10 Restaurants For The Best Sushi In Asheville
Where can you get delicious sushi in Asheville? Explore the best Asheville sushi restaurants for dine-in and takeout – from locals.
Do you have a favorite meal in the entire world? One that you could eat over and over again?
We most definitely do. We could eat sushi, dim sum, poke bowls, and Pho every single day. Just don’t tell our *very* Italian families…
In fact, we love these dishes so much that even when we are traveling to Paris, Palermo, Reykjavik, Dublin, and Jakarta, we have to find the top sushi and Pho restaurants.
You can bet that when we first visited Asheville, there was no way in heck that we were moving here unless we loved their Asian and sushi spots – and you know how this story ends; we live here now.
Known as “Foodtopia,” the city does not disappoint, and we truly have the best sushi in Asheville.
AVL even boasts of a sushi restaurant or two that specializes in poke bowls and sushi burritos. Count us in!
So, if you are looking for sushi in Asheville, NC these are our top recommendations as residents for dine-in, takeout, and delivery.
We’ll also share some of the best spots for sushi in Downtown Asheville as well as around the city, including its suburbs and across WNC, that we frequent.
Of course, “best” is subjective, and we’d love to know your top Asheville sushi places in the comments. Let’s get started!
If you are a foodie, be sure to check out these top Asian restaurants in Asheville.
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Table of Contents
10 Spots For The Best Sushi In Asheville
*Before heading to any of Asheville’s mouthwatering restaurants, please remember to check websites for hours and the most up-to-date information. While we try to update Uncorked Asheville frequently, hours and menus are subject to change.
1. The Madness Asheville
West Asheville Address: 275 Smokey Park Hwy Ste 251, Asheville, NC 28806; Phone Number: (828) 418-3166
North Asheville Address: 1020 Merrimon Ave Suite 104, Asheville, NC 28804; Phone Number: (828) 505-1345
Website: https://www.themadnessavl.com/
Where can you find gorgeous cocktails, burgers, and the best sushi in Asheville? The Madness!
One of the new-ish North and West Asheville sushi restaurants, this recommendation won’t disappoint – even if the locations are in congested driving areas.
The Madness is trendy and a bit hipster, but also casual and delicious. Plus, with such a diverse menu, it’s perfect for the entire family.
First and foremost, these boozy travel writers are all in for their cocktails. Call us suckers…
But, second, their sushi is absolutely delicious – fresh, the right color (Christine dated a sports fisherman – she knows), the right texture, and the right everything.
Order unique specialty rolls, classic sushi rolls, and beautiful appetizers that are served like pieces of affordable but fancy art.
Plus, if you have non-sushi lovers with you, their burgers are equally delicious. Those fries.
We order a little of everything, and The Madness has a bar. Find a gluten-free menu (we are a half-Celiac household) and vegan and veggie options.
And, if you are dining at their North Asheville restaurant on Merrimon, The Madness is a great lunch spot if you want to check out Beaver Lake or the Botanical Gardens at Asheville.
Read more about exploring North Asheville, one of our favorite local neighborhoods.
2. Yum Poke Spot
Downtown Address: 45 Asheland Ave. Unit 101, Asheville, NC 28801; Phone Number: (828) 505-2277
South AVL/Arden Address: 100 Julian Shoals Dr., Arden, NC 28704; Phone Number: (828) 676-3800
Website: https://yumpokespot.com/
Honestly, we always love the best of both worlds. We covet sushi and burritos, in case we weren’t clear about that earlier.
So, what could be better than meshing the two together?
For the best poké and sushi in Asheville, Yum has both build-your-own sushi burritos and poké bowls.
This is also a top takeout restaurant for us as AVL locals; find Yum on Takeout Central.
What is poké (besides the greatest food on earth)?! Poké is Hawaiian and includes raw, sometimes marinated fish, mixed with rice and a handful of healthy toppings.
At Yum, build a little or giant bowl to eat there or to-go, filled with proteins like tuna or salmon. They have tofu, tons of veggies, and salad (instead of rice) options, too.
