Emma WhiteGrowing up, I remember being unamused by sushi when my family would visit Japanese restaurants around Nepean. Let’s just say that I was scared to touch any sushi roll after my brother let me taste one with far too much wasabi for a five-year-old at that time.
It wasn’t until my adulthood that my brain and taste buds shifted around this dish, and became one of my favourite comfort foods of all time. Fortunately, Nepean has tons of sushi spots that offer authentic Japanese flavours, which brings me to this list!
Also, with Nepean being neighbours with Ottawa, there are tons of sushi spots to discover that are just a short drive away, and I’m here to share my favourites! Let’s get started!
Shinka Sushi Bar
– Media credit: shinkasushibar
Address: 2900 Sheffield Rd
Contact details: +1613-565-8998
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Thursday: 12:00 AM to 9:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday: 12:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Cost: $$
When it comes to variety, Shinka Sushi Bar is one of the top choices in the Nepean area. For starters, they offer over 20 variations of maki rolls, with some of our favourites being the spicy yellow tail and, of course, the classic California.
Furthermore, they offer an impressive selection of sashimi, which is as fresh as it comes. You can opt for the classic red tuna or indulge in their umami-rich torched salmon belly aburi, which boasts a buttery flavour and a melt-in-your-mouth texture.
You can also enjoy their vegetable-based rolls, which feature fillings such as sweet potato, avocado, and cucumber. However, you can’t leave without trying their chikara, which is a specialty roll consisting of sweet snow crab meat.
| Pro tip: If you want the best value for your money, we recommend ordering their bento boxes along with your sushi rolls! These come with gyoza, salad, miso soup, and fried chicken cutlets. |
Festival Japan
– Media credit: festivaljapanrestaurant
Address: 149 Kent St.
Contact details: +1 613-234-1224
Operating hours:
- Tuesday to Friday: 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Saturday: 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Cost: $$
Festival Japan is also a fantastic option if you just can’t seem to make up your mind about which type of sushi to get. It offers a wide variety of maki, sashimi, nigiri, and even vegetarian-friendly variations!
One of our favourite things about this place is how they present the dishes, whether it be the salmon sashimi or their vibrant maki rolls. They offer a great contrast to the overall simplistic yet Japanese-inspired interior of the restaurant.
The flavours are spectacular as well, with the Philadelphia maki roll being one of the standouts, due to its striking flavour combination of smoked salmon and cream cheese. Meanwhile, if you want to taste the freshest delicacies from the sea, we recommend the assorted sashimi set.
| Pro tip: If you’re visiting with your family, friends, or any group, we recommend getting the salmon tray. It offers a wide variety of salmon rolls, sashimi, and even pizza—perfect for sharing! |
TOMO Restaurant
– Media credit: tomo.restaurant
Address: 109 Clarence St.
Contact details: +1 613-241-0990
Operating hours: Daily from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Cost: $
TOMO Restaurant is one of those places you can visit simply for the vibes and snapping Instaworthy pics. The interior takes some inspiration from Japanese culture, like with the hanging ropes, made to capture the feeling of a traditional boathouse.
However, it’s more than just a looker, as it offers some of the most sophisticated Japanese food selections in the city, thanks to its chef-driven menu. A perfect example is the scallop truffle, an elevated sushi roll featuring torched scallops, creamy avocado, and tiger prawns.
They also offer sashimi and nigiri, ranging from fresh slices of fish, from tuna to salmon, and even scallops! The chef’s choice sashimi set is our personal favourite because it features 12 pieces of curated seafood, including unagi, which boasts a savoury-sweet flavour.
| Pro tip: We also recommend their A5 Wagyu Tataki if you’re looking to combine the best source of protein from both land and sea. Plus, it features a delicious yuzu sauce that perfectly blends with the savoury, melt-in-your-mouth Wagyu. |
Sushi Kan
– Media credit: whatstheplanottawa_
Address: 1280 Baseline Rd.
Contact details: +1 613-221-9545
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Thursday: 11:30 AM to 9:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday: 11:30 AM to 9:30 PM
Cost: $$$
If you’ve been craving sushi for a while, then Sushi Kan should be at the top of your choices, as it offers a fantastic all-you-can-eat deal! The selection can be overwhelming, but lucky for you, there aren’t any misses here.
However, there are some standouts that you shouldn’t leave without trying, like the spicy crab and BBQ eel sushi. They also offer signature rolls, among which is the famous dynamite, which bursts in your mouth with its combination of cucumber, shrimp, and spicy sauce.
Their sushi barely scratches the surface of what they have to offer as well, as they offer other dishes like udon noodles, chicken, beef bulgogi, and more. Furthermore, you can wash the fishy flavours after your meal with an order of their decadent chocolate mousse!
| Pro tip: Check out their bento boxes if you don’t want to opt for their all-you-can-eat sushi! They’re cheaper and don’t skimp out on inclusions, from sushi rolls to tempura, unagi, General Tao’s chicken, etc. |
Mandarin Restaurant
– Media credit: themandarinrestaurants
Address: 290 W Hunt Club Rd
Contact details: +1 613-228-2200
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Friday: 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Saturday and Sunday: 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, 4:30 PM to 9:00 PM
Cost: $$$
Don’t be fooled by its name! Mandarin Restaurant has a widely varied buffet spread that doesn’t just cover Chinese cuisine. It’s actually one of the best places to eat in Nepean because it offers steaks, pizza, and, of course, sushi rolls—you’ll feel like a kid in a candy store!
