Nichinan

Sushi restaurant · Portsmouth

Nichinan

Sushi restaurant · Portsmouth

1

15 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801

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Highlights

Sushi, small plates, sake & cocktails in a chic setting  

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15 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801 Get directions

nichinanrestaurant.com
@nichinan.nh

$50–100 · Menu

Reserve

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15 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801 Get directions

+1 603 956 3036
nichinanrestaurant.com
@nichinan.nh

$50–100 · Menu

Reserve

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Last updated

Aug 22, 2025

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Best Restaurants in Portsmouth, New Hampshire | Eater Boston

"Sample hackleback caviar, wagyu gyoza, and half a dozen sushi rolls at this new Japanese spot in the boutique Hotel Thaxter. The food is worth the visit but the craft cocktails and midcentury interior design lend themselves just as well to a happy hour meetup." - Celina Colby

https://boston.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-portsmouth-new-hampshire
View Postcard for Nichinan

Allie Bonilla

Google
Phenomenal service! We made a reservation online a noted a fish allergy at our table. Our host and server both took the time to clarify the nature and severity of the allergy and were understanding. Our server Sydney was friendly and knowledgeable. The food was fantastic. Generous portion sizes for the share plates and everything was delicious. I would come back to New Hampshire just for this restaurant.

Micah Alter-Meeker

Google
This is the best Japanese food I have ever had. All of the food came out hot and perfectly garnished and tasted amazing!! I highly recommend the Miso Eggplant, Spicy Crab Fried Rice, and Karaage! All of the meat was perfectly cooked and basically melts in your mouth. Even though the items are a bit pricey, they are more than worth it! The staff here is incredible as well! They are prompt, helpful, and courteous. Our waiter did excellent in recommending the best dishes on the menu! Even though it is attached to the hotel, this restaurant is open to anyone. It's very beautiful and organized on the inside and was an extremely pleasant atmosphere for a slow meal.

Olga Shestopalova

Google
I came here for date night and left with a new favorite restaurant! I don't think I've seen okonomiyaki anywhere outside of Japan and yet here it was- along with a ton of other very unique, very tasty menu items. We wanted to order one of everything, it was hard to choose! Our favorites were the sashimi, the sake roll, and the okonomiyaki. The steamed buns and tonkatsu were also really good, I like that we could get a bunch of small plates to share. Definitely get dessert- it was incredible! The cocktails were also top notch. The service was excellent and prompt, and overall the vibes of the place were really nice, it was cozy but still elegant, I will definitely be back!

Erica C

Google
We have been dying to try Nichinan for months after seeing their new signage on a walk around Portsmouth. What better time to visit than my birthday! The restaurant has a very classy atmosphere and tasteful artwork. Our reservation at 6 p.m. was one of the best service experiences we have had. We were gifted a small starter of Akami at the beginning for my birthday. Very appreciated and thoughtful. The drink selection focuses on Japanese ingredients; the Lotus Eater was one of my favorites. We split a variety of dishes which, filled us up by the end of the night. Our favorite was the Karaage; crispy, juicy, and blended well with the added extras. The sushi options were fresh and presented beautifully. Be sure to add the caviar to your sushi orders. Overall, wonderful experience, and I am happy I chose to visit during my birthday.

Frankie Dominguez

Google
I went with two friends and we really enjoyed our full experience at Nichinan. This is a great place to share different plates. It was hard to choose what to order because everything on the food and drink menu is fun and enticing. Everything we tried was delicious! The service was perfect. There was never an empty cup, we had everything we needed, our server knew each dish really well and was excited to share about the chef's menu. The atmosphere is just about the best in town. Clean, well designed and gorgeous dining area. The same goes for the bathroom and waiting area. Looking forward to going back!

MeMyself&I

Google
Have to make a reservation. Place is packed especially on weekends. Friendly staff and fast service. There's only one option for ramen though, if that is what your looking for. But food was great nonetheless...