Then, add a boatload of toppings to your white or brown rice or salad. We are not going to lie: We love to dump globs of ginger sauce on them.
Our favorite mix-ins include carrots, mango, roe, cucumber, avocado, seaweed salad, fried garlic, and scallion. We tend to go overboard.
You can easily find vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free options, too. We literally crave these bowls after a hard day’s work.
As a Downtown Asheville sushi restaurant, look for street parking; or, use one of their free spots in the parking lot across the street.
Yum’s South Asheville/Arden location shares a parking lot with neighboring businesses.
Uncover more of the best Downtown Asheville restaurants and cafes.
3. Green Tea Sushi Asheville
Address: 2 Regent Park Blvd, Asheville, NC 28806
Website: https://www.greenteajapanese.com/
Phone Number: (828) 252-8300
Green Tea Sushi boasts of being one of the best sushi restaurants in Asheville. We agree!
Located in hipster West Asheville – but not in the walkable “downtown area” – head to Green Tea for their delicious cocktails and outdoor patio.
A more local spot that’s also family-friendly, people flock here around 6 PM on a weeknight.
Like The Madness, Green Tea Sushi has one of the largest appetizer lists that we’ve seen. Think dumplings, popcorn shrimp, tofu, crab cakes, and garlic shrimp.
Then, choose from an extensive list of fresh sushi rolls with popular specialty rolls like the Dynamite, Euphoria, and Green River rolls.
Green Tea also has noodles, teriyaki, Bento boxes, lunch specials, Asian fusion, and fried rice. Don’t forget dessert.
Find plenty of parking in their lot out front. Just know that this area gets busy during rush hour.
4. Zen Sushi Asheville
Address: 640 Merrimon Ave, Asheville, NC 28804
Website: http://www.zen-sushi-asheville.com/
Phone Number: (828) 225-6033
Another one of the best restaurants for sushi in Asheville, we practically live at Zen Sushi. They are a little kitsch inside, though.
The Hop Ice Cream Cafe – which serves vegan ice cream – is located right below them, making this Asheville sushi restaurant a no-brainer and win-win.
Zen labels its menu with vegetarian, raw, and gluten-free options.
If you are looking for a fast lunch special, Zen Sushi has a two or three-roll menu with soup and salad.
One of our favorite lunch meals here includes the Zen Sashimi Lunch with tuna, yellowtail, salmon, and whitefish served with a steaming bowl of rice.
For dinner, we prefer their wide array of specialty sushi rolls paired with hot sake and tea.
Of course, Zen Sushi also has hibachi options (no tables with food being flung at you, though), sashimi, soups, noodles, salads, and Bento boxes.
Don’t forget the beer and wine. As a half-Celiac household, this is a great gluten-free AVL restaurant (although most sushi is).
While Zen takes reservations via phone, we have never needed them. Yes, they get a little busy, but we haven’t had a wait yet.
Did we mention that their prices are super budget-friendly, too?
Save room for ice cream at The Hop, and Asheville Pizza and Brewing – one of our favorite AVL breweries with a movie theater – is also nearby.
Park out front in the lot and head up the stairs. If you are ordering takeout, we use DoorDash for Zen.
5. Mr. Sushi Asheville
North Asheville: 354 Merrimon Avenue Suite 50, Asheville, NC 28801; Phone Number: (828) 505-0871
South Asheville: 1578 B Hendersonville Rd, Asheville, NC 28803; Phone Number: (828) 575-2282
Website: https://www.mrsushinc.com/
Are you questioning our Asheville sushi recommendations right about now? I mean, c’mon, with a name like “Mr. Sushi,” this restaurant must be the clickbait of sushi, right?
For takeout and delivery sushi restaurants in Asheville, along with Zen and Yum, we also vote Mr. Sushi.
There are multiple locations for Mr. Sushi in Asheville, and we couldn’t wait for Merrimon Ave. to open years ago.
Full disclosure: while Downtown Asheville is where it’s at, North Asheville is our jam. There are fewer tourists, more locals, free parking, and just overall hidden gems.
Mr. Sushi has a menu that we don’t even know what to do with. It’s huge and delicious – and still done well.
