Are you looking for some of the best sushi in Asheville, NC? Check out our favorite Asheville sushi restaurants plus a few sushi spots on our foodie bucket list. Warning: this post will make you hungry.
Disclosure: This site may contain affiliate links for products and services I recommend. If you make a purchase through these links, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission. Read my full disclosure for more information.
Do you have a favorite meal in the entire world? One that you could eat over and over again? I definitely do. Sushi, dim sum, poke bowls, and Pho are probably Asian dishes that I could eat every single day. Don’t tell my *very* Italian family…
In fact, we love these dishes so much that even when we are traveling to Paris, Palermo, Reykjavik, Dublin, and Jakarta, I have to find the best sushi and Pho restaurants. How faux pas is that for ya?!
And you can bet that when we first visited Asheville, there was no way in heck I was moving here unless I loved their Asian and sushi spots. Of course, this is yuppie foodie heaven, and the city did not disappoint. You know how this story ends: we live here now.
While I wish that I could tell you that I’ve been to all of Asheville’s sushi restaurants, that would be a lie. We have our favorites–sorry, not sorry–and we don’t always branch out when we have a case of the sushhhh cravings.
However, I promise to share four of the best sushi restaurants in downtown as well as around Asheville and a few that we hope to visit soon…just for you…yeaaa, that’s it… Research… I vow to eat more sushi for you. Talk about the ultimate sacrifice!
If you are looking for sushi in Asheville, these are my top recommendations, and I will update as we continue to eat all of the sushi.
Looking For Sushi In Asheville? Here’s Our Top 4 Sushi Restaurants
Before heading to any of Asheville’s sushi restaurants, please remember to check websites for hours and the most up-to-date information. While I try to update Uncorked Asheville frequently, hours and menus are subject to change.
Yum Sushi Burrito & Poke
Honestly, I always love to look for the best of both worlds. I FREAKING LOVE SUSHI and TACOS in case I wasn’t clear about that earlier. So what could be better than meshing my loves together?
Yum is best-known for build-your-own sushi burritos and poke bowls. What is a poké (besides the best food on earth?!). Poké is Hawaiian and includes raw, sometimes marinated fish mixed with rice and a handful of healthy toppings. I’m not going to lie: I love to dump globs of ginger sauce on mine.
At Yum, you can build a little or giant bowl to eat there or to-go filled with proteins like tuna or salmon. They have tofu too.
Then, dump a boatload of toppings on your white or brown rice or salad. My favorite mix-ins: carrots, mango, roe, cucumber, avocado, seaweed salad, and scallion. I always tend to go overboard.
You can easily find vegan, gluten-free, and lactose-free options, too.
I literally crave these bowls after a hard day’s work. Because Yum is a downtown Asheville sushi restaurant, look for street parking or use one of their free spots in the parking lot across the street.
Yum Sushi has multiple locations across North and South Carolina and Tennessee with different menus–one including ice cream.
We frequent Yum Sushi on 45 Asheland Ave. Unit 101, Asheville, NC 28801.
You can order online and double check their store hours here.
Hours: Monday-Sunday 11am – 9pm.
Phone Number: 828-505-2277
You cannot go wrong with any of the delicious rolls at Zen. In the spring through fall, you can sit outside.
Zen Sushi Asheville
Don’t stalk me out, please, but we practically live at Zen Sushi in North Asheville. The Hop Ice Cream Cafe–that serves vegan ice cream–is located right below them, which makes this Asheville sushi restaurant a no brainer and win-win.
Zen Sushi is a little…kitsch…inside. Usually, you can find family members sitting up front making paper book designs or doing homework. WHICH I ACTUALLY LOVE. The staff are so friendly and fun here.
If you are looking for a fast lunch special, Zen Sushi has a great little two or three-roll menu with soup and salad.
For dinner, we love their wide array of specialty sushi rolls. 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, wine, and sake!
My husband, who has Celiacs can also find gluten-free options.
While Zen offers reservations via phone, we have never needed them. Yes, they get a little busy, but we haven’t had a wait yet. Did I just jinx us?!
What We Love To Order At Zen Sushi:
One of my favorite lunches here is the Zen Sashimi Lunch with tuna, yellowtail, salmon, and whitefish served with a steaming bowl of rice. For dinner, I just droll for the New Horizons Roll with yellowtail, tuna, salmon, and asparagus.
Did I mention that their prices are super cheap, too? Don’t forget to save room for the ice cream. OH, AND, Asheville Pizza and Brewing (the Merrimon taproom with the MOVIE THEATER) is also nearby.
Zen Sushi Asheville is located at 640 Merrimon Ave, Asheville, NC 28804.
