From pristine nigiri and thoughtful chef selections to lively all you can eat spreads and wallet friendly happy hours, Lincoln offers sushi experiences for a polished date night or an easy catch up with friends. Whether you want a quiet counter, a broad menu for mixed tastes, or a smart splurge when freshness matters, you will find a satisfying plate without the fuss.
Let’s get to it.
Shokunin Sushi and Japanese Cuisine
The fish tells the story here. At Shokunin in the Haymarket, nigiri and sashimi arrive with clean precision. Well-seasoned rice, careful cuts, confident sourcing.
Sushi bar seats offer a close view, and a chef’s choice request often adds a gentle element of surprise. Not a formal omakase, just a thoughtful progression that moves from light to richer bites without showiness.
Bringing a mixed crowd? The broader Japanese menu keeps peace, with ramen, udon, katsu, tempura, donburi, plus several vegetarian rolls. Non-raw diners feel looked after, while purists are not shortchanged, which makes the place an easy recommendation.
Prices sit in the moderate to upper range, a smart splurge when quality matters. Service is attentive without fuss, and the room reads cozy, a touch upscale. Sake, plum wine, and a few cocktails round it out. Reservations, takeout, and delivery are available, and it is widely considered among Lincoln’s best. It fits date night as easily as a calm catch-up with friends.
Grey Whale Sushi & Grill
Downtown at Grey Whale, the wallet stays calm while the cuts stay clean. Value might draw you in, yet the fish earns the return visit with even, confident knife work.
They advertise overnight coastal shipments and break down whole tuna, which pays off in bright, lean-tasting nigiri and sashimi. If you like watching the action, the sushi bar is an easy perch. The dining room in the Grand Manse feels casual rather than fussy.
A chef-driven menu keeps things creative without tipping into gimmickry. The Grey Whale roll, the monster-sized baked or torched creations, and occasional black rice specials scratch that itch, while classic salmon, tuna, and yellowtail are handled with restraint.
Mixed group in tow? Bento boxes, yakisoba, fried rice, and vegetable maki help those avoiding raw fish, and there is a full bar with sake and cocktails.
Pricing hits the casual to mid range, and lunch deals and weekday happy hours sweeten it, with some late-night and all-day specials sprinkled in. Service can swing from brisk to unhurried when it is busy, so plan a little grace. Walk-ins are common, reservations are accepted, and takeout or delivery is straightforward.
Asian Fusion
An all-you-can-eat sushi menu that respects your palate is rare. Asian Fusion pulls it off with made-to-order rolls that arrive fresh, not piled on a tray.
Pricing is straightforward, with lunch and dinner tiers posted online, so planning is easy. Settle in with table service while the chefs work in clear view, which builds confidence in what is coming. It feels casual, yet organized, and that balance suits mixed groups.
Start with a Rainbow or Momoya Spicy Tuna roll, then branch to the Manhattan or a Lobster Roll if you want something richer. Classic California and spicy tuna are there too, plus tempura and a sashimi appetizer for a cleaner bite. Beyond sushi, the pan-Asian menu runs wide, from teriyaki to noodle bowls, and there are vegetarian options. Reservations are accepted, a help when you are wrangling a larger party.
This is value without settling, ideal for families, friends with varied tastes, or anyone who prefers variety over ceremony. The bar pours cocktails and offers sake, though it is not a connoisseur’s list. Carryout and delivery round it out when you want sushi night at home.
Asian Taste Thai Restaurant
Two cravings, one table. Asian Taste Thai solves Lincoln’s sushi versus Thai standoff with friendly prices and zero fuss.
The sushi side is roll forward, with familiar maki and a few playful specialty options. Portions are fair, flavors stay approachable, and the menu keeps it casual rather than purist.
Where it stretches is variety. Thai curries, pad thai, fried rice, and noodle stir-fries share space with the rolls, and there are easy vegetarian and vegan routes. That range is the draw, especially for groups.
Budget watchers, take note. Most plates land in the 10 to 20 dollar range, so pairing a couple of rolls with a comforting curry feels doable without a special occasion.
Set in the South Salt Creek area, the space is modest with standard table service, and there is no towering sushi bar stealing the show. Pickup and delivery run smoothly, which makes it a sensible choice for mixed groups, quick lunches, or family nights. No omakase here and no elaborate sake list, just reliable rolls alongside Thai comfort.