Are we the only ones who judge a sushi restaurant by its yellowtail?
We tend to over-order at Mr. Sushi, which is hard to avoid. We devour their rice paper summer/spring rolls, poke bowls, and specialty rolls.
We cannot even begin to pick what’s the best to eat here.
You’ll chuckle at the 60s kitchen and subway tile decor as some of the most pleasant staff members make your lunch or dinner.
Zen Sushi is down the street from these guys too. Mr. Sushi has its own parking lot in the back for the North AVL location.
6. Umi Sushi (Hendersonville)
Address: 633 N Main St, Hendersonville, NC 28792
Website: https://www.umihendersonville.com/
Phone Number: (828) 698-8048
Did you know that similar to Asheville, Hendersonville is known for its amazing restaurants and hopping breweries?
They also have one of our all-time favorite sushi restaurants near Asheville: Umi! And yes, this is a busy location in Downtown Hendersonville.
Umi is a go-to for the freshest sushi rolls and lunch specials. For dinner, they serve up large specialty rolls and are considered a sushi fine dining establishment.
Umi also has outdoor dining. They will get extremely busy, and you cannot go wrong with takeout too.
Umi Sushi is a great option if you want to day trip outside of Asheville and explore DuPont’s waterfalls or the Hendersonville wineries and fall apple orchards.
Asheville is to Hendersonville is about 40 minutes away.
7. Red Ginger Dimsum & Tapas
Address: 82 Patton Avenue Suite 100, Asheville, NC 28801
Website: http://www.redgingerasheville.com/
Phone Number: 828-505-8688
One of our all-time favorite Asian restaurants includes Red Ginger Dimsum and Tapas, and if you are looking for dumplings or sushi in Downtown Asheville, NC, Red Ginger is where it is at.
We will stay out all day just to get our dumpling fix.
Unlike the other three Asheville sushi restaurants that we love, Red Ginger isn’t quite known for being a sushi spot nor is sushi their main cuisine or showstopper.
What makes Red Ginger unique, though, is that you can order a variety of Asian tapas, including sushi.
Find fried rice, every type of delicious dumpling, sushi rolls, Asian pancakes, bento boxes, summer rolls, and vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options.
Red Ginger staff members recommend that you order at least two to three plates per guest, and of course, it’s more fun if you share.
Even tiny plates are quite sizable, and again, we tend to happily over-order here. Get the dumplings with your sushi. Just do it.
Red Ginger offers reservations Monday through Thursday, but we’ve always walked in with no trouble.
If you are an early eater, you can easily find a seat at Red Ginger, especially during non-peak hours and on weekdays.
Since Red Ginger is located in Downtown Asheville, we recommend parking in the Coxe Ave garage or paid lots nearby.
For Asheville parking lots, you can pay via a machine or app. Always read the signs, too.
8. Soba Sushi & Noodles (Weaverville)
Address: 76 N Main St, Weaverville, NC 28787
Website: https://sobaweaverville.com/
Phone Number: (828) 484-7557
Another one of the absolute best sushi restaurants near Asheville, head to Soba Sushi & Noodles.
This Weaverville restaurant won’t disappoint for lunch or dinner. Plus, if you crave soups, ramen, and noodles, Soba features a little bit of everything.
Choose from sushi rolls, sashimi, lunch specials, and noodle dishes including Pad Thai, Teriyaki, and Lo Mein.
We highly recommend ordering Soba Sushi’s hot tea – green tea or ginger. The ginger and honey tea is super sweet and chock full of fresh shredded ginger. Your tummy will thank you.
On a gorgeous day, sit outside on Soba Sushi and Noodle’s patio. Or, enjoy the warm and plentiful indoor seating filled with windows.
Soba has its own parking lot, but there is also street parking, including a nearby free lot.
Most importantly, Soba Sushi & Noodles is a favorite local Asheville sushi spot if you are looking for something less touristy than Downtown Asheville’s Wasabi Japanese Restaurant.
Explore even more of Downtown Weaverville, including breweries and a coffee shop and dog park bar.
