Peoria’s reliable, 12-year-old sushi spot incorporates an eclectic roster of flavors and ingredients, including pico de gallo, marinated onion, chicken tempura, and shiso ranch. Happy hour lands from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

The flagship location of this upscale Japanese chain is one one of the few places in the Phoenix area with real wasabi instead of green-tinted horseradish. Try the hamachi serrano chile roll, which balances the subtle bite of serrano peppers with fresh yellowtail. 

Locals know this affordable spot in Scottsdale for its quality sushi at good prices. Take, for example, the $5 sushi roll menu, which includes chunky spicy tuna, crunchy onion, white tuna tataki, and more: Just two or three rolls satisfies most diners.

As much a cocktail bar as a sushi bar, Clever Koi’s sister spot serves it all in a sexy, modern space. It’s a favorite for date night, and hours stretch until midnight on the weekends.

People who say there’s no good sushi in Phoenix have never had Mexican sushi at Sushi Sonora. Its hallmarks are deep-fried rolls and ingredients that strut far away from the usual: Gooey yellow cheese, carne asada, and more all find their way into sushi rolls. The family-owned spot has multiple locations, and it’s open until midnight on the weekends.

In downtown Phoenix’s Cityscape area, Trapper’s hits the spot pre- or post-game. It’s all-you-can-eat sushi menus are pretty hard to beat any time though. In fact, the stuff-your-face-silly offering has a menu so vast that it would be hard to hit all the items in one sitting.

Despite debuting during the pandemic, this Latin-Japanese sushi restaurant is a favorite for casual dinner or a night out. Embracing its location in the Warehouse District, the interior features all the design elements common to industrial spaces (soaring ceilings, exposed brick, and cement floors), providing a perfect, simple backdrop to the colorful bites coming out of the kitchen, like tuna poke spooned into a tiny cone bedazzled with black and white sesame seeds; perfectly cooked and seasoned rice; and twists on papas fritas. Happy hour, which runs Tuesday through Saturday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., is the real treat, with half off the entire menu .

This minimalist sushi restaurant in Chandler is detail-oriented when it comes to sushi — with precise cuts, hard-to-find fish, and plates that are edited into a perfect presentation — each element playing an essential role. Be sure to take a peek at the specials board, which often features sought-after treats like monk fish liver. Meanwhile, one-time special Ozaki beef is now a permanent fixture on the menu. It’s served on a hot stone next to a side of house-made wagyu fat yuzu butter.