I heard Sushi Nakano was authentic Japanese sushi, and it absolutely was -- right down to the tiny space, the random smells, and some seriously great fish. There are only about 7 tables and 6 seats at the sushi bar, which honestly feels exactly like the small Japanese sushi places I love. It immediately reminded me of one of my favorite spots in LA. The best part is the seasonal fish selection. Check the daily specials board because that's where you'll see what is especially fresh and available that day. If you're coming here for actual raw fish, nigiri, and whatever is freshest -- this is your place. Bringing an American kiddo into a truly authentic sushi restaurant can be an adventure, but mine actually tried everything. They do have plenty of rolls for the more typical American sushi lover, but if you're someone who is looking for real Japanese-style sushi and excellent fresh fish, definitely stop by. Come early, though -- this little place fills up fast. We'll absolutely be back. read more

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I come here at least once a month, it's always been good - Highly recommend for a group of two, if you have more than 4 - you might need to wait a little longer since the restaurant is a bit small but the authentic food experience is definitely worth it. other than that, the food is great, the staff is friendly, the price is reasonable. read more

Our experience was awful. It's hot in there, the table felt sticky and the water tasted like tap water. It was so hot inside that the ice in our drinks melted in like 5 minutes. The food was really bad and the fish quality was terrible. The textures were off, the smells were off... just all around bad. You couldn't pay me to go back there. I was really looking forward to it because all of the best of Phoenix stuff and good reviews :( it's also really expensive especially for what it is. The service was good though and this review has 0 to do with our server who was attentive and nice. read more

Host was nice but I'm so mad I spent $21 on this sad low quality "rainbow roll" I was fooled by the rainbow roll they advertised on their website. Couldn't finish it I was nervous I was gonna get sick read more

Sushi Nakano - Worst "rainbow roll" I've ever had. For $21 I was expecting the quality of fish to be great,nope The picture on their menu fooled me - Sushi Bars Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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This is the BEST sushi in Arizona HANDS DOWN!!!! It's an authentic intimate Japanese dining establishment...so much better than the chain sushi spots. Fresh fish, great service EXCELLENT specials....just a great date nite!!! My BF & I love it here, it's "our" place. Just go you won't regret it. read more

My family and I visited Sushi Nakano for my birthday and it was fantastic. The sushi chef explained what he was doing and gave me a special sashimi for my birthday. We sat at the sushi bar and we liked having the interaction with the chef. It was comfortable for the 6 of us. We tried lots of things from sashimi combos to California rolls! I can't wait to return and explore additional dishes. What a great birthday celebration! read more

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I love the thick fish cut on the nigiris. Fish is so fresh. Love the ika geso i wish the portion was bigger. Lots of fish inside the handrolls as well. Some seating inside, you can even sit right in front of the chefs! read more

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Super chill date night. Place is small so expect a wait. Food is absolutely worth the wait. Chefs are also fun. Glad we took a chance on this hidden gem. read more

Sushi Nakano - Chef having fun - Sushi Bars Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Delicious sushi Such friendly staff Very small but efficiently run The owner I super friendly and so talented read more

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Way too expensive for mediocre sushi. Prices were outrageous. The flavors were off and some fish tasted soaked in vinegar. Not sure where all these 5 stars reviews are from. read more

This small sushi restaurant delivers great-quality sushi at very reasonable prices. Everything we tried was super fresh and delicious -- not a single complaint. I usually go for nigiri, but this time I tried the rolls instead and they did not disappoint. My favorites were the Phoenix Roll and the Bushido Roll -- both were outstanding! Perfect spot for fresh, well-made sushi without breaking the bank. read more

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Great sushi spot in Ahwatukee! Clean restaurant, friendly staff, and a fun view of the sushi chefs in action. Watching them prepare the dishes was a highlight. They also have a YouTube award for Life of a Sushi Chef, haven't watched yet, but thought it was worth noting. Their hours are limited (Tuesday-Sunday from 4:30pm-9pm) so would recommend for happy hour or a date night! read more

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First time at Sushi Nakano. I arrived at 12:30 on a Friday and it was half full. The restaurant was located next to Trader Joe's. I ordered the lunch bento box, which had a few choices. I got the mixed tempura and the Cali roll but with spicy tuna. It came with miso soup and a salad, plus rice. Pretty standard bento box. It came to $20.63 plus tip. My soup arrived in less than five mins and was the standard miso soup, with tofu and scallions. My bento box came about seven mins later. The salad was a bit odd. I couldn't tell what the dressing tasted like. It wasn't sesame, nor miso or ginger. It was good, just didn't know. The Cali roll a nice size, with eight pieces. The tempura was the highlight for me, but probably because I love onions so much. There was one prawn, one green bean and three onions. It was tender, fresh and very delicate. Also on the plate, next to the steamed rice, was a tiny seaweed salad. I mixed it with my rice and really enjoyed it. Service was very pleasant, efficient and thorough, even though she was the only one. Definitely a return trip upcoming. read more

