On International Sushi Day this week, the article surveys Israel’s standout sushi restaurants, arguing that sushi here has evolved from an exotic novelty into a serious culinary language. The list focuses mainly on Tel Aviv but also includes top spots in Herzliya, Jerusalem, Haifa, Petah Tikva and Beersheba.
Among the leading Tel Aviv names are Assa on Ahad Ha’am Street, with a striking Japanese grill and a secret doorway to an izakaya bar; Dinings at the Norman Hotel, which has reopened in recent months with a new chef; Wat Sang, praised as a neighborhood sushi place with a strong reputation; and Menten, an easygoing spot on Nahalat Binyamin that is open continuously from noon. Also singled out are Gaijin, described by some as the city’s best Japanese restaurant; Silas by chef Or Ginsburg, known for creative sushi and careful fish sourcing; Onami, a 1990s-era institution now run with chef Roy Sofer; a, chef Yuval Ben Neriah’s high-budget Japanese world; and TYO in Neve Tzedek, where bar and restaurant energy meet around sushi made by master chef Yama San.
The article also highlights the Kiso group’s three locations, Kiso in Kiryat Ono, Puo Sushi in Tel Aviv, and Nishi in Netanya, saying they share generous, high-quality sushi and a lively atmosphere. Other notable places include Kyoto in Herzliya, a long-running favorite with strong loyalty; Minato in Herzliya, a kosher minimalist restaurant with excellent toro tuna tartare and vegetarian options; Super HaMizrach in Jerusalem, entered through a hidden door inside a grocery store; Kimiko in Haifa, which avoids teriyaki and rolls and emphasizes rare and local fish; Nini Cho in Petah Tikva, the second branch of the kosher Nini Hachi, with a special preparation station for pregnant diners; and Misomaru in Beersheba, a once-small boutique sushi bar that became a celebrated local destination.