Brock Holmes

Google
I recently had the pleasure of dining at Nichinan Sushi in Portsmouth, NH, and I must say, it exceeded my expectations in more ways than one. Tucked away in a cozy spot, this little gem offers an unforgettable experience with its small, sharable plates, craft cocktails, and delightful sushi creations. Let's start with the food. The attention to detail on the dishes presented were simply outstanding. The shrimp tempura was a true highlight of my meal, boasting a perfectly crisp exterior while maintaining a juicy and tender interior. Each bite was a burst of flavor, leaving me longing for more. The pork belly was another star on the menu, with its melt-in-your-mouth texture and a rich, savory taste that left a lasting impression. I have nothing but praise for the attentive staff at Nichinan. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with genuine warmth and hospitality. The waitstaff was knowledgeable about the menu and graciously offered suggestions to enhance our dining experience. They were prompt in their service, ensuring that our glasses were never empty and our needs were met with a smile. The atmosphere at Nichinan was simply delightful. The cozy ambiance, coupled with tastefully designed décor, created a soothing and inviting space. The soft lighting and comfortable seating arrangements added to the intimate setting, making it perfect for both a romantic date night or a relaxed gathering with friends. The pleasant background music further enhanced the overall atmosphere, allowing for easy conversation and enjoyment of the culinary journey. One of the aspects that truly stood out for me was the attention to detail in presentation. Each dish was artfully arranged, showcasing the chef's skill and creativity. The sushi rolls were not only delicious but also visually appealing, making it a feast for both the taste buds and the eyes. Overall, I highly recommend Nichinan to anyone seeking a memorable dining experience in Portsmouth, NH. The exceptional food, impeccable service, and inviting atmosphere make it a standout choice for sushi enthusiasts and those looking to explore a fusion of flavors. Don't miss the chance to indulge in their shrimp tempura and pork belly delights. Nichinan Sushi is undoubtedly a hidden culinary gem that deserves recognition.

Claire

Google
Went for a date night and it was great!! It was pricey but we were excited to splurge for date night. Our server gave great recommendations and the atmosphere was elegant and cozy. Both my husband and my drinks, B O.A.T and the health, wealth+self, were fantastic. The roasted oysters, maguro roll, chicken nanban and toro sashimi were out of this world. Skip the SAKE roll, it was fine but other things in the menu were better. We got the purin for dessert and while it was good, I would probably try something else next time. Overall, highly recommend!
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Sarah K.

Yelp
Good atmosphere and the food is great! Best expresso martini I've had! Wagyu beef is a must try
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L P.

Yelp
We returned because we really loved our first experience but the second time proved to be less enjoyable. The food was still good, but not the mind blowing experience the first time was. Our egg custard was watery and the mushrooms not as flavorful. Our fried eggplant was missing something that made it so tasty the first time. The silken tofu and chicken was still amazing and a dish no one should miss. The biggest disappointment was the table bomb. Good lord, if people order more than two dishes please do not fire them all at once and jam a table with 6 plates. At what point do you ask yourself "Should we slow down so these people can eat hot food, hot?" It's rude, it's rushed and it doesn't show your food in the best light. The smarter move for guests reading this is to order as you go so you can eat with some space between courses. The staff is consistently pleasant.
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Dillon T.

Yelp
Ugh, Nichinan. I had such high hopes, but ya gotta deliver for the price point and downtown Portsmouth digs you guys have. I ate here with girlfriend and a friend during restaurant week. Unfortunately each course was underwhelming in flavor, which is almost hard to do with Japanese cuisine. The service was good, and the ambiance is pretty cool, but the food just does not match with the advertising or the prices. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. And sadly the common denominator was that each meal was lacking flavor.

Greg L.

Yelp
Nichinan is a gem of a restaurant hidden in Hotel Thaxter. We were visiting from New York, where great Japanese food is everywhere, and this place passed the test. The sashimi was excellent. The grilled black cod was truly delicious. And the crispy miso eggplant was the best I have ever had, anywhere in the world. The setting is charming and staff was easygoing and delightful. Don't miss this place!
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Michael R.

