Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Sushi Friend

    4.8 (498 reviews)
    ModerateSushi Bars
    Closed 12:00 pm - 7:00 PM
    Updated a few days ago

    Sushi Friend Photos

    Business Info

    SUSHI FRIEND ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Sushi Friend

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos - Sushi Friend

    Front entrance
    Moop And Foop S.

    The standard for all sushi in the state. You start by ordering from an iPad up front with a total view of the kitchen and all the fresh sushi creations being made. Not one roll or item on the menu is lacking! We went when they were out of Toro but can't wait to return to try that. The fresh wasabi and hand rolls are some of the best we've tasted as well as all the speciality rolls. Owner included a free Ube Cheesecake at the end which was incredible as well! Overall best sushi we've had so far, 10/10

    Isaias F.

    After hearing great things about Sushi Friend, we decided to go check it out for ourselves. We went on a Saturday afternoon, but it wasn't overly busy. Upon arriving, you'll find limited parking at the front, but there's an entire lot in the back. Then, once you enter the restaurant, you go up to one of the two iPads and place your order. We ordered their signature roll platter, which includes a choice of 4 signature rolls. After ordering, you find a place to sit and wait for your name to be called. The staff were really friendly. Immediately after entering the building, the greeted us and offered to help if we had any questions. The sushi was good, but I must admit that it wasn't mind-blowing per se. It's a little pricey too - $65 for the platter. It's definitely worth a try, however. I have no complaints.

    Spicy tuna roll and fire dragon roll
    Geneva B.

    So I usually don't like to give into hype for places, but this place is worth all the hype it gets! My husband and I were blown away by the freshness and high quality of the sushi. The rolls had such great combinations of flavor, and the nigiri melted in our mouths! Usually I like a lot of soy sauce but this sushi was so good the soy sauce brought down the flavors. Highly recommend and will definitely be back!

    Katie H.

    Such a great hidden gym in central Phoenix. If you like sushi you have to try sushi friend. The reviews don't lie, they serve great sushi!

    Seared salmon roll & kiro roll
    Sheau Yien H.

    I've been wanting to revisit Sushi Friend for a long time, and I finally did! Pricing is pretty standard, with most items ranging between $15-$17. This time, I tried the seared salmon, Kiro roll, and unagi don. The seared salmon is fairly classic and tastes well-balanced overall. The Kiro roll was refreshing, and I really liked how fresh the yellowtail tasted. It did lean a bit on the sour side for me. I'm not sure if there was a little too much vinegar in the rice The unagi don was savory, and the unagi sauce was slightly on the salty side for my taste. I usually prefer it a bit sweeter rather than salty, but again, that's just my personal preference. I also really like how they've expanded their seating!! It feels much more spacious compared to my visit a long time ago. There's a good amount of parking in the back, which is always a plus. The staff were friendly and welcoming as well. Overall, a solid spot with consistent quality. While a few flavors weren't exactly to my personal preference, I still enjoyed the experience and would come back again if I am in the area!

    Combo W/ Seared Scallop, Fire Dragon Roll. Third roll is 6 piece unagi.
    Travis C.

    I do not say this lightly. This is hands down the best sushi in AZ and my personal favorite spot. The staff are all amazing and super helpful, a small hole in the wall neighborhood vibe. Incredibly fresh for being in the desert and they offer REAL wasabi! Which is a massive bonus for me. We got the specialty combo with the seared scallops and fire dragon roll. Both were perfection, incredible balance and blend of flavor, no need for additional sauce or anything extra. The scallops were seared perfectly and you could taste the quality of the ingredients. They really know their stuff here. Their unagi roll is hands down my favorite basic roll they offer. The only drawback is once you finish you just have to get more! Very casual seating, free water you can get yourself and they also have drink options available, no wait staff, but if they are not crazy they run the food out to you. Get there early because they have a ton of options that are not available all day due to demand. They do not load their rolls up on rice, everything is perfectly balanced and you can taste every ingredient in your rolls. Don't sleep on sushi friend if you are a sushi fan.