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9. Aloha Cafe
Address: 28 Battery Park Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
Website: https://www.facebook.com/alohacafeasheville/
Phone Number: (828) 424-7140
It’s honestly a tad hard to find information about Aloha Cafe, which is why we personally missed them after years of living in AVL.
However, we are so glad we spotted Aloha Cafe on DoorDash one day when Yum was closed. We had just returned from Scotland and had major sushi cravings (and an empty fridge – the worst!).
For sushi in Downtown Asheville, Aloha Cafe is all about fast service and poke bowls along with banh mi sandwiches.
Their website hasn’t been running for a while, but just know that you can build your own poke bowls – and see their complete menu in one of the delivery apps.
Like Yum Poke Spot, we are all about the salmon and tuna bowls with fresh fruits and veggies. If you are extra hungry, order a fresh spring roll.
While we’ve only ordered delivery from Aloha, our readers also enjoy them for dine-in.
10. Wasabi Japanese Restaurant Downtown Asheville
Address: 19 Broadway Street, Asheville, NC 28801
Website: http://wasabiasheville.com/
Phone Number: (828) 225-2551
Wasabi is our honorable mention for sushi in Asheville…
14 years in the running, Wasabi has been officially awarded the “best sushi in Asheville” for 7+ years straight by numerous publications.
We are not 100% sold on that claim. We’ve had OK sushi here – multiple times – but it’s not personally our favorite or even go-to sushi restaurant in Downtown Asheville.
However, these guys are a convenient sushi spot if you are touring Downtown Asheville and want to make a quick pit stop for food.
Sushi Updates
Hana Japanese Restaurant in Downtown Asheville permanently closed in 2022. Mehfil and Dilbar, two Indian restaurants opened in its place.
You may also wish to check out Ukiah Japanese Smokehouse, which serves raw fish along with Japanese and American BBQ fusion food.
While not fully an Asheville “sushi restaurant,” Ukiah is one of Asheville’s great date night restaurants.
You can also find poke and some sushi at Itto.
Delivery Services For These Asheville Sushi Spots
Looking for delivery options for your sushi? These are the three apps that we use the most:
North Carolina has its own takeout app and delivery service, Takeout Central. Download the free app, and you’ll see all of the areas and restaurants they serve, including Asheville. Like other food apps, place your order in the app, add a payment method, and drop any notes for the restaurant or driver.
While we don’t use DoorDash as much as Takeout Central, you’ll find a few great restaurants on them that don’t use the other food delivery apps.
Along with Takeout Central, we also use GrubHub. Sometimes they have slightly different menus – even though the restaurant is the same – or they service different establishments.
You can also use Uber Eats and Kickback AVL within Asheville.
Save These Asheville Sushi Restaurants For Later:
What are your favorite sushi restaurants in Asheville, NC?
If we had to pick our top three places for the best sushi in Asheville as locals, we’d go with Zen, Green Tea, and Yum Poke Spot.
For the best sushi near Asheville, Umi is a must.
And, if you are dining with a larger group of people who don’t all appreciate sushi, head to The Madness for more options like burgers.
Which Asheville sushi places do you love? What are your go-to rolls and orders?
Do you prefer sushi takeout, delivery, or dine-in? Let us know in the comments.
See our Top Places To Stay in Asheville.
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Delicious Thai In Asheville
Christine Frascarelli
Christine (pronouns: she/her) is the owner and lead writer of Uncorked Asheville. After falling in love with those gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains, Christine and her husband Tom decided to call Asheville, North Carolina home. When her pointy Italian nose isn’t stuck in a book, Christine is adopting all of the kitties, getting lost in the forest, and drinking an ESB. She has a BA in English and History from Smith College, her MLIS from USF-Tampa, and is a former U.S. Fulbright Scholar - Indonesia. Christine also owns The Uncorked Librarian LLC with books and movies to inspire travel.
Thank you for all the recommendations! Fun to try new places.
It really is! The best part of living in Asheville is that there always seems like new places to try. Thanks so much!
You missed the best spot in Hendersonville, try Champa on Main Street. Better sushi than Umi.
