Samurai Sushi
Sushi restaurant · Elliston Place ·
Inventive sushi, Asian beers, ideal date spot, deep-fried rolls
Inventive sushi, Asian beers, ideal date spot, deep-fried rolls
"Samurai has been serving sushi in Nashville for years. And while other locations have come and gone, the little shop on Elliston remains a good spot for some quick sushi before a show at the Exit/In. There’s something for everyone on the menu, whether you like your rolls deep-fried or you want to try fruit wrapped in soybean paper. Our favorite thing to order is the spicy tuna, which has a defiant punch that lingers a bit longer than others. There are just five tables (a few more upstairs) and a six-seat sushi counter. No matter where you sit, though, you’ll smile to yourself over the delightful oddity of hearing Faith Evans while eating salmon nigiri." - Ann Walczak
"The best seats in the house at the Samurai Sushi in Midtown are at the chef’s counter, where it’s easiest to watch the action happen and choose your own adventure. The restaurant offers dozens of rolls, from raw to cooked to rice-free to vegetarian, and even an entire deep-fried section. Sushi Samurai also has larger locations in East Nashville and Germantown that add Korean dishes like bibimbap and beef bulgogi to the mix." - Kellie Walton
"The low-key energy here makes it an ideal date spot. “You can go super light with nigiri or sashimi options, or if you’re really comfortable with your date and wanna go to town, they have amazing deep fried sushi rolls,” Hagood says." - Stephen Rubino
"The best sushi bars are small affairs, but tiny, intimate ones are harder to find in Nashville these days. That’s why the six-seat bar at Samurai remains a delight. Not only do you get to see the masters at work, but you’ve also got the proper vantage to point at any piece of nigiri that looks good and order it without embarrassing yourself pronouncing “hokigai.”" - Ashley Brantley
"I consider the cozy sister Japanese restaurant on Elliston to be many sushi aficionados' Nashville go-to; beyond raw fish options it features plenty of cooked rolls, including one stuffed with a deep-fried oyster and cream cheese." - Delia Jo Ramsey