    Seared salmon, sushislope, spicy yellowtail, spicy tuna
    Claudine C.

    We were so excited to try this place after hearing so many good things. We used their app to order before heading over. When we arrived, our order was ready! Such a seamless process and the food was packaged so nicely! The toro box (although a little pricey) was so good! The seared salmon was tasty. The sushislope didn't do it for me. The spicy yellowtail & tuna rolls were solid. Star of the show was the ube cheesecake. I should've ordered my own! Not the best sushi we've had but will we be back? Probably.

    Brianna S.

    I LOVE sushi friend. The sushi is so good and I think the value is excellent. All the rolls I've tried are delicious. Service is neutral. We picked up this last time and I told them we were there for a pickup and they opened the fridge for me to grab my sushi. I'm used to them handing it to me and I was just thinking should I be reaching in here? What if I grab the wrong one by mistake. However, all was good. Since they expanded we actually ate there this time. I would say it is a little dark in there where we sat farther from the window but hey I love the wall art and the sushi is fantastic.

    Hannah C.

    The freshest fish and the quality is truly there. My friends and I licked everything clean.

    3 different sushi rolls
    George E.

    Lots of buzz over a hot new sushi spot on Central Avenue in Phoenix. Sushi Friend has a new approach to sushi. A small and very tight restaurant located in N. Central Phoenix. Ordering is limited to a kiosk and photos on a computer screen. One orders and waits for the sushi to go or plastic trays filled with sushi to enjoy in a limited seating area. 8 out of 10 orders here are take-out. The take-out business volume is impressive. We ordered three rolls. Fire Dragon Roll with unagi, crab mix, cucumber, spicey tuna and unagi sauce ( spicey, fresh, little bite and decent flavor). AZ roll with spicey crab mix. cucumber, takwan, and scallions (spicey, flavor packed and again very fresh). Sushi Slope Roll with spicey bigey tuna, jicama, salmon, avacado and furikake (again spicey, good crisp bite, nicely melded taste). Service is relatively quick, good flavor, unique combinations with very fresh rolls. The goal here is good food with large platters or combo plates and monster take-out service. It did not meet my expectations with regard to a sit-down relaxing service. It purposely is a grab and go establishment with good quality food. Sushi Friend is pushing the envelope on take out sushi with huge volume, yet good fresh sushi. Unfortunately, it is not in my wheel-house for a night out of dining. If you are hosting a large dinner party or get-together, order a tasty tray of sushi from Sushi Friend rather than a high dollar grocery store. You will be pleasantly surprised.

    Seared Salmon Roll, Scallop Dyno Roll, Fire Dragon Roll, Sushislope Roll
    Patrick L.

    The best takeout sushi I've gotten in the Valley! I ordered the 4 Specialty Roll Platter for 65$ and chose the Seared Salmon Roll, Scallop Dyno Roll, Fire Dragon Roll, Sushislope Roll. I'd rank the Scallop roll as best, Salmon 2nd, Fire 3rd, and Sushislope 4th. Every roll definitely gets you a complete bite of good quality protein and filling combination. You have to get the 30$ Sashimi bowl that comes with 11 pieces of sashimi and your choice of rice or salad bowl underneath. Great sushi without the fishy smell, great flavor combos, and friendly staff that keep the flow going during any hour of service.

    Renata R.