Hey Carole, Thanks so much for letting us know. Champa wasn’t on our radar, and we will definitely have to check it out ASAP.
You’re awesome! Thanks for all your great suggestions!
Thank you!
Oh man, all this sushi looks delicious! I love sushi. Whenever we travel, which isn’t often, I always make sure to search out a sushi place to try. Admittedly, we haven’t been to a ton of sushi restaurants yet, since we sometimes end up going to the same ones, but now I want to visit new restaurants even more. Honestly, one of my favorite things about sushi is the presentation of it. It always looks too good to eat and I appreciate that so much. You can see how much effort the chef puts into not only making the sushi but in setting it on the plate in a certain manner to showcase it.
Oh man, I totally cleaned up my inbox last weekend and missed all of these pending comments–I am so sorry for the late reply. Ek! I blame Marie Kondo, lol!
We are the same: we look for sushi and Pho when we travel, too.
I agree: the presentation of the sushi is always so attractive; it looks like art (and tastes like it too). I love watching the chefs prepare sushi to see the precision and care.
All your sushi pictures look so pretty! I really want to try a poke bowl now. I need to hunt for a spot in the city. There’s actually supposed to be a spot opening near where I work but I think the signs on that building have been up for almost a year. I have no idea what’s going on! Such a tease.
I also want more pho in my life! My friend introduced me to it when I was in Dallas. I generally only eat Asian cuisine when I want to be healthy. I think sushi restaurants need to get better at vegetarian sushi but I don’t blame them for not getting better at it. Vegetarian sushi probably doesn’t make sense at all to Asian people. However, I love the place by me that has combined avocado & peanuts. It might sound weird but it’s so good! Now I actually look forward to ordering sushi. In the past it was strictly to eat healthier and because I was bored by my other options in the neighborhood. When I wasn’t vegetarian, I still didn’t really delve into sushi eating. Only California rolls.
I’m sorry!!
Luckily though, I am in the minority, there are a ton of sushi lovers who will be all over this post!!! It’s a great round up of awesome sushi spots to go to in Asheville.
OMG, I feel like NYC probably has some AMAZING sushi and poke. I’m guessing that Pho is pretty big there, too, in cute and tiny little restaurants tucked away on hidden gem side streets.
You’d love the Asheville sushi restaurants. Since Asheville is such a foodie town, there are plenty of vegan and veggie options at all of these places mentioned. In Florida, though, I feel you: there weren’t a ton of veggie selections unless with you went soup or salad.
I’m pretty avocado and peanut-obsessed, too!
Thank you!
How crazy is it that I just finished making plans with my co-worker to go have poke tomorrow and then I see on your Twitter page there is a new post? It was meant to be!
Now, I admit I’m not a huge sushi fan. I like poke more than the standard sushi and like you, love the ginger sauce. However. I have to be in the mood for it. If it’s cold out, it’s the last thing I want to eat because I’m looking for warm, comfort food or dessert lol. I do enjoy it from time to time and I would totally try all these places given the opportunity.
Of course, hubby does not eat fish, but he’ll sometimes have a piece of California roll. I told him, if poke places had shaved beef, he’d totally love the combination. Guess what? We were in Kauai and this one restaurant had a beef poke bowl, he loved it.
I will never say no to dumplings. YUM. I’m totally adding Red Ginger to my list.
I cannot wait to hear about your poke bowl lunch. I always overfill mine, but I just cannot help it! What are your favorite toppings? I need to try the tofu at Poke AVL sometime–I love tofu.
Hmmm, I feel like you enjoy (or would love) Pho when it’s chilly out–that is our favorite go-to rainy and snowy weather meal out. Nothing beats a steaming bowl of noodles…or even dumplings…when you want to warm up. I’ll be working on our favorite Asheville Asian restaurants soon.
Fun husband fact: Tom had never really eaten sushi nor was he into it until he met me. Now he craves it just as much. Maybe we can get E to convert. I’m telling you, POKE BOWLS will convince EVERYONE that sushi is amazing lol!
As my go-to foodie blogger, we will have to search the Asheville foodie scene high and low when you visit one day.