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Brought the family in for dinner and we ordered their miso soup Mount Fuji rolls, crunchy bites and two shrimp tempura rolls. The servers were very kind and the food was amazing. Mr. Leo is a great sushi artist as the food he made was amazing and he is very kind with the kids. I would definitely come here again iA and definitely recommend this place to others. As for the ambience, it is a very small restaurant but very cozy read more

My husband and I came here for a date night tonight, and we had an amazing experience! Everything was absolutely delicious, the service was great and the restaurant was spotlessly clean. The atmosphere is so pleasant and welcoming. We are already looking forward to our next visit! Highly recommend. read more

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A little hole in the wall/gem of the Ahwatukee foothills! Went to go grab an early dinner with a friend of mine yesterday based off of her recommendation. She has been to sushi Nakano before and had good things to say about it. I'd never been and wanted to give it a try! I will be back. It's a pretty small space with a sushi bar and a handful of tables, and from what I experienced on a Wednesday at 5:30 PM, it does get busy. Definitely gives family vibes and the service here was quick and friendly. Fresh is not even a question! When I walked in, there was a giant fish head sitting in a bowl of ice at the sushi bar, and the sushi chefs were making fresh sushi from it. My friend and I opted in for the sushi combo which I think is a really excellent deal and I also tried out the Phoenix roll. The sushi combo comes with a miso soup and salad, and I would say for $29 it's a really good price. Everything tasted really fresh and was well made. read more

This place is super cute! The sushi box is a good amount of food for dinner (and delicious), it came with a salad and soup. The service was wonderful and the employees were very sweet. read more

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Amazing quality in food and service, despite how busy it can get! I would say that expanding the location to more than a couple of tables in a small building space could help with the wait times, but truly, something about the smaller and more intimate space maintains the quality treatment you feel as a customer while dining in. We went on a Friday evening at around 6, and had to wait about 30 minutes, but it was so worth it. The waitresses do it all and keep a respectful approach to their work, while the sushi chefs are clearly passionate about the presentation and quality of their food. Highly recommend to anyone in the Ahwatukee area looking for fresh quality fish and creative rolls! read more

Sushi Nakano - Rainbow roll, spider roll, and Sakura roll! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

This intimate dining space is so solid! The staff is very friendly, and the bites are fresh and tasty. We loved sitting here relaxing and enjoying our miso soup, cucumber salad, sashimi, and sushi rolls. What a treat to find this space in the midst of the hustle and bustle of this small shopping center. Loved it. read more

The food was fresh and excellent. Our server was very sweet. The fish selection was surprisingly large for this relatively small restaurant. A bit pricey, but what restaurant isn't these days. Food presentation was really good. Unique decor. Gonna go there again. read more

The Chef here runs a YouTube which I had no idea until we ate there! Great rolls and cool tucked away ambiance. Got pretty busy during dinner time so I'm glad we got to come here. Would definitely recommend for great sushi! read more

We came for the first time yesterday and had a great experience. The food was awesome and the service was fantastic from the waitress and chefs themselves. We especially loved the negi toro and Agadashi tofu. We will be back for sure! read more

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I felt like I walked in to some sushi bar in Japan. Tiny, welcoming and authentic. I was craving something delicious not the usual caterpillar roll. I got exactly what I wanted . All I had to do is ask them for unique custom tasting. It was excellent. Really nice people on either side of me but I don't think you can get 6 or 8 people together. That small . The tasting was amazing. Of course I had a Kirin as well. Best I have had. The other two chefs were very personable and shared lots of knowledge. Must try Ask for Omakase read more

We sat at the bar and were able to see everything getting prepared. The sushi chef was nice and engaging. He made us beautiful rolls and explained the ingredients and flavors. Everything was so nice and we barely spent over $100 including tip for 4 rolls two beers and two appetizers. Will definitely be going back to this hidden gem! read more

