Our guide to Japanese and sushi restaurants in Brighton and Hove:
Moshimo
Well-known for its unusual but stylish setting, based in the Opticon, a beautiful modernist designed by dRMM in Bartholomew Square in the year 2000. Designed to resemble a floating lantern in the square. The walls are inspired by shiji screens and slide open making you really feel like you’re in Japan in summer. Using fresh and sustainable fish for their sushi, Moshimo is a favourite of Brighton locals.
What Next?
Oki Nami
One of the longest standing Japanese restaurants in Brighton and Hove, its reputation speaks for itself. Offering an authentic oriental dining experience, Oki Nami does not disappoint. Huge on freshness, they consistently provide outstanding Japanese cuisine. The setting is in an old Regency building opposite the Pavilion side of the Brighton Dome, yet inside is contemporary and minimalist. Considered one of the best Japanese restaurants in the area.
Pompoko
Pompoko is a little Japanese restaurant situated opposite Brighton Dome which provides fast food without the heart attack. Healthy, fast and delicious Japanese food served by extremely efficient and friendly staff, Pompoko is the perfect place for a quick and affordable lunch, or a pre-theatre meal. Although, they are always busy due to their great reputation, if you want to stay here for a more leisurely affair, that’s an option too.
Wagamama
Despite being a chain restaurant, Wagamama really does deliver. Wagamama means ‘naughty child’ in Japanese which gives you a sense of the determination and stubbornness of the place to provide consistently good food. The seating is usually in an authentically Japanese arrangement with long wooden tables and benches. The menu is extensive with an eclectic range of Japanese inspired dishes including gyozas, ramen, teppanyaki, donburi, omakase and curry.
Murasaki Café
Murasaki Café in Seven Dials offers ‘the most authentic, mouth-watering Japanese food outside of Japan’. Their menu is so extensive it might take you a while to choose. Though with a huge selection of Japanese tapas, you could try many dishes. With clean lines, wooden flooring and seating and lots of bamboo, this place is in keeping with its cuisine. Even a Murasaki Bento on Montpelier Place for takeaways.
Bincho Yakitori
A recent addition to the Japanese list of places to go and typically what you might find in a Japanese bar. Bincho has gone through a few reincarnations, first appearing fresh-faced and vamped up with an impressive skyline seat in the Oxo Tower in London before slipping out that frock, throwing on a proverbial pair of skinny jeans and setting up shop in Brighton’s Preston Street.
Sushi Garden
Often flagged as the best sushi in Brighton Sushi Garden has high integrity when it comes to their craft. No frills bistro style restaurant, they focus on the quality and precision of the sushi they serve. The service is super friendly and efficient, making you feel extremely well looked after and at home. Albeit a very Japanese style home.
Namul
More of a takeaway than a restaurant and more Korean than Japanese, we still felt this little gem was worth a mention here. Serving quality fresh Korean dishes including healthy bowls of bibimbap, sushi rolls, miso soup and bento boxes. Bibimbaps for your information if you’re not familiar with the term are bowls of rice with an array of fresh ingredients on top and a sauce of your choosing. Simple but healthy and delicious.
E-Kagen Sushi and Noodle Bar
A restaurant and a shop (in separate locations) E-Kagen prides itself on high quality sushi and giant bowls of freshly made noodle soup which are apparently ‘out of this world’. Though the focus is on sushi and noodles, they also do a wide array of other authentic dishes including don buri, curry, gyozas and tempura. E-Kagen doesn’t look like much but once you try the food that doesn’t matter. Simple, fresh and authentic.
Yo! Sushi
Not pretending to be anything other than it is, a ‘fast sushi’ joint for those on the go. With a conveyor belt moving along dome covered dishes constantly, it can be a fun experience to sit at the island style bar and just see what rolls on by and takes your fancy. A moving sushi buffet if you will.