You can order online and double check Zen Sushi’s hours here.
Mon. – Thur.: 11:00am – 3:15pm; 4:30pm – 10:00pm
Fri. & Sat.: 11:00am – 3:15pm; 4:30pm – 10:30pm
Sunday: 11:30am – 3:15pm; 4:30pm – 10:00pm
Phone Number: (828) 225-6033
Mr. Sushi Asheville – North
Are you questioning my 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? WRONG.
There are multiple locations for Mr. Sushi in Asheville, and we couldn’t wait for the Merrimon Ave. one to open. Full disclosure: while downtown Asheville is where it’s at, North Asheville is my jam: fewer tourists, more locals, free parking, and just overall hidden gems.
Mr. Sushi has a menu that I don’t even know what to do with. It’s SO HUGE and delicious. Am I the only one who judges a sushi restaurant by their yellowtail? I have no idea why this is.
We over order at Mr. Sushi, which is hard to avoid. I love their rice paper summer/spring rolls, poke bowls, and specialty rolls. I cannot even begin to pick what’s the best.
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. They have their own parking lot in the back.
Mr. Sushi North is located at 354 Merrimon Avenue Suite 50, Asheville, NC 28801. You can check them out online here.
Mon. – Fri.: 11am – 9pm
Saturday: 12pm – 9pm
Sunday: 12pm – 8pm
Phone Number: 828-505-0871
Red Ginger Dimsum & Tapas
One of my all-time favorite Asian restaurants is Red Ginger Dimsum and Tapas. If you are looking for dumplings or sushi in downtown Asheville, NC, Red Ginger is where it is at. I will stay out all day just to get my dumpling fix.
Unlike the other three 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 recommend that you order at least two to three plates per guest, and of course, it’s more fun if you share.
We took my parents when they visited from CT and went to town!
Even tiny plates are quite sizable, and again, I love to over order. GET THE DUMPLINGS with your sushi. Just do it.
Red Ginger is starting to offer 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 at non-peak hours and weekdays.
Downtown Asheville Parking Tip
Since Red Ginger is located in downtown Asheville, I recommend parking in the Coxe Ave garage or paid lots nearby. For Asheville parking lots, you can pay via machine or app. Always read the signs, too. No parking tickets for you…
While you gorging on sushi in downtown Asheville, Thirsty Monk is next door. You can check out Thirsty Monk’s Belgian beer basement or head to Top of the Monk for a rooftop bar and speakeasy cocktails.
Red Ginger Dimsum and Tapas is located at 82 Patton Avenue Suite 100, Asheville, NC 28801. Be sure to check out their menu and hours here.
Mon.-Thurs. 11:30am – 3pm; 5pm – 9:30pm; Fridays until 10:30pm
Saturdays 11:30am – 10:30pm
Sundays 11:30am – 9:30pm
Phone Number: 828-505-8688
Our Asheville Sushi Restaurant Bucket List
Although we go out a ton in Asheville and eat everything, we still have quite a few sushi restaurants to scope out. While the above are consistently our favorite sushi foodie go-to’s, these are the 3 other sushi spots throughout Asheville that are on our local “bucket list” As we head to them, I’ll update each with the insider deets:
3 More Asheville Sushi Restaurants To Try:
Wasabi Japanese Restaurant Downtown Asheville – We drive by these guys heading home from downtown frequently, and how we haven’t stopped is beyond me. 14 years in the running, Wasabi has been officially voted the best sushi in Asheville for 7 years straight, which is why I wanted to showcase our bucket list (to be fair). 19 Broadway Street, Asheville, NC 28801
Green Tea Sushi Asheville – Green Tea Sushi boasts of being one of the best sushi restaurants in Western North Carolina. I’ve only read stellar reviews, and after Wasabi, they are next on my sushi-craving bucket list. 2 Regent Park Blvd, Asheville, NC 28806
Hana Japanese Hibachi & Sushi Bar – Hana is another downtown Asheville sushi restaurant that I’ve been eyeing for a while. Plus, any establishment that starts their dinner menu with booze is OK with me. 5B Biltmore Avenue Asheville, North Carolina 28801
Are You Ready For Some Sushi In Asheville, NC?
What sushi restaurants have you tried in Asheville? Do you have a favorite? Are there any that you don’t love as much?
As a newer site, we look forward to sharing more and more Asheville restaurants with you.
One Last Local Sushi Insider Tip:
P.S. If you are headed to Hendersonville, one of our favorite sushi restaurants is also out that way, Umi. When we were house hunting one weekend, we ate there every night to de-stress.
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.
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!
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.