Yelp
We enjoyed our meal here, and the restaurant has lots of potential, but is not there yet, particularly at this price point. First, the room is very nice, small and cozy. The music is a bit loud (loved the modern playlist), but this encourages diners to shout to hear each other, and then the whole room is just very loud. This is very common in many newer restaurants today and I trust they will find the right volume setting for the music soon. Our server was delightful and knowledgeable, and her explanation of the cocktails and food were spot on. Cocktails were priced at a premium, $17/$18 or so, and while they taste good, the presentation was quite average. Our drinks were garnished with nothing more than wilted, mint leaves. If my mint was that damaged I would not have used it, but we watched drink after drink served with this sad garnish. Did it affect the taste? Of course not, but it demonstrates a lack of detail and polish. We started with edamame, which came piping hot and topped with lemon zest, a new and unusual twist for us. Next, we moved on to an ebi roll, which was a shrimp tempura style roll. This was decidedly underwhelming as compared to any of the other local sushi bars, where it would be served at a better price. Appearance wise, again the plating was not up to expectations at this price point. We had high hopes for the crab fried rice, and while this was one of the nicer presentations, it was again just average I went back to look at their instagram page, and nothing served to us was remotely as nice looking. While this dish had lots of delicious crab and interesting additions, I felt that it was a tad too spicy. I love spicy food, but in this case it overwhelmed the mild crab flavors. If the heat level was dialed back a tad, this would be a hit. Our waitress raved about a special dish, a duck confit served bowl style on rice with a curry sauce, $21. The duck was indeed melt in your mouth delicious, and reminded me of perfect duck confit served in the south. I suppose I would not have included potato as the vegetables within a rice bowl, but that's what the chef decided. Other than that, this dish would have been a full on win for me. More of a fusion style dish however. We tried the chocolate fondant cake for dessert. Tasty enough, but plating was sloppy. Again, I think this restaurant has lots of potential. It is still new, and I trust they will retool based on feedback they hear. We look forward to trying it again in the future.
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Dan S.

Yelp
It's a small restaurant with limited seating, perhaps 12 tables and 6 seats at the bar. They did a great job making use of the small space. The menus have tiny writing and the lighting is dim. The acoustics are such that you need to speak loudly over the ambient noise. The chairs are comfortable and the two tops are sufficiently wide. The decor is beautiful. Bathrooms were immaculate. Drinks: I ordered the Oh Mai. It was served with a whisky float but without any means of mixing the whiskey into the drink (no straw no nothing). It was mediocre for the $18 price tag. Food: It was a bust! The rolls fell apart. The wasabi was hard and wouldn't dissolve in the soy sauce (which tasted weird). The wasabi has about zero kick as well. The unagi (eel) was hard and served cold. The tempura shrimp inside the Ebi roll was really awful, I pulled it out of the roll and left it on the plate. See my attached pic, there was zero tempura batter. It was just supermarket shrimp and it didn't taste fresh. The rolls were between $18 and $20. The crab fried rice was oily, salty, and spicy but it wasn't bad. The portion was generous. The crab tasted like it came from a can. They are new, hence the extra star.
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Danielle V.

Yelp
Was visiting Portsmouth for my friends birthday and made a reservation to come here. Ill start with the great stuff first, the inside is adorable and the chairs are super comfy. I loved the atmosphere. The service was great. Our waiter was friendly and prompt. That being said I was underwhelmed with the food and drinks for the price. The wine and cocktails were good but not for the expensive ticket. My favorite thing was the edamame for the price point. We got 3 rolls and they were okay but not at $20 dollars a roll. We also had shrimp tempura and same outcome, good but not for the price. I will go to other sushi places that have the same quality but lower prices.
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Tim M.

Yelp
The space is beautiful and service is decent. Quality of the food is a little hit or miss. I had a sushi roll, it was decent. My wife started with short ribs and that was the beginning of the off experience. The short ribs had small bits of meat and were mostly bone. They tasted OK but at the price point you'd expect a little less bone. Wife said it seemed like one short rib divided amongst multiple plates. The timing was off with my sushi and my wife's short ribs. I pretty much finished the roll when the short ribs came out. We shared the pork belly rolls and gyoza; gyoza came three in an order but we could add another. Huh? The buns were a little sloppy to eat but we managed to make them work. Food was warm but not piping hot. We spent about $130 before the tip and left feeling hungry. Based on the reviews it seems like this is the kind of place you'll be totally enamored with or feel underwhelmed by. We were sadly underwhelmed.
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Ellen B.

Yelp
The service was great and the food was amazing!!! Such a cool atmosphere and everything we ordered was delicious
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Jasmine S.

