The Best Places to Experience Southeast Asian Cuisine in Minneapolis
Top places to get the real deal Southeast Asian food you were never expecting to find this far north.
Try These Restaurants for The Best Sushi in Minneapolis
From traditional sushi joints to innovative fusion spots, dine your way through the must-visit sushi restaurants in Minneapolis.
Minneapolis is home to a thriving sushi scene, and while it may not be swimming in the same ocean as Tokyo or Osaka, this city knows how to roll when it comes to fresh fish. With top-notch sushi places in every neighborhood, you’ll surely find great Minneapolis sushi places no matter where you’re staying. From award-winning upscale sushi restaurants to sushi conveniently located in the Minneapolis Skyway (or a downtown Walgreens!), you’re never too far from some sashimi and sake.
Best Sushi in Downtown Minneapolis
Sushi Train
This is THE spot for conveyor belt sushi in Minneapolis! Enjoy a relaxed meal as you watch containers of spicy salmon sushi rolls, nigiri, vegetarian options, and sweets slide past you from any seat in the restaurant. The effect is mesmerizing, and the plate color determines the price so you can order to your heart’s (and budget’s) content without calling over a server. Be sure to check out the extensive menu of sake flights!
Sushi Takatsu
If you’re hunting for the best sushi in the Skyway in Minneapolis, Sushi Takatsu won’t disappoint you. Known for having one of the best sushi lunch specials in Minneapolis, Sushi Takatsu is located on the skyway level of the Baker Center. Enjoy fresh, affordable sushi, udon bowls, Japanese curry, dumplings, and miso soup in the heart of downtown—but be warned, the lunch lines can get a little long since their sushi is so popular! (The sushi chefs are speedy, so the line moves quickly, and it’s totally worth the wait.)
One Two Three Sushi (AKA 123 Sushi)
Another excellent option for sushi in the Minneapolis Skyway, One Two Three Sushi is located on the skyway level of the IDS Building. From the owners of Masu Sushi & Robata in Northeast Minneapolis, One Two Three Sushi offers the unique experience of totally customizing any roll or sushi bowl to your exact liking.
Sushi at… Walgreens?!
Okay, hear us out. The sushi at the Walgreens on Nicollet Mall and S 7th Street has a dedicated sushi bar, and it’s a local secret appreciated by folks who work downtown in need of a speedy lunch. Walgreens can offer a quick fix if you’re in town for a conference and are short on time with a sushi craving!
Best Sushi in North Loop Minneapolis
Kado no Mise + Kaiseki Furukawa + Sanjusan + Gori Gori Peku
Four incredible Japanese culinary experiences in one beautiful location! You’ll find Sanjusan, a Japanese-Italian restaurant from celebrated Minneapolis chef Daniel del Prado, serving up Japanese-style yellowtail crudo, foie gras and pork gyoza, and eggplant katsu alongside nori-topped pasta and wood-fired pizza. The remaining three concepts take up the second floor (and that’s where you’ll find the sushi). Kado No Mise serves upscale Edome sushi and Japanese plates—splurge on the omakase prix-fixe meal for a chef’s choice menu you won’t forget—while Kaiseki Furukawa offers a seasonal 10-course kaiseki tasting menu every Tuesday, and Japanese whisky bar Gori Gori Peku rounds out the second-floor trio with premium whisky, cocktails, wine, and sake.
Billy Sushi
Head to Billy Sushi for fresh sushi theatrically prepared in classy, contemporary settings—think blonde brick walls, a museum-quality display of Japanese whisky, delicate folded wooden lights reminiscent of origami, overflowing cups of sake, and blow torches atop the sushi bar. Be sure to check out B.A.D. (Billy After Dark) for a speakeasy with Japanese small bites and mystery drinks based on your vibe.
Best Sushi in Northeast Minneapolis
Masu Sushi and Robata
This celebrated Northeast Minneapolis sushi restaurant offers a full menu of rolls, nigiri, and sashimi in addition to ramen, donburi rice bowls, izakaya-style small plates, steamed buns, and an extensive cocktail, and sake menu. The sushi list is crafted around sustainable fish options (guided by the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch Program), so you can enjoy your sushi knowing the seafood is sourced with environmental responsibility in mind. Masu is also known for its excellent sushi happy hour menu, available Monday through Friday from 4-6 pm.
