Fresh, fabulous and full of flavour: there’s nothing quite like sushi. And nowhere does the traditional Japanese rice-based dish like Berlin. Germany’s cosmopolitan capital city brings together an array of food cultures at the cutting edge: small wonder, then, that innovative restaurants in Berlin make a fantastic spot for delicious sushi. From maki to nigiri, vegan cuisine to great plates with a Danish twist – there’s a lot more to this tasty dish than simply raw fish, as these incredible Berlin sushi restaurants prove.
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Tip 1: Sample succulent sushi and skewers with a Scandi twist at Sticks ’n’ Sushi
Inspired by their Japanese and Danish heritage, the founders of Sticks ’n’ Sushi hit upon a simple and stunning combination: their proudly distinctive takes on traditional sushi dishes and succulent yakitori skewers for those who fancy something a little different. Now a growing global phenomenon with outlets across Europe, they also have a handful of restaurants in Berlin, including this flagship on Potsdamer Straße – said to be Germany’s first ever sushi restaurant. Combining stripped-back Scandinavian design with the elegant style of Japanese cuisine, this restaurant truly offers the best of both worlds here in Berlin. Stop off at Sticks ’n’ Sushi for a sumptuous celebration of different cultures.
Where: Potsdamer Straße 85, Tiergarten
Tip 2: Discover an incredible blend of contemporary and traditional Japan at The Catch
The Catch is a Berlin restaurant steeped in contemporary and traditional Japanese culture. From the cosy izakaya-style setup focusing on relaxed drinks and casual dining to the wabi-sabi-infused interior inspired by the natural imperfect beauty of things, it’s an intoxicating blend of everything that makes Japanese culture so compelling. Serving carefully sourced fish and seafood in creative sushi dishes and delicious meat, fish and veggie options fired over the traditional robatayaki grill – inspired by a centuries-old fishermen’s tradition from northern Japan – the food is as distinctive as the modern surroundings, with flashes of neon, manga-inspired design and kintsugi pottery techniques. Now, where’s the catch? We can’t find one.
Where: Bleibtreustraße 41, Charlottenburg
Tip 3: Go in search of delicious Japanese-inspired cuisine at exclusive 893 Ryōtei
Looks can be deceiving: you wouldn’t know this unprepossessing spot in Charlottenburg was home to one of the coolest restaurants in Berlin. But step behind the mirrored and silver-sprayed graffitied façade and you’ll find a stunning interior that’s home to Berlin’s Japanese-inspired culinary avant-garde. The restaurant – whose name is a nod to exclusive restaurants in Japan and the nation’s gang culture – serves up delicious sushi-inspired dishes from its scene-stealing open kitchen: think sashimi taquitos and ceviche alongside classic dishes made with care. Step inside and have your mind blown.
Where: Kantstraße 135, Charlottenburg
Tip 4: Sample sushi in style in the heart of the city at KUCHI Mitte
If you’re looking for Japanese and Asian fusion flavours in the heart of the city, look no further than KUCHI. Its Mitte restaurant on Gipsstraße is a stone’s throw from some of Berlin’s liveliest shopping streets and major attractions – but you’d hardly know it from the interior: once you step inside, you’ll find yourself in the chill and sleek surroundings of one of the city’s most stylish sushi restaurants. Serving a staggering selection of intriguing twists on classic maki and nigiri dishes alongside tasty stir fries, noodle dishes and veggie options, this spot has something for everyone – along with an extra helping of KUCHI cool.
Where: Gipsstraße 3, Mitte
Tip 5: Enjoy a flavour fusion at DUDU 31: a restaurant with a difference
Step off Kurfürstendamm and take a walk on the wild side at this City West spot: a Berlin sushi restaurant that does things a little differently. Family-run DUDU 31 serves up unique and thrilling blends of culinary style and flavour inspired by its owners’ Vietnamese heritage and Japanese and Latin American culinary trends. Don’t expect too much of the tried and tested here – the team at this Bleibtreustraße spot like to experiment a little, all while staying true to classic methods and their culinary roots. Wherever they take their inspiration, all the dishes at DUDU have one thing in common: they’re definitely made with love.