Yelp
After reading the reviews on here I was a bit skeptical to try this venue out, but the menu really piqued my interest with the different and unique options. Firstly, both the service and the ambiance were lovely. The women working there were really sweet and the ambiance was beautiful, placed in a charming brick building that I'm sure has a lot of neat history. It was really the prices of the beverages and the amount of rice given with the sushi dishes that I would give less 'stars' to. My friends and I decided to just get one beverage there, and then another down the street after our dinner, given we did not want to pay another $17 per person for a beverage that could be just as well made for 2/3 the price. It just seemed really excessive and unusual. I think where I went wrong was going here with friends who aren't as into shashimi and nigiri as me, as I tend to like to branch out and try different items, but they were really into the rolls. They were all tasty, especially the hotate roll. My only wish is that there would have been less rice. Even if they kept the same amount of fish, I think the ratio was just off a bit. However, that could be my own personal preference. The edamame was really tasty, I love that they branched out and i'll certainly start making it this way at home.
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T A.

Yelp
The best Japanese food in NH by far. We literally walked by it and said let's try it out. So authentic and the dishes were creative and well put together. Drink menu was also well done! Totally worth the stop.

Marissa P.

Yelp
I'm not sure why this place doesn't have more 5 star reviews. We had a delicious dinner here and found the food to be very balanced and flavorful. We had a mix of different things - the sushi and sashimi stood out as the highlights. The yellowtail sashimi was melt in your mouth. The ambiance was great and the restaurant was cozy. The only piece of constructive feedback I have is that they should season the edamame differently. It's pretty plain with minimal salt and some lemon zest - I think this is a missed opportunity.
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Charles P.

Yelp
It's difficult to capture a truly authentic Japanese sushi bar in the US, but in my opinion, Nichinan has achieved its goal. Exquisitely polished, the ambiance is spot on, the bar transported me to my many visits to Tokyo, and the service was amazing. We found that the small dishes were the true gem at Nichinan. Order one of each! Now that would be a lot of food so maybe not, but each of the ones we had, were amazing. We found that the pieces of sushi were good, but they too reminded of sushi in Tokyo. Simple and to the point. The rolls I felt were pre-made as the rice was dry. I feel I would avoid them in the future. That being said, this is what the US market usually orders which is disappointing. I hope this changes for the future. We arrived early and the restaurant filled up. I never felt that I could not hear my guest so the other comments about it being too loud seem strange. Overall, I'm still giving it a five star as although it needs some work, they just opened and constructive feedback can only make the experience better!
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Alain A.

Yelp
I will state this quite simply- this was the best meal we have ever had in Portsmouth. We eat out often, have travelled everywhere, usually towards the cuisine of the area. Our waitress, whose name I cannot remember, charmed us with her knowledge and sweet nature. The food: -the eggplant appetizer truly delicious, with different textures and flavors. -sushi. Beautifully presented, and of high quality. Not the greatest, due to lack of variety and adventure, but I have a feeling that this will improve once they understand that safe is not necessarily the best approach. -ramen. We had the large bowl. Initially there was not enough broth, but our waitress took care of that immediately. Absolutely delicious, with the ramen cooked perfectly, with a slightly alkaline tinge. -Nicolas Feuillate champagne- a bargain at 72.00. The rest of the list was lackluster but adequate. The pacing of the meal, the quality of the food, and the gorgeous surroundings(we were in a living room setting next to the dining room) blew us away. Is there room for improvement? Sure, but it is more a matter of expanding the reach of the kitchen, and not playing to the middle.

Conor T.

Yelp
This is a place where from the first bite I knew that I could order anything and it would be magnificent. Sushi is fresh, well cut, and seasoned. They also serve hot sake which is shockingly hard to find in New England. Great place to splurge every now and then. And now a rant: I've seen a few people complain that it's overpriced. My brother in Christ, it's a sushi restaurant with a publicly available menu that details what you are going to get with every order. They serve food you can get elsewhere, but they elevate it to give you a better experience. If you don't appreciate that then do us a favor and stay home. Crack open a can of cold spaghetti and try to convince your girlfriend it's just as good as Massimo's, and when she leaves write a scathing review about how you don't get what the hype is about. All I know is along with the seasoning my salmon didn't have bones in it like I get at Surf, and my tuna didn't taste like low tide because it wasn't sitting out for a few days like at Domo. Take that for what you will.
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Matt Z.

Yelp
Incredible small plates and sushi spot - awesome cocktails and great service / hospitality- highly recommend with great atmosphere
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Kelly P.

