Birdy has taken advantage of her sushi habit to write this blog especially about where’s best to grab some sushi in the ‘Burgh. This is not necessarily an exhaustive list, but it is all tried and tested – by us or people we know and trust.
I have a problem. I can’t stop thinking about sushi. In fact, I have sushi on the way as I type this, and I’m absolutely starving which is no doubt propelling me forward to distract self by… writing about sushi! Well, why not put all these thoughts to good use?
I love sushi. Girdy loves sushi, too. Below are some of the best places to get sushi in Edinburgh, whether you’re dining out, ordering for delivery, and even going to market stalls. These are in no particular order, we might add!
Maki & Ramen
First on the list is Maki & Ramen, which have no shortage of locations in Edinburgh (FIVE to be exact) – but there’s a reason for that; they do what they do (sushi and Japanese cuisine) and they do it very bloody well.
My favourite thing to order at Maki & Ramen is the soft shell crab sushi which also comes with avocado filling topped with Japanese mayo and masago. Delicious.
I’m also a big fan of the chicken mayo karaage served with togarashi mayo, and the chicken katsu curry! Why am I mentioning that? Because sometimes it’s nice to have other things ALONGSIDE your sushi, especially in cold winter days like today.
Myself and Girdy have actually eaten at Maki & Ramen and filmed a TikTok there – it’s definitely a top pick for both of us. Another great thing about them is that they get involved with events like Scotland Loves Anime, where they’re currently offering 20% off when you show your printed cinema ticket at one of their locations (excluding Leith, I think?).
Check out our review of Maki & Ramen, Fountainbridge, right here.
Chunky Cat Sushi
Available for delivery through various channels, AND one who regularly pops up in markets all over the area (and will readily publish their schedule a month in advance for sushi stalking purposes), Chunky Cat Sushi make purely VEGAN sushi to die for!
Formerly Kama’s, Chunky Cat Sushi has a lot to answer for… and they’re actually the main reason I cannot stop thinking about sushi right now. Seriously. I had a jackfruit sushi burrito at the weekend and I cannot get over how amazing it was – and I’m not even a person who is usually all that enthused about jackfruit. But this was PHENOMENALLY GOOD. The jackfruit was prepared to perfection, and so so tasty!
The other thing that comes highly recommended is their shiitake mushroom sushi. However, right now, sadly the jackfruit sushi burrito is not available for delivery, and only something you can pick up at their stalls.
All the more reason to support Chunky Cat Sushi and help them grow big enough that they can make jackfruit sushi burritos a regular delivery menu item, and therefore allowing me to eat it whenever I want!
Irasshai
I can’t personally say much about Irasshai, but this sushi takeaway IS Girdy’s favourite. He’s particularly fond of the salmon nigiri, dragon roll and California roll. The ramen is also a really good shout if you want something hot to warm you.
You can find Irasshai on Duke Street in Leith, and at the time of writing this, they’re only doing orders for pickup – that might change by the time you read this, though! (We’ll do our best to try and keep this updated)
Yes Sushi
I’m a huge fan of Yes Sushi (not to be confused with Yo! Sushi) on Hanover Street! It’s a place myself and friends like to frequent for get-togethers, but occasionally I’ve ordered online as well. The staff are really friendly, and they do a great variety of sushi along with some lovely hot dishes (including BBQ eel, my favourite!).
They have a tasting menu, which I highly recommend as it means you get to try eight small courses! The sushi is so fresh and delicious, and I’m a big fan of the crispy duck roll.
So, if you’re looking for somewhere central with a relaxed vibe where you can just take your time and order off a wide and varied menu, Yes Sushi could be the place for you!
Itsu
Itsu pride itself on beautiful food, fast. I had a conversation with Girdy a while back about how Itsu is one of the most sustainable and responsible chains to be supporting at the moment, but it’s also somewhere I know I can rely on for consistently good food – in a hurry.
It’s beautiful in its simplicity; you go in, order your food at the touchscreens, pay, and then usually in under two minutes your food is ready for you. It’s a system that works really well, and I’ve never found myself standing around wondering where my food is.
However, in London, it was a bit different, as all the food was already laid out and you could just pick your selection up and pay at the tills. London was actually my first experience of Itsu, and I was blown away by how good and how FRESH the sushi tasted.
I usually always order the salmon & avo dragon roll, and sometimes if I’m hungry enough, some vegetable gyoza, too. I’ve been with friends enough times who’ve ordered some of the other hot food, and they’ve never had any complaints.
Another thing to shout about is, maybe surprisingly, the peach and lychee zen’water. It’s not something I thought I would love quite as much as I do, but OHMYWORD it is MARVELLOUS. I always leave Itsu feeling like I have been nourished, and that water just brings me energy and life.
Hui
I’m a massive fan of Hui on Roseburn Terrace, and I won’t lie; it’s partly because they do Japanese/Chinese fusion. You know what that means?
It means I can order an absolute feast of sushi (soft shell crab, yes please!) AND my crispy skin-on chicken teriyaki (the BEST), AND share some vegetable spring rolls with sweet and sour sauce, and get it all delivered like the pig that I am. No judgement, please!
This is probably my go-to for ordering online (they don’t have a restaurant), because they’re reliable and again, consistently good. They’re also quite close to me, so it never takes long for the food to arrive.
Yokohama Sushi
A fairly new addition to this list is Yokohama Sushi on London Road, which is a lovely little Japanese restaurant with an impressive menu.
I was delighted to realise they had softshell crab sushi on the menu, and of course I filled my boots whilst I could. I found the choice of marie rose sauce a bit different, but the sushi itself was fabulous.
As for Girdy, he had the hiyayakko with tempura sauce, and steak poke with summer sauce – both of which he also really enjoyed.
One notable difference when it comes to ordering in Yokohama Sushi is that they give you an iPad to order on. It may not suit everyone, but Girdy found it particularly helpful as it meant he could talk to the staff but also be confident on what he was ordering (and was able to order for me whilst I was still on the way).
Chizuru Tei
Finally, Chizuru Tei is a Japanese fusion restaurant that’s highly recommended by people I know – and it’s easy to see why when you look at the website – so although myself and Girdy haven’t actually tried it, I wanted to add it to the list.
Looking at the menu, I can see some amazing options, and some sushi variations I haven’t actually seen anywhere else, so this is absolutely the top of my list to try next.
What’s more, it’s said they “bring flavour and art together to create exquisite sushi”. Yep, shut up and take my money – I’ll update this when I try it!
One last thing…
Well, there we have it! Some of the best places to find sushi in Edinburgh. Like I said, this list is not exhaustive, so if you know of somewhere particularly good we’ve missed, please let us know!
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