I was celebrating a new job and knew this would be the perfect place to celebrate with my family. We were not let down! Sushi Nakano has undergone a remodel/refresh recently. It is a classic but modern Japanese sushi restaurant. Impeccably clean and bright. The staff are kind and welcoming. They are responsive and helpful. They give you plenty of space to enjoy your meal but are prompt should anything be required. The food is the true star. A more limited menu but with high quality ingredients and the fish is some of the freshest you will find in Phoenix. The rolls are perfect for sharing. The temaki (hand rolls) were substantial and a great addition for our meal. We ended our meal with the Raijan (i think i spelled that right). It was an elevated Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna. Honestly my favorite bite of food I have had in a long time. If you are in the area, please pop in. If you're not, make the trip. I love this place and it feels so special to have here. read more

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Recognized as one of the Best in Phoenix for 2023!! A must try for sure!! Very intimate restaurant, just the way they are in Japan! Small and cozy! High quality sushi. The Chef is from Tokyo and gets all his fish shipped right from Japan. Rare fishes to have specific specials for those that ask. Definitely worth it all. He even did a little demonstration on Stonefish for us. He knew it was our first time. The chefs are very clean, they washed hands in between each roll when switching fish. The sake was yummy! They typically have specials and only open specific hours of the day. Keep that in mind. Both chefs were extremely nice! Totally worth it we will be returning. The server was nice, she was on it and the only one for the entire restaurant. Love the extra touch if the wet wipe. If you know you know!! read more

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THE BEST. No notes. No, but really. If you think there is a better sushi restaurant in the valley than Sushi Nakano, you are simply wrong. Nothing beats this place. From the food to the service to the ambiance... everything made up for the most perfect experience. I never thought that my all-time favorite spot for sushi would be in Phoenix, but I've been twice already and I absolutely loved each time! This is my boyfriend and I's go-to spot every time he's visiting back in Arizona. We always try to make time to stop here and indulge in a few nigiri pieces and handrolls. Each time, we had the pleasure of being served by both Chef Janet and Chef Leo, the sweetest couple. We always sit at the bar just so we can engage in conversation with the chefs, you learn a lot about their history and work such as the interesting and unique techniques they use. Chef Leo actually uses a traditional barrel aged soy sauce, which can take up to a few years to make. The first time we came, Chef Janet kindly crafted us her favorite handroll for dessert to try - a tamago handroll with a sweet soy based sauce that was soft and heavenly. The fish itself is incredible. My favorite has to be the salmon belly with ume ponzu. I swear my body started to float and 20 years were added to my lifespan after having this perfect bite. A few other things I loved: unagi, toro, any of the handrolls! They have a bay scallop one that is extremely creamy and salmon cucumber that is so fresh. I want to try everything on their menu, you really can't go wrong with any of the options. It seems like they have quite a few regulars as they greet each guest with such familiarity. The customers already know off the top of their head what they want, and the chefs deliver. We made a mental note to order a few of their popular sushi rolls the next time we dine here - they look so pretty and delicious. There's also the sweetest waitress that rushes to open the door for you! The fish is also quite affordable - especially for how high quality everything is. They pack each handroll with a generous amount of fish. They do not skimp. The total for two people would come out to be a little less than $100 without tip, and we would leave feeling full! We will continue to stay true and loyal to Sushi Nakano forever. Thank you for your wonderful hospitality and keep up the amazing work! read more

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Wow. Best sushi I've had in Phoenix by far. Very small interior - came in on a Sunday evening and it was packed. But really cozy interior. They have a YouTube plaque on display so I believe they do some YouTube videos which I thought was interesting. Sushi came out, and man there is a lot of fish! Not only that but it's RICH AND TASTY. I only took a pic of the nigiri but very generous cuts of fish and it's just wow. Rice is also very tasty and perfect portion in my opinion. Even the rolls were not skimping on the fish. They stuff it with a big ball of tuna, and it's good. Really impressed with this sushi highly recommend. read more

Sushi Nakano - Sushi Bars Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Hands down one of the best sushi restaurants in the valley. I've visited many and none of them come close. It's a go to date night spot and certainly a hidden gem. The owner is almost always there and recognizes us. Small but mighty team, quaint space, and high quality food. Really all you can ask for in a solid restaurant. read more

Sushi Nakano - Spiny Tuna Crispy Rice - Sushi Bars Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

A perfect little hole in the wall that is super small and cozy! We wanted to try a local place for sushi and they did not disappoint. The waitress was a sweet Japanese lady who was very attentive and kind. We started with a soft shell crab tempura. It was hot, fresh, and crisp. Next we had 3 types of nigiri, the Las Vegas roll, and a California roll for my niece. Everything was super fresh and you can tell they took time and effort in their rolls. My favorites were the black snapper and yellowtail nigiri. The star of the show was the bay scallop hand roll. It was so creamy, soft, and surprisingly very filling! We will definitely be back again. We also really loved the Las Vegas roll, it was the best I've had in a long time! read more