One of their best offerings is the vegetable roll, which is packed with broccoli and carrots. Plus, their rolls feature the right rice-to-filling ratio, in our opinion, with the former being thinner than the latter.
While you’re here, we recommend treating yourself to a feast around the world. For instance, you can get the most authentic Chinese spring roll, Japanese soba noodles (perfect for pairing with sushi rolls), and a slice of pizza in one sitting!
| Pro tip: Visit this restaurant during weekdays to enjoy cheaper rates! Also, consider coming here if you have kids who are four years old or younger because they get to eat for free! |
Hockey Sushi Nepean
– Media credit: hungry_biologists
Address: 1465 Merivale Rd.
Contact details: +1 613-421-2221
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Thursday: 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday: 11:00 AM to 9:30 PM
Cost: $$
Hockey Sushi Nepean is another all-you-can-eat sushi spot that you must not miss during your food crawl here in Ottawa. It doesn’t offer much in terms of interior decor, but they do have a cool robot assistant that serves you sushi!
Speaking of sushi, their flavours, mouth feel, and overall presentation are on point—impressive considering they’re made in bulk. One roll that perfectly captures this is the surf clam sushi, which looks like it’s been ripped straight out of a cookbook—a picture-perfect treat that spoils the tastebuds!
You can also treat yourself to an authentic teppanyaki to contrast with the overall raw preparation of sushi rolls. You can enjoy beef ribs, salmon, vegetables, and chicken grilled to perfection, achieving that perfect char texture and smoky flavour.
| Pro tip: After feasting on countless sushi rolls (no judgment here), you can cross the street to Gilbey Park to enjoy a relaxing stroll and burn those calories at the same time. |
Sapporo Sushi Ottawa
– Media credit: sapporosushi.ottawa
Address: 1671 Carling Ave.
Contact details: +1 613-729-6018
Operating hours: Daily from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Cost: $$
Eating at Sapporo Sushi Ottawa is always a treat because the interior is a feast for the eyes that also pays tribute to Japanese culture. For instance, you’ll find displays of katanas throughout the restaurant while the bar features a wide variety of Japanese spirits.
Of course, it also helps that they offer authentic-tasting sushi, all of which is presented beautifully as well. They offer the staples like California, hamachi, spicy tuna, and spicy salmon roll, but if you want our advice, go for their rainbow rolls.
As you may have gleaned from its name, this California roll is layered with different types of fish, creating a vibrant-coloured and tasting sushi. If you’re off meat, however, you can opt for their avocado, cucumber, or sweet potato roll.
| Pro tip: Stop by this restaurant from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM so that you can pair your sushi rolls with one of their lunch specials. This way, you can make your meal even heartier by adding dishes like chicken teriyaki and fish katsu. |
Sushi Sama
– Media credit: eatwithsjs
Address: 250 Greenbank Rd Unit 4B
Contact details: +1 613-298-9981
Operating hours:
- Monday to Saturday: 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
- Sunday: 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Cost: $$
If you’re looking to try more than one type of sushi during your feast, Sushi Sama should be on your radar! Aside from the usual California rolls, they also offer tartare makis, which use rice paper instead of nori, and always feature avocado and tempura.
They also offer ichiban makis, which are these transparent spring rolls that are packed with various ingredients—think sushi rolls, but bigger! One of the best variations of this is the salmon because of its natural saltiness, which blends perfectly with the sliced cucumbers and rice.
If you’d much rather eat sushi in its deconstructed form, you can also try their poke bowls! You can choose from chicken katsu, salmon, crab and shrimp, tuna, etc., but regardless, it’ll come with a hearty serving of mixed veggies and diced mangoes.
| Pro tip: Don’t miss out on their sweet potato fries to start your meal! They can add a hint of caramelised sweetness to your meal, which is missing from the sushi rolls. |
168 Sushi Japanese Buffet
– Media credit: inmyhungrybelly
Address: 1651 Merivale Rd.
Contact details: +1 613-228-0168
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Thursday: 11:00 AM to 9:30 PM
- Friday and Saturday: 11:00 AM to 10:30 PM
Cost: $
Unlimited sushi has never looked better than at 168 Sushi Japanese Buffet. Seeing their jaw-dropping selection of colourful rolls displayed will make you drool, from the freshly sliced sashimi to the expertly rolled makis.
Their mango and crab are the ones that usually run out, and we can’t blame anyone! The freshness of both the fruit and the crustacean makes the dish a thousand times better—plus, the rice is perfectly cooked and not too sticky.
The overall classy vibe of the place also elevates the overall dining experience. With that said, consider coming here if you’re celebrating something special or you simply want to indulge in endless Japanese food while admiring beautiful interiors!
| Pro tip: You can also order their sushi to-go if you want to impress everyone at a function! The restaurant offers a set (boat) that features 20 to 106 sushi rolls. |