Momo Sushi
A mashup of Tibetan and Japanese Cuisine, Momo’s menu features Tibetan chef Sonam Nyorie’s take on sushi rolls, hibachi, momo (Tibetan steamed dumplings), and much more. Order the “Sushi Bucket” for a wide assortment of chef’s choice rolls, sushi, and sashimi, and stop in for lunch for Momo’s popular sushi, teriyaki, tempura, katsu, or hibachi lunch specials from 11 am to 3 pm.
Dinkytown
The Cove
Looking for the best sushi in Dinkytown near the University of Minnesota campus? The Cove is at your service. Primarily a poke bowl restaurant, this family-owned spot also serves Asian street food (think steam buns, spam musubi, and banh mi) as well as affordable sushi burritos filled with fresh fish, crisp veggies, and avocado wrapped in nori for a handheld sushi feast.
Best Sushi in Uptown and Southwest Minneapolis
Kiku Bistro
For those seeking a cozy neighborhood gem, Kiku Sushi & Grill in Uptown is a must-visit. This family-owned restaurant prides itself on serving authentic Japanese cuisine with the freshest ingredients, from colorful, packed rolls and succulent sashimi combos to yaki udon and soft-shell crab tempura. Kiku is an excellent spot for late-night sushi in Minneapolis, as the whole menu is offered until 11 pm, every night of the week.
Wakame Sushi & Asian Bistro
Ask a local about the best sushi in Minneapolis, and chances are Wakame will be mentioned. Nestled next to a Whole Foods near Bde Maka Ska, Wakame boasts an outdoor patio and a frequently long wait time that speaks to its popularity. In addition to having a celebrated sushi happy hour menu served from 3-6 pm daily, Wakame is one of the best spots to find vegan sushi in Minneapolis. Try the kombucha roll with tempura Japanese pumpkin!
Kyatchi
This beloved South Minneapolis sushi restaurant has been named the best sushi in Minneapolis by several local magazines and the best hot dogs by local and national press. That’s right, hot dogs—in addition to noodles, rice bowls, Japanese small plates, and a full sushi menu with creative offerings, Kyatchi is also known for their hot dogs topped with goodies like yuzu mayo, grilled shishito peppers, yakisoba noodles, and butter soy mushrooms.
Origami Restaurant
Split between two floors in Uptown, this chic, modern Japanese eatery offers a full sushi menu and an extensive list of Japanese drinking food, noodles, and entrees. While Origami has been a staple in the Minneapolis sushi scene since 1990, it was recently taken over by new owners dedicated to keeping the Uptown sushi experience fresh and flavorful.
Sushi Dori at Eat Street Crossing
A newcomer to this list, Sushi Dori recently opened inside Eat Street Crossing’s 15,000 square foot food hall and offers a quirky menu of “Sushi Sandos”—fillings like Japanese style fried chicken, pork belly and kimchi, spicy tuna and wonton chips, or spam and dashi eggs sandwiched between rice and roasted nori seaweed—as well as maki rolls like the vegan-friendly Greenway roll (with mushrooms, cucumbers, pickled red onion, avocado, daikon sprouts, sweet soy sauce, and ponzu).
Best Sushi in Southeast Minneapolis
Midori’s Floating World Cafe
When Midori Flomer’s first location was extensively damaged in the Minneapolis Uprising in 2020, the neighborhood both lost a favorite restaurant and gained a champion dedicated to rebuilding in the community. Now, Midori has reopened (for carry-out service only) on Lake Street to rave reviews, serving nigiri, rolls, sushi platters, and noodle dishes with loads of vegan and gluten-free options.
Bagu Sushi & Thai
Located on Chicago Avenue near Minnehaha Parkway and Lake Nokomis, Bagu offers an eclectic menu of sushi rolls, ramen, Chinese broccoli stir fry, and Thai classics from pad see ew to pra-ram curry. Try the Curry Roll with cucumber, pickles, avocado, radish sprouts, and asparagus drizzled with peanut curry sauce. (If you’re in the Prospect Park area, check out Bagu’s food hall location inside The Market at Malcolm Yards.)
