Nippon

"Houston’s oldest Japanese restaurant and sushi bar will close on November 17. The Instagram page for the now-closed restaurant Shun Japanese Kitchen shared the news on Monday, October 21, stating that the Yoshida family, which owns Nippon, “expresses gratitude for the enduring support and affection from the community.” “It’s undeniable that without your support, there would be no stories, cherished memories, and enduring friendships,” they wrote. The Houston Chronicle reported that married couple Naomitsu and Emi Yoshida, who opened the trailblazing restaurant in Montrose in 1986, plan to retire following the closing. The restaurant was known for its menu of sushi and bento boxes, as well as its noodle soups." - Brittany Britto Garley

"This Montrose mainstay is the oldest Japanese-owned restaurant in the city, operating since the mid-1980s. This low-key restaurant serves up authentic Japanese cuisine and features dishes not often found at other sushi spots. Its sizeable menu includes such dishes as the takowasa (raw, chopped octopus marinated in wasabi), sukiyaki hotpot, and a stellar katsu curry. The no-frills sushi menu offers a selection of nigiri and sashimi, plus traditional and signature rolls. Chirashi is a must order, with its assortment of sashimi artfully arranged over a bed of rice." - Minh Truong, Megha McSwain

"Nippon in Montrose opened in 1986 and remains a reliable sushi spot in the neighborhood. While it might be tiny, the menu runs deep. Known for serving a fleet of handrolls, Nippon’s also offers a full menu page of makimono rolls, nearly two dozen kinds of nigiri and sashimi, and a chirashi bowl for only $32. You could eat like a medium-wealthy king here, either at the sushi bar or sitting on the often breezy side patio. " - Chelsea Thomas, Gianni Greene

"If everyone you know hears something slightly different when someone says, “let’s go get Japanese food,” you should check out Nippon. Opened in 1986, the Montrose restaurant serves a multi-page menu of sushi, makimono rolls, katsudon, ramen, katsu curry, teriyaki plates, noodles, hot pot, seafood dishes, and beyond—enough to satisfy just about anyone’s Japanese cuisine cravings. Nippon can feel a bit claustrophobic with such tiny, busy dining rooms and a patio that might make you nostalgic for squeezing past someone in an airplane row, but the staff does their best to move guests in and out by endlessly reconfiguring tables. Food reliably comes out fast, hot, and fresh no matter the time of day, so whether you get a table right away or not, the quick service and reasonable cost makes waiting worth it. Grab a casual dinner at the sushi bar or with a couple friends on the patio when the weather swings tolerable. photo credit: Chelsea Thomas" - Chelsea Thomas

"Houston’s oldest Japanese-owned restaurant, founded in 1986, offers bento boxes, sushi rolls and all manner of noodles in an unassuming, wood-paneled space. Try the comforting udon with clear dashi broth, topped with thin slices of ribeye and scallions, or the unagi rice bowl." - Brittanie Shey