Kasumi (All You Can Eat Sushi)
All-you-can-eat can feel like a gamble, at Kasumi it plays like a guided tasting without the pomp. You order as you go, so everything lands at the table fresh instead of languishing on a buffet. The value shines when you want to sample widely, especially across their parade of fusion rolls.
Specialty rolls take center stage, with plenty of tempura crunch and saucy finishes. If you prefer it clean and classic, there is straightforward nigiri and sashimi too, usually the familiar lineup of tuna, salmon, yellowtail, and friends. The kitchen talks up premium seafood and seasonal touches, which show best in the simpler bites.
It is easy to bring a mixed group. Non-raw eaters can stick to soups, appetizers, and cooked plates, while vegetarians get dedicated rolls and the usual miso and seaweed salad. Kids often see a discount, and grownups can linger over sake, beer, or a cocktail. Bubble tea promos pop up now and then.
A few practical notes help. Uneaten pieces may be charged, larger parties often see automatic gratuity, and reservations are smart for groups. There is counter seating at the sushi bar, a separate bar area, and a patio when the weather cooperates. Not omakase, just approachable variety at a fair midrange price.
Ginger
Two moods, one stop. Ginger pairs a busy sushi bar with a Mongolian grill, which makes it an easy choice in south Lincoln when your table can’t agree on raw versus cooked. The vibe toggles from family-friendly to date-night polished, thanks to a loungey side with cocktails.
On the fish front, the menu leans generous. Fusion rolls like Sweet Fire, Crunchy Spicy Tuna, Hawaii, Peacock, and the local-leaning Nebraska roll arrive with tidy presentation, while nigiri and sashimi get strong marks for freshness. Poke bowls and smoked salmon show up often in guest raves.
Value is part of the draw. Happy hour runs on multiple days, with early slots, a late-night reverse option, and widely reported all-day Sunday deals on sushi and drinks. Prices sit in the midrange, and the full bar handles sake, wine, and brighter cocktails that play well with heat.
Practicalities are kind here. There’s dedicated sushi-bar seating, regular tables, and a lounge. Reservations help during peak times, as service can slow when it’s packed. Vegetarians and non-sushi eaters are covered, and online ordering makes takeout straightforward. If your group needs range without sacrificing quality, this checks the box.
Perfect Diner
Craving sushi while the rest of the table wants lo mein and hot pot? Perfect Diner in north Lincoln makes that compromise feel easy, even a little festive, with a roomy dining room, a long bar, and a tucked-away karaoke room.
Expect a full sushi lineup that leans roll heavy. The namesake Perfect Diner roll and other fusion creations share space with Naruto-style cucumber rolls, alongside the expected nigiri and sashimi. There is a sushi prep area at the bar if you like a front-row seat.
Prices sit in the comfortable mid range, and the lunch specials actually help. There is no omakase, so the sweet spot is à la carte rolls and combos. Sauces and crunch are the play, while traditional nigiri stays on deck for a simpler bite.
Mixed groups do well because the broader Pan Asian menu is extensive. Vegetarians can grab seaweed salad or veggie tempura, kids land on sesame chicken, and larger parties are handled with calm. The bar pours beer and wine, online ordering is easy, and delivery fills the gap. Friendly, roll forward, and affordable, not a high concept tasting counter.
Koen Japanese BBQ & Sushi
At Koen Japanese BBQ & Sushi in south Lincoln, it can feel like two nights out in one room. The space swings from sizzling tabletop grills to a calm sushi bar, and the contrast works.
Choose a grill station for yakiniku-style, cook-your-own fun, then pass shared platters around the table. Or slip to the sushi side and claim a counter seat for a quiet, solo roll-and-nigiri session. Groups appreciate the flexibility, and mixed-diet crowds find plenty to agree on.
The sushi menu runs traditional to playful. Think clean cuts of nigiri and sashimi alongside specialty rolls like Flaming Tiger, Lobster Lover, Samurai, or the Lincoln-favorite Monster. Cooked rolls, tempura, and other comfort picks keep non-sushi eaters happy without feeling sidelined.
Pricing lands in the comfortable-to-upscale zone, with many choices under thirty and splurge paths if wagyu or premium BBQ is calling. Happy hour trims the bill on select rolls and nigiri. Reservations make sense on prime nights, since pace can stretch when the grills are humming. Best fit for diners who value variety and a touch of tableside theater.
