented. I like the vibe inside, even though outside it doesn't appear to be much. This was my second visit, and I plan to move this up the list a place to visit more often! read more

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Great vibes but the food is meh. At this price point you can definitely find better spots. Ambiance is nice and they've definitely got the vibe down, but service wasn't super impressive. Food was fine but again, not impressed. Was really excited for the wagyu hot stone, but they should've skipped the marinade, (too sweet), and their "ssamjang" sauce tasted more like a ketchup gochujang, " chimichurri" sauce was also not done well. I was pretty upset that our fries came out completely stale and cold, but the cucumber salad it came with was refreshing. Nigiri's were fine, just expensive, and the rolls were mid. We got two of their most popular rolls and there were no standout flavors, I prefer what Harumi had to offer. read more

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Honestly some really solid sushi here, some of the best in town! Ambiance was awesome, super vibey and small. Service was pretty bad to be honest, that's why I left it a 4/5 star. It wasn't overly packed but the waitress wasn't friendly at all. Other than that, food and drinks were great! read more

Sandfish Sushi & Whiskey - Sushi Bars Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

The food was amazing! My friends and I tried almost all the happy hour dishes and they were all tasty! I was especially impressed by the Tatare cone and blue crab zushi, which were both a mix of crunchy, soft, and savory. Most importantly, all the fish and seafood we ordered tasted pretty fresh. The ambiance was nice too, feel like your were in a Japanese izakaya, very quite and minimal. Would definitely want to visit again to try the other dishes on the menu. read more

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I'm not usually a sushi lover, but Sandfish is the exception! A great spot to try (especially for Happy Hour!). You can't go wrong with any of the dishes. Service is always friendly and attentive! read more

Sandfish Sushi & Whiskey - Shishito peppers and gyoza - Sushi Bars Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Stop playin' with me why have i been living under a rock! This place is straight up top pick candidate, let me start with the spritz! I don't know how but these guys managed to make ice colder than it usually is because my drink was super cold and was so fire! Do it! Second the salmon was so fresh so soft and so good. The chef sliced the fish right in front of me and i could tell they loved creating these dishes for each guest! Love it! Parking was limited but i wouldn't call that an issue in downtown phx. read more

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Wow!! What a rude staff, service 1 star and the food tonight 3 stars. We got our dinner before, appetizers and drinks. What a sad experience for my friends for there the first time. Mark missed totally!! At least the place is cute. read more

A hidden gem! Really great experience and to top it off I lost my receipt and had to call several months later to retrieve it and was given such courtesy and grace that lets me know they understand the power of customer service! read more

I don't give 5 stars often. This was a pleasant surprise and by the name of the restaurant i was even more intrigued. Their food... great. Drinks. Great. Ambiance great. The price..? Great. Give this place a shot. You won't regret it read more

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First time trying this place on a Friday evening. Plenty of spaces on open table so we made a reservation just in case. Wasn't too necessary, but we went ahead and sat at the bar: it's a smaller sized restaurant but it is in no way a one hit wonder. The sushi here is amazing, it's a good medium between lower priced options such as sushiholic and higher priced options like Uchi. It's an inviting place to have some sushi and really good drinks and is not overly intimidating. The rolls were delicious and the fish was fresh tasting. We had a number of cocktails and each were well designed and made. I'm glad there's a place that emphasizes two things I love: sushi and whiskey. Would definitely come back again and again! A chill spot to enjoy it a nice spot for a relaxed celebration. read more