    ASU visit Tradition- Go to Sushi Friend! We're back in town for ASU move-in, and of course, we had to revisit this amazing spot. Once again, the boss was on top of everything so friendly, helpful, professional, and clearly dedicated to keeping things running smoothly. His crew of six was hard at work, putting out roll after roll with care and precision. This has officially become our sushi place every time we visit from NYC/CT. Flashback 5 Months Ago: Admittedly, I almost didn't give this place a chance. We're from NYC, and I was hesitant to try raw fish in the desert I mean, how fresh could it be? From the outside, it looked more like a bodega than a sushi restaurant, and the yellow paint didn't exactly scream "hidden gem." But I decided to check it out anyway while my family waited in the car and I'm SO glad I did. Inside, it's clean and a bit industrial, with two sections: a dining room and a self-serve ordering area using iPads. The system is efficient, and what really stood out was the owner personally checking in with customers at the iPads, offering suggestions, helping with the ordering process, and making everyone feel at ease. His attentiveness makes a big difference and shows how much he cares about the customer experience. And the sushi? Absolutely delicious. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and came out quickly. The staff was warm and welcoming then, just as they are now. Whether you're local or just visiting ASU, this place is a gem, and we'll be back every time we're in town! By the way, the cloudy Sake is dessert in a glass! Try it. We had take-out so we skipped, not next time, and I'm making the owner have a few shots with us.

    Kiki L.

    I'm a sushi snob and not because I know anything about fish but because I refuse to eat fish that smells like a lake? Usually it needs to be an $$$$ restaurant for me to eat fish.. but it's got good reviews and a lot of stars..I told my husband if it's not good we are stopping by Mickey d's. First of all - service is amazing. I was able to order my rolls my way. The food is delicious - I ate both of my rolls to my surprise. We will definitely be back.

    Toro California roll Spicy California roll Seared salmon roll

    See all

    30 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    12 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kevin M.

    Kevin M.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kevin M.

    Kevin M.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kevin M.

    Kevin M.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Kevin M.

    Kevin M.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of A.M. S.
    1
    189
    275

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dana K.
    1
    70
    19

    2 months ago

    We ordered a few things: Rolls were good, nigiri was good; baked salmon poke bowl was not

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Breanna K.
    124
    32
    15

    2 months ago

    It is so nice to have a sushi spot in Sunnyslope and not having to drive far. Good sushi and great service.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 13

    Sushi Friend Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Sushi Friend

    Can you show me a menu for sushi friend?

    Hi! There’s an online menu on our website. If and when the online has been turned off with volume, there’s an offline menu listed. And let me know if you have any other questions.

    Do they always have Toro? I see it in reviews but not on their website.

    Every time we went in they had it. Best bet is to call ahead and ask if you're concerned. They are so friendly.

    Do they have ayce?

    This is not AYCE

    I want to pick up an order around 2:30pm on Sept 16, can I place an advance order and choose a pickup time? 1st time ordering

    Hi. You can place it early as today at noon and set a pick up time for 2:30.

    Is their a happy hour offered?

    Pretty sure there is not :)

    Is there a time you recommend coming/not coming in order to get a seat? Or how long is the typical wait time?

    I’d recommend between 2-4pm. There has been an immediate rush from open and a rush starting around 4-4:30. Typical wait time on a non rush hour is about 15-20 minutes depending on the size of your order.

    Do they have anything for a seven year-old boy who is not into sushi? Teriyaki? Anything? I've tried calling several times but they obviously never, ever, answer the phone. Food is supposedly great, but the restaurant operation is a fail.

    No. Go to Panda Express with your 7 year old. They are small, don't take phone orders and serve sushi

    Which rolls can be prepared gluten-free?

    My understanding is that all of their rolls can be made gluten-free!

    Do you use real crab or imitation?

    We have imitation crab.

    Do u serve beer and Saki?

    We have beer and sake now. :)

    Do you guys Deliver?

    Hello. We do not.

    Do you serve alcohol?

    No alcohol is served here.

    Is this take out only?

    Nope. We are small, but we do have dine in.

    View All 15 Questions

    Harumi Sushi Bar - Downtown

    Harumi Sushi Bar - Downtown

    4.6
    (3.2k reviews)
    7.9 mi
    $$$

    Easily has become my new favorite Japanese restaurant! Our server Brad was by far the biggest…read morehighlight outside of our delicious meal! He went out of his way to take care of us and he was such a delight to talk to. We had a big group too and the food came out so quickly! I would drive out of my way just to come back here .