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The food was good. Knife cuts were a bit uneven and, as a result, the presentation was not perfect. But the food itself tasted good - fresh and delicious. It is a small shop - expect to hear everything and for everyone to hear you. But the atmosphere was quite like shops I visited in Japan. read more

This little place. Sitting in the corner of a Safeway shopping center is exceptional. I was blown away. We lived in LA for 7 years and this is the best sushi I've had since leaving there. Great service with extremely friendly staff, and they work head down and pretty fast. The professionalism on the presentation is awesome. This is NOT a fast food, cheap typical AZ sushi spot. This is a higher end sushi place. So it is not a place you get cranky if they don't serve you a lobster roll covered in sauce or that they didn't give you free ginger with your meal. One thing about sushi is sometimes I'm not in the mood for seaweed wrap and come to find out they have soy paper! I was shocked because I looked up and down Yelp, and pictures couldn't find anything. It's an upcharge but worth it. We got the hand roll combo. Never seen such full stuff and vibrant hand rolls. We also got this seared cod special that was amazing and we got a roll so the seared tuna and shrimp mix inside. The roll was lights out. Everything here was outstanding. We can't wait to return. I think maybe they used to have outdoor seating but they did not seem to have that tonight. Also again it is TINY inside. Don't come with a large party. I'd say it probably maxes out at 6 and you'd have to wait a bit with that size. Even 4 is toward the top range, but they move quick. read more

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Went back a second time and arrived right at opening time. Loved this time since we were able to interact with chef Leo and the other workers there. Service is prompt as there is an older Japanese lady quickly taking away used plates and filling water. Ambience is great in a small restaurant setting where we can learn the chef and their style. FYI they'll be closed mid July for vacation. Scallop hand roll Bushido roll Akani bass striped bass (suzuki) hamachi - fatty Amberjack (Kanpachi) Course 1 Tuna (maguro), marinated Hokkaido scallop Salmon Quail egg w/ toro Aji (horse mackarel) read more

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Hands down the best sushi and love that it's a tiny hidden gem. We always have great service and enjoy trying new items. The staff is very friendly and helpful. read more

Omg I'm mad at myself for not knowing abt this place earlier! Came here for my birthday and I think this made my 22nd more memorable. It's hard to find good sushi in Arizona but this place slaps, I cannot get over the spicy salmon roll and my bf loved the tuna as it was not fishy at all and tasted so clean. I am a salmon over tuna girly through and through, the salmon here is so buttery good I feel like I could eat 2lbs of it. This place doesn't take reservations, so you have to go in and put your name on slip of paper if there is no open tables. Thankfully when we went, there was a table open for us (as if it was meant to be) and we didn't have to wait! but I noticed people waiting no longer than 10-20min for a table when the restaurant was full. The staff is very attentive and super nice! The waiter answered all our questions and walked us through the menu. I also believe the rice to fish ratio was perfect as it was not too much rich or too little rice. Definitely a gem and hope to be back soon! read more

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Like taking a mini trip to Japan! The sushi is always incredible and the owner is so welcoming. Best sushi spot in Ahwatukee hands down. read more

Sushi Nakano - Striped bass with crispy chili, salmon nigiri - Sushi Bars Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

It was amazing sushi I went here with my son and he loved it and the staff was very nice

Amazing sushi. Owner and other chefs very friendly. Gives a very intimate feel. Also the owner/main chef seemed very willing to accommodate my son's many allergies. Will have to go back soon. read more

Drove from Litchfield Park and it was well worth it! Nakano is a small intimate setting where the fish is the star of the show. I was able to try a few Nigiri I don't recall trying before. The quality of the fish and presentation were outstanding! read more

Sushi Nakano - Black snapper, bass, halibut and yellow tail - Sushi Bars Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

First time back in over a year and the sushi is as fresh and delicious as ever. Great service from Chef Leo and his team, friendly, kind, and never too long of a wait in between dishes. Sat at the sushi bar with friends and had some great chats with Chef to learn about his process and his dishes. Omakase here is 4 pieces at a time which is nice since you can order as many or little rounds as you'd like and get some stuff a la carte too. Will definitely return again. Everything was so good! I don't remember what things were called lol but especially enjoyed the sushis that were partially charred for that smoky taste. read more

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