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We've been coming to this restaurant for the past two years and it has always been one of our favorite spots. Unfortunately, over that time we've noticed a steady decline in both the food quality and the overall service. The one consistent highlight is the bar! the drinks are still excellent and the bartender provides 10/10 service every time. That part of the experience has remained great. However, the menu changes have been disappointing. Some of the best sushi rolls they used to offer, like the baby langoustine roll and the original wagyu roll, were removed and replaced with options that feel noticeably lower in quality. We've mentioned this to multiple servers over time and they've all said they hear the same feedback from other regulars, yet the menu still hasn't changed. It's frustrating when loyal customers repeatedly give the same feedback and it doesn't seem to be taken into consideration. During our most recent visit, the service issues were more noticeable. Our server was friendly, but we had to ask twice for a sushi roll that ultimately never arrived. We also had to request fresh wasabi multiple times before getting it. This would be understandable during peak hours, but we came around 5 PM and were one of only two tables in the restaurant. Another issue is the outdoor patio. While it's not entirely the restaurant's fault being next to a pet store, the patio area smells strongly like dog waste. We made the mistake of sitting outside once and it completely ruined our appetite. It feels like there could be some effort made to mitigate the smell, but currently it's unpleasant enough that we wouldn't consider sitting out there again. Parking is also limited, which adds a bit of friction to the experience. This is still a good restaurant and one we've enjoyed for years, which is why it's disappointing to see the experience decline. With so many great restaurants in the area now, what originally made this place stand out is starting to feel less special. I really hope they listen to their regular customers, bring back some of the original rolls, and refocus on the quality and service that made this place great in the first place. read more

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I would go again for the sushi, super fresh and at a solid price point. My corpse reviver cocktail was recommended by our waitress and it was amazing! Was not a big fan of the octopus however as it was super salty, and the duck bao was also a little underwhelming. The restaurant itself is nice and peaceful, candlelit, and perfect for a nice dinner. read more

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Nice ambience and great service. The dishes were creative. We ordered a couple of Credos (sashimi with sauce), Spanish Octopus (nicely prepared), Duck Soup (tasty but lack depth), Duck Bao (sauce on the plate made the buns too soft to hold, otherwise it was delicious), lollipop (roll using cucumber instead of rice), Gyoza (perfectly seasoned), and Wagu beef (our favorite with truffle butter, yum). The guys ordered whiskey. They were hoping the menu would recommend whiskey pairing with each dish. read more

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Having recently experienced Sandfish during a Yelp Elite event (thanks, Yelp!) I really wanted to share the restaurant with my family. We visited on a Sunday evening. Most patrons were seated in the covered patio behind the restaurant, which is a beautiful space with a two-way fireplace and built-in heaters in the ceiling. We ordered 2 Mocktails: Baltic Nights and Virgin Garden. Baltic nights is sweet, citrusy and delicious. Virgin Garden was much lighter in flavor...we preferred Baltic Nights. Food was excellent all around, as was the attentive service. We ordered a ton for 3 people: *Assorted tempura (very lightly battered, perfect!) *Spicy edamame (quite spicy!) *Pork gyoza (pan fried and delicate) *Broccolini & baby bok choy (the sauce from this dish is phenomenal. We kept the bowl u til the end of the meal, to dip other things into!) *Akami crudo (fresh and flavorful) *Nigiri platter (omakase style: my favorite of the evening!) *The Experiment (filling maki roll) *Blue butterfly (vegetarian maki roll with tofu and blue rice..so pretty!) Successful night. My family wants to return! :) read more

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Food was excellent. Service was just fine. However, overpriced in my opinion and nothing that makes it stand out from other upscale sushi restaurants. We went for the first day of restaurant week and unfortunately were told that the restaurant week menu would not be starting until the following day, which was disappointing. Overall, had a nice dinner but nothing spectacular in service, and left hungry with a big bill. read more

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Enjoyed the gyoza, the wagyu, and the black toilet. It was a wonderful meal. I wouldn't be doing my job as Yelp elite eligible reviewer without noting the parking situation is a tad confusing. And if I had to nitpick, I'd say Jimi prefers a deadbolt bathroom lock. Can we abolish those button click locks!?!?! Jimi very much recommends eating here. 5 stars read more

Sushi that melts in your mouth every time! We took my mother in law here who is Korean and she fell in love. The sushi is so fresh you'd think we are living by the beach! The price is 100% worth it if you like and want quality sushi. Everyone is also so nice and friendly here. The restaurant could get a little dark at night but it doesn't bother me. There's candles placed throughout the restaurant and table for ambiance. read more

Sandfish Sushi & Whiskey - Sushi Bars Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

All day Happy Hour is offered on Thursday. Great food and drinks at affordable prices. The Naked and Famous cocktail was delicious. Tuna tacos were my favorite and will be my go-to! Dog friendly patio. read more

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Cozy and intimate restaurant with a cute outdoor seating area. The sushi is super fresh and great quality. The drinks were amazing as well! Service was a little slower but it was well worth the wait. read more

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