sushi sample

Back in July, 2009 I blogged about my favorite sushi restaurants in Tucson (click here). When we first got to the Old Pueblo in 1987, there were only a handful of Japanese restaurants, but later they started sprouting up all over town and sushi became very popular.

Here’s a comprehensive (more or less) list of the thirty and more Japanese restaurants in town, some with or without sushi bars. I once had the lofty (and expensive) goal of eating at every one, but I’m so far behind now as I haven’t been to about 1/3 of these new ones listed below:

Benihana, 6091 N. Oracle Rd., 297-5555 (update: closed March, 2010)

Fuku Sushi, 940 E. University Blvd, 798-3848

Fusion Wasabi, 250 S. Craycroft, #100, 747-0228

Ginza Sushi & Izakaya, 5425 N. Kolb Rd. #115, 529-8877

Hibachi-san, 4500 N. Oracle, 407-8296 (Tucson Mall)

Ichiban, 64 N. Harrison Rd., 393-7777

Ikkyu, 2040 W. Orange Grove, 297-9011

Kampai, 4689 E. Speedway Blvd, 325-6552 (now called Bushi as of March, 2011)

Kampai North, 6486 N. Oracle, 219-6550

Kazoku, 4210 E. Speedway, 777-6249

Kyo, 9040 E. Valencia Rd., 663 – 3717

Oishi Sushi, 7002 E. Golf Links Rd., 790-9439

On a Roll, 63 E. Congress St., 622-7655

RA Sushi , 2905 E. Skyline Dr, 615-3970

Sachiko, 1101 N. Wilmot Rd. #109, 886-7000

Sachiko Sushi, 3210 E. Valencia, 741-1000

Saga, 2955 E. Speedway Blvd, 320 – 0535

Sakura, 6534 E. Tanque Verde Rd., 298 – 7777

Samurai, 3912 N. Oracle Rd., 293-1963

Sarku Japan, 5870 E. Broadway, #556, 790-0818 (Park Place)

Shogun, 5036 N. Oracle, 888-6646

Sushi Cho, 1830 E. Broadway, 628-8800

Sushi Garden, 15 North Alvernon Way, 326-4700 (moving to Broadway/Country Club)

Sushi Garden North, 7401 N. La Cholla, 877-8744 (Foothills Mall)

Sushi Hama, 3971 N. Oracle Rd. 888-6763

Sushi King, 1800 E. Ft. Lowell, 321-4000

Sushi on Oracle, 6449 N. Oracle Rd., 297-3615

Sushi Ten, 4500 E. Speedway, 324-0010

Sushi Tran, 9725 N. Thornydale, 579-6604

Sushi Yukari, 5655 E. River Rd. #151, 232-1393

Takamatsu, 5525 E. Speedway, 512-0800 – closed August 2010, renovating

Tatsu Sushi, 7332 N. Oracle, 219-6989

Yamato, 857 E. Grant Rd., 624-3377

Yoshimatsu/Sushimatsu, 2660 N. Campbell, 320-1574

Yuki’s, 2962 N. Campbell, 326-7727

Blogger “Tucson Metromix” ran an online poll in January, and Sushimatsu won as best sushi restaurant in town. Its companion restaurant Yoshimatsu also won the 9/24/09 Tucson Weekly’s Best of Tucson category for Japanese restaurant. So eating there you can get two great deals.

I know this list probably isn’t complete, so readers, please let me know of other restaurants I may have missed or if you agree with the polls above. I also didn’t list the fast food places like Yokohama’s many Asian Express rice bowl outlets, and Tokyo Rice Bowl on Campbell and Glenn (because they’re more Chinese than Japanese).

And also keep in mind that some of these restaurants combine other Asian food with Japanese food on the menu, such as Korean bbq at Takamatsu, which isn’t quite authentic.

But I bet you can find a tasty Japanese restaurant somewhere near you from this long selection. And if you like the upscale look, check out Fusion Wasabi and/or RA.

Itadakimasu.

I have found sushi in supermarkets in Europe, and as far away as Australia and New Zealand. It is sold in deli sections in Safeway and Whole Foods in Tucson. The plethora of sushi bars and Japanese restaurants in Tucson can also attest to the popularity of this food. Even some of my Hispanic friends will suggest eating sushi for dinner over Mexican food.

My favorite Hawaiian-style sushi and ramen noodles are served at Samurai on 3912 N. Oracle, which is fast food style. And then there’s my favorite Japanese-style healthy restaurant, Yoshimatsu at 2660 N. Campbell, which even has a cute gift shop and a side bistro, Sushimatsu.

Try both these restaurants and let me know about your experiences. There are now so many Japanese sushi restaurants in Tucson that I haven’t tried them all, so feel free to send in your alternate recommendations to me.

My dream would be to have an expense account with this online newspaper, to try them all! I have yet to eat at the new Ginza Sushi and Izakaya up near Kolb and Sunrise, or at the upscale Ra at La Encantada.

For the sushi lovering community, put your hands together before you eat, and say “itadakimasu” (thanks for this meal.)