Best sushi spots in Johannesburg: an evergreen guide to 10+ restaurants

Big Mouth Sandton

Neighbourhood: Nelson Mandela Square, Sandton.

Why go: Big Mouth offers an extensive sushi menu including the S.U.V roll, Bigmouth rainbow roll and rock shrimp tempura roll, plus many vegetarian options such as tempura corn roll and a vegan seeded California roll.

Booking tip: The restaurant can accommodate 160 people, a factor to note for larger groups.

Catch Bedfordview

Neighbourhood: Bedfordview.

Why go: Known for a sizeable sushi selection (caterpillar roll, rainbow reloaded, rock shrimp tempura roll) and sushi platters. Also offers classic sushi, new-style sashimi and seafood-focused dishes.

Offer note: Catch runs a 30% discount on sushi and dim sum all day on Tuesdays and Sundays, and on certain afternoons from Wednesdays to Saturdays.

So Yum Hyde Park

Neighbourhood: Hyde Park.

Why go: An elaborate Asian menu with a focus on sushi and dim sum. Popular items include the Chicago roll and 4×4 roll, alongside vegetarian sushi options.

Booking tip: Reservations are required on weekends.

Yamato Japanese Restaurant Illovo

Neighbourhood: Illovo.

Why go: Serving authentic Japanese cuisine since 1995, Yamato is noted for salmon platters and salmon roses and for popular salmon and spicy tuna options. It was also an early restaurant to serve fashion sandwiches.

Booking tip: Outdoor seating is available but limited; reservations are required for larger groups.

John Dory’s Bedfordview

Neighbourhood: Bedfordview.

Why go: A family-friendly spot with varied sushi items such as prawn avalanche, The Bomb and salmon rainbow rolls. Offers sushi platters and sashimi.

Offer note: John Dory’s runs a Half-Price Sushi Wednesdays promotion on sushi plates. Reservations are required.

Yamada Sushi Waterfall

Neighbourhood: Waterfall.

Why go: Japanese-style conveyor-belt sushi experience with items like salmon hand rolls and chirashi sushi. Offers an all-you-can-eat style buffet.

Price note: Yamada’s sushi buffet from Sundays to Thursdays is priced at R209 per person. Reservations are required on weekends.

Yamitsuki Bedfordview

Neighbourhood: Bedfordview.

Why go: Two decades of inventive sushi, including conveyor-belt options and novel plates such as devil roll and vegan roses. Offers sushi-with-a-twist menu items and daily lunch specials.

Offer note: Yamitsuki offers a daily sushi lunch special priced at R104. It also runs weekday promotions like buy-two-get-one-free sushi plates on Mondays and priced pink plates on Tuesdays.

Hokkaido Japanese Restaurant Norwood

Neighbourhood: Norwood.

Why go: Offers bamboo rolls and daily sushi buffets with a unique sushi rice recipe. The restaurant can tweak sushi items on request.

Price note: The daily sushi buffet is priced at R219 per person. Outdoor seating is available and reservations are recommended on weekends.

Jungle Sushi & Teppanyaki Bedfordview

Neighbourhood: Bedfordview.

Why go: Teppanyaki theatre plus sushi boats and platters with items such as pineapple prawn dragon roll and crab caviar nigiri. Vegetarian sushi platters are available.

Offer note: The restaurant is running a daily buy-one-get-one-free promotion on single sushi plates. Teppanyaki table reservations are required; other seating does not require reservations.

Fishmonger Illovo

Neighbourhood: Illovo.

Why go: Known for freshly made sushi, Norwegian salmon and custom platters. Unique menu items include the Adidas roll (salmon, cream cheese and strawberry) and gunken maki.

Seating: Outdoor seating is available.

Mizuki Sushi & Asian Tapas Parkmore

Neighbourhood: Parkmore.

Why go: Asian tapas and creative sushi like the 4×4, tiger roll and an 18-piece Mizuki platter. Offers vegan and vegetarian sushi.

Deals & booking: Mizuki offers a seven-dish Japanese dining experience for R299 and a daily 40-piece sushi sharing platter priced at R249 when purchased via Hyperli coupons. Seating is limited and reservations are required on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. For enquiries the source lists the contact 066 006 0000.

Tataki Fourways

Neighbourhood: Fourways.

Why go: Offers a daily sushi buffet and a variety of sushi platters and à la carte options, with items such as rock prawn maki and prawn tempura gifts.

Price & booking: The daily sushi buffet is listed at R179 per person. Outdoor seating is available and reservations are essential via 011 465 6882.

Golden Rose Sandton

Neighbourhood: Sandton.

Why go: A sushi bar with combo platters and unique rolls like the strawberry rainbow, Venus roll and toro toro. Vegetarian 12- and 24-piece boxes are on the menu.

Enquiries: The source lists 010 226 9050 for enquiries.

King of Sushi Fourways

Neighbourhood: Fourways.

Why go: Formerly YuMe Sushi Bar, this spot offers sashimi, sushi-on-fire options, novelty roses and party platters including a 50-piece party platter for groups.

Enquiries: The source lists 011 469 0558 for reservations and enquiries.

Quick tips for visiting

• Check whether a restaurant requires weekend reservations several venues on this list note limited seating or weekend booking requirements.
• Look out for weekday offers and buffet prices (examples include R209 and R219 buffet listings and specific midweek discounts at Catch and John Dory’s).
• If you want conveyor-belt sushi, look for venues that explicitly offer it (for example, Yamada and Yamitsuki).

Sources

This guide is compiled from the Eat Out roundup of South Africa’s sushi spots and the restaurant notes contained therein.