    We were going downtown for a concert, craving some sushi and found this place on Yelp. No…read morereservations available, I did check their website where you can be adding to a waitlist, but it stated currently no waitlist and invited us to just arrive at restaurant. We arrived a little after 5pm and the restaurant was mostly empty. But in the next 20 minutes it filled up and there was open sitting at the bar only. The mood was initially quiet but quickly turned more up beat as the restaurant filled and pop rock music was playing. We asked our waiter a few questions about a few of their rolls and he was very helpful with guidance and recommendations. We ordered Salmon Lemon, Spicy Tuna, Salmon Avocado Maki and California rolls to share for two. This restaurant uses purple rice rather than traditional white rice. This was the first time we have tried a sushi roll made with purple rice and we both loved it. It added a nutty flavor and hearty texture. Purple rice is similar to wild rice and far nutritionally superior to white rice with more antioxidant and fiber. Shortly after we ordered we were served a potsticker dish. I mentioned that we did not order the item and were informed the appetizer was complementary. We thanked the server and tasted the dish. The potstickers were nicely pan fried and had a great crust and flavorful chicken filling. Delicious! About five minutes later our rolls were delivered. All were fresh tasting and delicious. Our favorite was the Salmon Lemon roll. We loved the pop the lemon added. Honorable mentions to the Spicy Tuna roll, very well done, excellent balance of heat and flavors. We truly enjoyed our dining experience and look forward to returning. Highly recommended for a quality sushi experience!

    Photos
    Bar/waiting area
    Bar/waiting area
    Mt. Fuji Roll (~$17)
    Mt. Fuji Roll (~$17)
    Bite View

    See all

    Bite View
    Zu Izakaya

    Zu Izakaya

    4.5
    (1.9k reviews)
    11.4 mi
    $$

    Popped into this place for our last meal before leaving AZ and it did not disappoint! We were the…read morefirst people in. When we walked in it had a very fishy smell, so it kind of made us second guess our choice. But we went for it anyhow. The greeter/server was very pleasant and sat us. It was very clean inside with ample space between seat. We browsed through the menu and started with our usual edamame and pot stickers. The edamame was salted well throughout where a lot of places just put the salt on top only. We ordered a couple varieties of sake which were both good. Out of all of the things we ordered the karange skewer was just a little more oily than were use to, but still good. The spicy salmon roll had really great flavor and the lollipop roll was probably one of the better versions that we have had. The musubi was giant to say the least, it was good, but offered a bit too much rice. Overall the food and service was great and we were very happy that we ended up here!

    Awesome late night spot, for decent quality Japanese eats, and in the Tempe-Scottsdale area. Zu…read moreIzakaya was a solid post-study dinner spot when I was a student, and this time it definitely held up! We were nearby for a show, and decided to stop in on a Wednesday evening for a late dinner with some friends. They have a good happy hour menu, and my friends ordered off there, but I was craving sushi so I got the nigiri omakase. It came with miso soup, which I enjoyed, definitely hard to go wrong there. The sushi itself was decent, nothing crazy, but definitely better than grocery store quality. The tuna and salmon pieces were a little fishy, maybe not the freshest, but it was also quite late (~10pm) so I wasn't expecting too much. Beautifully presented, and the cuts were quite large which was nice! The food came out pretty fast, and the service was pleasant. The restaurant vibes are pretty dark, and moody. The bathroom was kind of scary personally, super dark and a little messy, so I decided to wait till I got home. Overall, a solid experience, and definitely a good choice if I am in the area.