Yelp
Service on point, all our mocktails were delicious. We especially recommend the shrimp tempura, the ramen, the fried rice with egg and scallop roll. Restaurant itself is gorgeous and the seating was incredibly comfortable. I think I'd ask to be seated in palor next time. So good!!!
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Chris S.

Yelp
My full on excitement for the menu was dampened by the actual food. Aspirational with potential but not there yet.
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Thomas N.

Yelp
Was very excited for this new restaurant. Actual experience for the price was very disappointing. Sushi and appetizer flavors were very basic and bland. Did not meet expectations.

Meg R.

Yelp
We were super excited to try out this place. We were absolutely thrilled with the ambience and decor: it was Boston city cool crossed with modern speakeasy. Definitely a cool place to come back to for a cocktail. The food however was not yet "wow". (and I say yet, because they are a new restaurant and I'm confident they're going to adjust the menu until they get it just right.) The eggplant appetizer was delicious- perfectly cooked and tossed with the most amazing spices. Absolutely recommend it. But the other dishes we ordered (tempura squash, wagyu gyoza, pork belly buns, and crispy chicken thighs) sounded interesting on the menu, but didn't quite hit the mark. We are going to give them a few months to work out the kinks and then we are looking forward to coming back. I will definitely update my review based on their progress.

Steven Z.

Yelp
Amazing, authentic, and not to be missed! Such good service and a cool vibe. Much nicer inside than some of the photos suggested. It's intimate and chic but not stuffy. The food was incredible, especially the sushi and the pork belly buns. Stay for the chocolate cake dessert.

Sarah C.

Yelp
Service was impeccable and great team work in everyone took care of the customers. Food was delicious and had a lot of unique flavors and texture combinations. The fried rice dish was a bit to salty for my taste. Ambiance was elegant and nicely done. Would highly recommend to anyone wanting to try a new Japanese infusion experience.
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Ella E.

Yelp
three stars because it wasn't terrible but it's not really great. domo is much better if you're looking for asian cuisine in town. the service was alright although nothing to write home about. the interior is cute the wallpaper in the bathroom is beautiful. but the wallpaper was more memorable to me than the dining experience if that says it all

Dulcet K.

Yelp
I really like this place but the sushi fell short a bit, I consider the sushi average. I think their cooked Japanese food items are excellent though and thus I would return because I like the other options as well as the atmosphere. Great service as well.

Katie B.

Yelp
The service, food, drinks, and ambience were all excellent. I can't wait to return and will recommend to everyone. Our favorites were the miso soup, the crab fried rice, and 'Tea party in Tokyo". The sushi was also fresh and spectacular.

Bill H.

Yelp
First off the space is appealing. Nice ambience. We were 4 on A Friday night. Our server was spotty. Personable and pleasant but we had to track her down several times and on two different occasions we ordered another drink that didn't arrive. We had to also send a drink back that was made incorrectly. The bartender did come over and apologize saying he was an actor and was just on red eye back from LA and tired. Who the heck cares you are an Actor and on a red eye Mr bartender and like because you are an actor I should be impressed and forget that you can't make a drink?? We had a few different rolls and none of them were great. Probably some of the poorest sushi we had ever had.. We had two orders of Nigiri also, yellowtail and Tuna and they were not good either. The rolls were just uninspired and had little flavor. The Nigiri was just very boring and didn't seem that fresh ? We do sushi quite a bit at Domo and a surf in town and then around the world also.. This place squarely ranks at the bottom of the list for the sushi..: on a brighter note. We had the eggplant tapa that was good and the crispy chicken thigh that was also good. The Wagyu at 48 dollars was ridiculous. It probably totaled 2 ounces and was flavorless. I have never felt so ripped off in my life! We knew it was 48 bucks and had high expectations only to be sooooo disappointed. Total bill for 4 of us with a couple drinks each and no desert was 480 bucks with tip. We didn't order that much foood!!!What??? I felt like I was robbed for what we experienced. We won't be back.

Sasha P.

Yelp
We stopped here Saturday night at 7pm with 3 of us - it's a small place and we didn't have a reservation so they didn't have a table for us, but said we could get a drink and wait in their seating area, order drinks, for a spot at the bar to open up. We got seated after about 30 mins. The bartender, Tom, was friendly and fast, and the food came out surprisingly quick! We got caviar, a sushi roll, eggplant appetizer, duck special, crab flight - plus drinks ($17-$18ea) - our bill was $192. Yum food!