Where to eat the best sushi in Las Vegas

If you’ve ever bought sushi rolls at a grocery store, Kabuto may not be the place for you. In fact, this traditional edomae sushi house takes care to point out what it does not serve: namely, maki rolls and hako sushi. Instead, you’ll get sensational nigiri sushi and sashimi, expertly prepared with fish flown in from Japan and around the world. The subtle, pristine flavors and practically religious execution will appeal to a refined palate, but they don’t come cheap. Once you’ve tried Kabuto, however, you may have a tough time enjoying a plain old California roll

This relatively recent addition to the Vegas sushi scene comes courtesy of former Kabuto chef Gen Mizoguchi. And like his former digs, this simply styled restaurant is a showcase for the art of traditional edomae sushi that marries stunningly fresh fish and perfectly seasoned rice to create unbelievable results. A meal here is a special-occasion splurge, but you’re paying for an education, an experience and the chance to witness a master a work. In other words, so much more than dinner.

This petite off-Strip restaurant is not your average sushi joint, and that’s a good thing. It means you get inventive sushi and sashimi creations that pair sea urchin with candied quinoa and tamari or salmon with charred tomatoes, chives and jalapeño miso. That bold and playful hand extends to the rest of the small-plate menu and makes dinner here an exciting exploration. Be sure to save room for dessert.

Some of the city’s best sushi chefs have come through the Nobu kitchen and Nakano Hiromi, who helms this westside favorite, is no exception. Along with a full menu of cooked items and 24 special maki rolls, he serves beautifully modern sushi and sashimi, pairing raw fish with a wide variety of ingredients and flavors. Think: sea bream with finger lime, shiso, white balsamic and truffle oil or salmon with onion, capers, bonito flakes and spicy ponzu sauce.

Other Mama is not a sushi bar. It’s not even a Japanese restaurant. It is, however, one of Las Vegas’ hippest current haunts, a locally beloved west-side spot with a penchant for raw seafood and enticing cocktails. Order one of the latter while you browse a menu that includes oysters, ceviches, sushi and sashimi, applying a deft touch to fresh fish and just about everything else that enters the kitchen. Try the scallop carpaccio with blood orange and fennel, sashimi salad with thyme and honey or big eye tuna with roasted beets and avocado. And should you feel the need for something hot, seasonal dishes include shrimp and jalapeño hush puppies or pork belly and kimchi fried rice. Hungry yet?

Beloved Strip restaurant Social House is no more, but its former executive chef has gone independent to open this popular sushi spot in the southwest. While the menu includes the requisite California and shrimp tempura rolls, you’re better off venturing into more adventurous territory with sashimi dishes that include ingredients like wasabi creme fraiche, hibiscus crystals, freeze-dried miso and even Pop Rocks.

Step inside this jewel of a restaurant tucked into a corner of the Wynn where chef Devin Hashimoto takes diners on a tour of Japanese cuisine alongside one of the resort’s signature waterfalls. And like the space, the menu is decidedly upscale. Think Alaskan king crab on the robata grill, diver scallop teppanyaki and the surf and turf roll with American Wagyu and Maine lobster. This is decadence that delivers.

This Bellagio restaurant is a popular destination for the club crowd thanks to its energetic ambiance and crowd-pleasing menu from chef Akira Back. Along with sushi bar staples, you’ll find more original plates like fusion rolls made with kalbi short ribs or cajun-spiced albacore and duck prosciutto with pickles and micro beets. Wash it all down with a carefully made cocktail or Japanese craft beer. You can’t pre-game with raw fish and tea alone.

Sushi has long been considered a healthy meal out, but for those forgoing carbs, all that rice can pose a problem. Not at Fish N Bowl, a casual Japanese cafe with a lengthy menu that includes a robust selection of rice-free rolls wrapped in rice paper, cucumber skin or the fish itself. Far from traditional fare, FNB takes an innovative approach to Japanese cuisine, mixing and matching flavors and textures so you end up with tuna poke hand rolls wrapped in cucumber and sushi stacked on top of fried bananas. Don’t forget to tear your eyes away from the menu to consult the specials board where more fun, flavorful dishes await.

Named after Steve Wynn's wife, Andrea's, which opened at the end of 2012, has quickly become a place to see and be seen. But the reviews are in and the verdict is that this spot isn't just about the ambience. Yes, the expansive dining room is fashionably smart and DJs provide a late-night soundtrack, but the menu is an Asian-food aficionado's delight. Countless sushi combinations, shrimp pad Thai, dim sum, kimchee—Andrea's has it covered.

Another entry from Akira Back, this stylish Mandalay Bay eatery puts a creative twist on sushi by adding unusual ingredients to the staples of raw fish and rice. Take the Pop Rockin’ roll, which comes with spicy tuna, crab, salmon, avocado and, yes, Pop Rocks; or try the gratuitously named 007 Octopussy with crab salad, spicy octopus and crispy potatoes. Purists can order pieces of classic sushi or sashimi, friends who prefer their dinner cooked will find yuzu ribeye or grilled Scottish salmon and everyone can enjoy the view of party people preparing for a night on the town.

As if Las Vegas wasn’t enough like LA, in slinks this Santa Monica/Hollywood hotspot, all dressed up and ready for some celebrity action. With similar prices to Nobu but less of the cachet, Sushi Roku proves that getting super-fresh fish in the desert isn’t cheap. Fanatics are split on whether it’s worth the price tag, but anyone worth their $500 jeans knows that the Strip views and loungey bar scene are draws equal to the sensational sashimi.