Where: Bleibtreustraße 31, Wilmersdorf
Tip 6: Join the Sushi Gang for a sexy twist on a signature dish
Hip Kreuzberg is a distinct Berlin district that always does things a little differently – so it’s no surprise it’s home to one of the quirkiest sushi restaurants in Berlin. Head to Sushi Gang – the self-styled home of ‘sexy sushi’ – to sample a Japanese-inspired dining experience that’s as big on vibes as it is on flavour. This relaxed spot serves signature dishes like Argentinian red shrimp in tempura batter and flambéed Label Rouge salmon – all in cosy and kitsch floral interior complete with toe-tapping funky house on the stereo. Proudly plastic-free with a focus on homemade flavour, this place is all about Asian-style cuisine done the Kreuzberg way. Enjoy a Berlin sushi feast, kick back with house cocktails or a glass of wine after dinner – and join the Gang.
Where: Graefestraße 8, Kreuzberg
Tip 7: Enjoy a warm welcome at sushi specialist Lovely Sushi
Lovely by name, lovely by nature: this down-to-earth spot in Lichtenberg is all about great sushi and the art of hospitality. The team at Lovely Sushi are dedicated to making you feel at home – and putting their own twists on the traditional Japanese rice-based dish. Here, in the leafy surroundings of Fennpfuhlpark, you can sample extraordinary sushi dishes that stray a little from the beaten track. This restaurant knows what it does best and sticks to it: simply sushi, with sensational service – simply lovely.
Where: Anton-Saefkow-Platz 4, Lichtenberg
Tip 8: Sample style and simplicity at Sasaya
Nestled in the charming Helmholtzkiez neighbourhood, this Prenzlauer Berg restaurant is all about keeping it simple. The small plates and sushi dishes served up at Sasaya are designed to showcase their fresh ingredients. Enjoy subtle and wonderful depth of flavour with a selection of dishes in intimate and relaxed surroundings where the focus is on great food and great company. Take it back to basics in style at one of the finest Japanese restaurants in Berlin. Simply stunning.
Where: Lychener Straße 50, Prenzlauer Berg
Tip 9: Spotlight a hidden gem of the Berlin sushi scene at San
Tucked away in the heart of bustling Mitte, this small and casual sushi spot just around the corner from the Volksbühne theatre at Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz puts quality Japanese food centre stage. From the minimalist aesthetic to the authentic flavours served up by the knowledgeable team, San’s subtle sparkle marks it out as a hidden gem among the array of dazzling Japanese restaurants in Berlin. Slip down Weydingerstraße and sample a sushi feast to savour.
Where: Weydingerstraße 22, Mitte
Tip 10: Taste delicious Asian-inspired small plates at local institution Ha An
This restaurant in leafy Prenzlauer Berg has become a local institution since opening on lively and lovely Kastanienallee over a decade ago. The Ha An team welcome a mix of regulars and visitors to their simple and stylish restaurant for a selection of delicious sushi and other delightful dishes fusing Asian-inspired flavours with European influences from its surroundings. Start with a sushi set menu to sample all the classics, from classic maki rolls to nigiri, or stray away from the traditional and sample some of Ha An’s tasty ramen bowls or fusion tapas plates for a little something different. After all, variety is the spice of life.
Where: Kastanienallee 18, Prenzlauer Berg
Tip 11: Sample Berlin sushi vegan-style, straight from the Secret Garden
Trendy Friedrichshain always finds itself on the culinary front line, so it’s no surprise this über-hip district is home to a Berlin sushi pioneer. Step into the Secret Garden for sushi delights made the natural way. It’s all about eating ethically and feeling good at this cosy spot on Warschauer Straße, where the leafy and tranquil surroundings and magnificent presentation (featuring the odd spot of atmospheric dry ice) are infused with the spirit of Kyoto’s magical Old Town. Head to this Friedrichshain restaurant for an alternative taste of Japanese culture.
Where: Warschauer Straße 33, Friedrichshain