    Photos
    Lots of inside seating options
    Lots of inside seating options
    JJAMBBONG POT
    JJAMBBONG POT
    NIGIRI OMAKASE

    See all

    NIGIRI OMAKASE
    BISUTORO Sushi Bar Grill

    BISUTORO Sushi Bar Grill

    3.9
    (203 reviews)
    4.5 mi
    $$$
    Fine dining
    Takes reservations

    We came here for restaurant week. The menu was great and delicious, perfect amount of food for me…read moreto try a bit of everything on the menu. We each did the restaurant week menu and shared. The appetizer was amazing, we each got the crispy rice and I love that each one was a different fish and slightly different flavor. I don't remember which roll we got, I think it was the blue dragon one, but that was delicious, good amount of rice and fish and great flavor. The truffle rib pasta was good as well, the short ribs were cooked perfectly and the flavor on that was insane. I do wish that they would've tossed the pasta in the same sauce the rib came in before adding it to the red pasta sauce. The pasta sauce itself lacked flavor and just tasted like blended down tomatoes. If the pasta had a scoop of the rib sauce too, that would be absolutely insane!! For dessert we didn't have a choice and it was just the miso caramel cheesecake. Now that is some of the best cheesecake I've had in an incredibly long time. I don't taste the miso flavor in the caramel besides the salty sweetness of it but that combo was perfect, especially with the homemade candied pecans. I don't know if the cheesecake was left out or purposefully like that but I love how when the cheesecake was served it wasn't cold! Usually cheesecake is served really cold and kind of like a cream cheese brick you have to cut into it with your fork. But this was barely chilled so the cheesecake was not super cold and it just melts in your mouth. It's so smooth, best dish of the night hands down. This place was very nice and great location. Everything is clean and a great ambience. There's a bar you can sit at when you walk in before you go to the tables. I do think that every side smaller table should automatically have the table lamp for light because it was just too dark to see the menu from my perspective. It looks like great lighting in the pictures because the phone took it in night mode and corrected the lighting but... it's a bit dark and I saw that they do have those modern battery table lamps so I think every table against the wall should have it. Now onto why it's only 4 stars. The service was so beyond incredibly slow. I kid you not we waited 35min at least before our first dish was served and it wasn't even the appetizer, it was the entree rib pasta. You could tell just how short staffed they were and you could hear that there's only 1 sushi chef 1 regular chef and that's it for the kitchen. I don't know who is managing the shift schedule, maybe it's because we came on Memorial Day, but this type of service is not acceptable. I don't take this on the employees at all. They were so incredibly nice and apologetic and doing the best they can and even the front of house was now bussing tables to help out!!! Because they're so busy, I had to keep reminding different waiters for small things like ginger for my sushi 3x, refill on my water, and he almost said we're good to go without paying the check but we didn't even receive our cheesecake dessert yet OR paid the bill. In total it took us 2 hours from sitting down, ordering within 5min, and waiting and waiting and waiting to eat... inexcusable on management

    Catfished! Pictures are deceptive. This is tough...I was excited to try this place as a trusted…read morefoodie friend said the food was good. That was NOT at all my experience. I will mention the place is designed very nicely. For starters the food was bland, except the shishito peppers. The peppers were fantastic and that's the only thing I enjoyed. The ramen was second best compared to the other items. Edamame was good. The sushi roll, seaweed would not break down as I was chewing it and the roll didn't have much flavor to it. Now for the reason for the two stars...the crispy rice. The bites are soooo big I had to cut them in half in order to eat it (good thing) because when I broke the second one in half; I found a black HAIR about the same length of a finger cooked in the rise (I'm blonde by the way). I was shocked and hate complaining. I wasn't going to say anything as I lost my appetite. My friend who was dinning with me, said something politely. The waiter said okay I'll get you another one and ran away with the plate before we got a chance to said we didn't want another one. We saw him show the manager and she okayed him to make another. I was shocked the manager or waiter didn't apologize, wasn't shocked by it, acted normal like nothing was wrong. For this reason I will not be returning. Again my other friend had a great experience and I had a bad one, so 50/50 shot. I know we are human and mistakes happen. It was the way it was handled that drop the rating. Along with bland food for the price.

    Photos
    BISUTORO Sushi Bar Grill
    BISUTORO Sushi Bar Grill
    BISUTORO Sushi Bar Grill

    See all

    Sushi Friend - sushi - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...