Kinja
Playful rolls meet steady technique at Kinja, the kind of spot where a group can actually agree on dinner. The OMG, Triple Threat, and Lobster Monster arrive with that glossy, just-made snap, while the nigiri quietly proves they take fundamentals seriously.
Value shows up at lunch through bento boxes and specials that feed well without fuss. Non-raw eaters are not an afterthought, with tempura, gyoza, teriyaki, and veggie rolls that feel composed rather than filler.
Set in Pioneer Woods Center, it reads casual to upscale casual. Take a seat at the sushi bar to watch the pace, or land a booth for conversation. Reservations are accepted, which keeps date night calm even when the dining room hums.
The bar is a plus, with sake, cocktails, beer, and wine that play nicely with richer sauces. Happy hour in the early evening sweetens the bill if timing lines up. There is no formal omakase, but consistent quality, reliable takeout, and a menu that handles mixed tastes make Kinja an easy yes.
Shogun Japanese Steakhouse
Fire, flip, and a full sushi menu is a rare combo in Lincoln. Shogun leans into the hibachi show while still delivering rolls that satisfy.
The draw is group-friendly fun with generous portions and mid-range prices. Sushi comes from the kitchen to your table while the teppan chefs work the grills nearby, so you get the energy without needing a sushi bar seat. Expect playful specialty rolls like Dragon and X-Men-style creations alongside steady classics like spicy tuna and California, plus nigiri, sashimi, and combo plates.
Mixed party in tow? Easy. Non-sushi eaters can dive into steak, chicken, or shrimp hibachi, and vegetarians get vegetable hibachi, veggie rolls, or noodle bowls. There’s a full bar with cocktails and sake. Reserve a hibachi table for weekend birthdays and bigger groups, or ask for a regular table if a quieter sushi night sounds better.
Takeout is handy when the grill theatrics are more than you want. Quality can ebb a bit by night, so think casual comfort rather than omakase. When it clicks, the spicy tuna tastes bright and the Dragon roll disappears fast. For families and groups around Lincoln, it is value, variety, and a little live fire under one roof.
Grey Whale Poke Bowl
Choices. That’s Grey Whale’s calling card. The poke bars let you build from the rice up, or skip the guesswork with signatures like the Honolulu Salmon or California Poke. Portions land in the satisfying, lunch-friendly zone, and the flavors lean clean rather than sauced-to-oblivion.
Some locations broaden the lane with a separate Sushi & Grill menu, so the group can mix bowls with nigiri, sashimi, tempura, or ramen for the non-sushi crowd. There’s no formal omakase here, just straightforward à la carte sushi that keeps the tab reasonable.
Freshness is the selling point, with quick turnover on tuna and salmon, though suppliers aren’t trumpeted. Service is counter-style at the poke spots, sit-down at the grill, and the vibe reads casual. A few diners report uneven portions and the occasional mix-up; the signature bowls tend to hit the balance more reliably than a freestyle pile-on.
It fits best when affordability, speed, and variety matter. Downtown and Gateway-area locations make takeout simple; boba and Thai iced tea are common, while a full sake list is not. Craving a polished, white-linen ceremony? Look elsewhere. Craving a customizable sushi-adjacent fix that won’t drain the budget? Grey Whale delivers.
Hiro 88 | South Lincoln
Sleek and lively, Hiro 88 South Lincoln plays to both roll lovers and purists. This is not a hushed omakase temple; the upscale-casual spot leans on à la carte sushi, tidy combos, and a deep roster of specialty rolls.
Mixed group? It works. Roll fans can go bold while purists order clean nigiri and sashimi. Non-raw eaters get cooked plates like Scottish salmon, Chilean sea bass, tempura, donburi, and noodles. Vegetarian and gluten-aware items are labeled, and the staff handles requests.
The room feels modern and lively without shouting. Sit at the bar, watch the sushi bar at work, or tuck into a table for date night or a small celebration. A full bar brings cocktails and sake; it is not BYOB.
Value holds. Many checks land near thirty per person, especially with shared rolls or sushi combos. Happy hour, sometimes a reverse one, sweetens it.
Book ahead on weekends or before a show; takeout and delivery are reliable backups. Service can dip on busy nights, yet the broad menu keeps most parties content. If you want breadth without the splurge, and both roll lovers and traditionalists at the same table, this is a smart pick.
