After five years of offering the most fun and photogenic sushi creations in Central Florida, Wave expanded into a larger space exposing even more folks to its sushi burgers, sushi hot dogs, sushi burritos, sushi tacos, sushi doughnuts, sushi pizza, and sushi crunch wraps. A byproduct of all this creative fare? Rampant Instagramming and TikTok-ing. 

Former Morimoto Asia head sushi chef Junichi Takazoe made the ballsy move to open his izakaya in an old barbecue shack in the middle of Sanford, but after six years of wowing folks in the Bokey, he shows no signs of stopping. They come for Japanese cuisine rooted in tradition and authenticity as well as Takazoe’s focus on quality ingredients and technical precision. Nigiri of silvery-skinned gizzard shad is as eye-rollingly good as albacore dressed with sesame, ponzu, and crispy wonton skins. Seemingly pedestrian rolls are anything but. The spicy tuna is anointed with sesame oil, layered with smelt roe, and spiked with a secret blend of chili peppers. The wasabi here, by the way, is real and freshly grated.

WA exposed the sleepy bedroom community of Casselberry to a refined sushi-going experience, and the rest of Orlando quickly took notice. WA closed its original location in 2020 but reopened in a new strip-mall space in Casselberry, serving the same high-end ingredients from bluefin toro tartare and deep-fried Hiroshima oysters to A5 wagyu and seasonal firefly squid. The menu of daily specials never fails to intrigue.

This cozy 10-seater by Taglish chef/owner Mike Collantes is all about serving high-end, seasonally driven omakase. Collantes and his focused group of culinarians show a dedication to local sourcing and a propensity to tweezing in presenting their impeccable and artistically plated dishes. Omakases run $225 and don’t include beverage pairings ($80 extra).

Kadence became one of the city’s best restaurants when it opened back in 2017. Five years later, the eight-seat sushi and sake bar inside an all-black edifice still offers one of the best dining experiences in the city with its intimate omakase. While Lordfer Lalicon, one of the restaurant’s founders, left to focus energies on the soon-to-open Filipino restaurant Kaya in Mills 50, co-founders Mark Berdin and Jennifer Banagale, along with a dedicated team of cooks and servers, continue to serve impeccably presented multicourse meals. The sake program is second to none.

A stalwart of the city’s sushi landscape, this sophisticated sushi house has always reflected a commitment to sourcing and artistry while respecting tradition. That it’s been around for 15 years should be no surprise to anyone, least of all the regulars who fill the airy North Quarter digs to indulge in a spate of rolls (more than 50 are offered) like the notable “Maine,” featuring a whole tempura lobster tail, and the “Aloha” with a mix of unagi and snow crab.

From humble beginnings helping his parents run two restaurants at the age of 15 to opening Kabooki Sushi at the age of 22 and becoming one of Orlando’s most creative sushi chefs says a lot about the drive and passion of Henry Moso. His extravagant omakases are legendary, and the ingredients he sources from local waters and those in the Pacific are unparalleled. After opening a second Kabooki Sushi in Dr. Phillips, Moso expanded and completely renovated the original restaurant on E. Colonial Drive, including creating a stylish lounge complete with a private dining space.

Chef Tim Liu threw his hat into the high-end (and high-stakes) sushi ring when he opened Mikado in Metrowest back in 2006, introducing not just quality cuts of fish from Tsukiji and Toyosu Fish Market but rare and lesser-found ingredients like sea pineapple, geoduck, Hanasaki crab, and striped beakfish. Liu’s loyal following spread to Maitland where he opened Boku, his slick little sushi joint at Maitland City Centre.

Another in a line of fiercely authentic Japanese restaurants, this stalwart of Orlando’s sushi scene is as good now as it opened in 1996. Yes, it’s situated in the tourist sector, but the all-Japanese staff and the minimalist interior – which hasn’t changed much since its opening – make for a transportive experience. Rolls are segmented into “American” and “Japanese Traditional” categories, and sashimi and nigiri are plated without all the flash, panache, and fuss of more modern sushi houses in town. There’s an excellent sake selection too.

The humble strip-mall joint has been around for 20 years, and the Japanese clientele is a tip-off to the restaurant’s authenticity. They come for Sushi Tomi’s menu of pristine, no-fuss rolls, nigiri, and sashimi – the 18-piece sashimi dinner for $33.95 being one of the best deals in town. A daily list of specials usually comprises intriguing options, whether whelk, baby snow crab, iwashi, spot prawns, or geoduck. 

Owners Takanao and Yasue Nakashima figured out the formula to perfect sushi rice, and even though the pandemic forced the couple to nix sushi rolls from the menu, that heavenly sumeshi is employed in Sushi Kichi’s donburi bowls. And not just any donburi bowls, but some of the best rice bowls in the city with toppings ranging from fatty bluefin tuna to Scottish salmon to grilled unagi.