From polished counters to friendly neighborhood spots, the East Valley offers sushi with careful sourcing, unhurried service, and menus that suit mixed tastes.
Let’s get to it.
Sushi Rock & Grill
For creative rolls without sticker shock, Sushi Rock & Grill in Gilbert delivers. Signature plates like Blossom, Lollipop, Sunshine, Dragon, and Rock N Roll arrive neatly presented, and the nigiri and sashimi are consistent.
Most specialty rolls land in the mid-teens. Basics stay in the single digits, while sashimi sets and boats scale up from there. The Love Boat makes sharing simple for two or more.
If sushi is a hard sell for part of the group, the cooked side covers it with teriyaki, fried rice, tempura, takoyaki, gyoza, shumai, and seafood dynamite. The room is cozy and casual with quick turn times and attentive service, so it works well for date night or a small group. Reservations help during prime dinner hours, given the small dining room.
Early-evening happy hour trims the bill on select sushi. Sake, including nigori, joins the beverage list, along with soft drinks. Vegetarians have real choices, from a Veggie Roll Combo to seaweed salad and simple cucumber or avocado rolls.
Online ordering handles carryout and delivery. Located near Higley in Gilbert’s East Valley, it is a steady, well-reviewed pick for casual sushi nights. Closed on Tuesdays.
DARUMA Sushi/Roll/Noodle
All-day happy hour pricing and slurpable ramen set DARUMA Sushi/Roll/Noodle apart in West Mesa’s Asian District. The compact room stays lively, so reservations help at peak times, or use the takeout counter. This is chef-driven comfort, not an omakase scene.
Start with the Black Mayu Tonkotsu or Sapporo Miso Butter, both rich and balanced at about 13 to 14 dollars. Sushi leans playful, with Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna, Heart Attack, and house rolls like the Dobson and Daruma alongside Rainbow, Dragon, Tiger, and Geisha standards. Most premium rolls run 11 to 16 dollars.
Traditionalists can count on solid nigiri of tuna, salmon, yellowtail, albacore, shrimp, and unagi, plus a sashimi combo around 34.95. Non-sushi options include teriyaki, tempura, yakisoba, udon, gyoza, karaage, and takoyaki. Vegetarians have straightforward picks like cucumber, avocado, or asparagus rolls, seaweed salad, sunomono, edamame, and sautéed cauliflower.
The bar stocks Sapporo, Kirin, Asahi, Four Peaks, a friendly sake list, and fruit soju. Happy hour deals hit hot sake, draft beer, and sake bombs. Lunch brings the same value, and delivery is available through the usual apps. Closed Tuesdays.
Maguro Sushi and Ramen
Value meets freshness at Maguro Sushi and Ramen, a long-running Chandler favorite. The menu treats purists and roll lovers equally, so groups can order without compromise. Clean cuts of tuna, salmon, yellowtail, albacore, and eel share space with hometown-named rolls like D-Backs, Suns, Coyotes, plus the cucumber-wrapped Lollipop.
Let the kitchen lead with chef’s choice sashimi sets in small, medium, or large, or go for a chirashi bowl that mixes a bit of everything. Prices stay moderate, with specialty rolls about 14 to 18 dollars, Lover sets around 27, chirashi near 28, and a house combo around 45 for sharing.
Extras are part of the fun, from salmon roe and masago to soft-shell crab. Baked rolls showcase scallop, langostino, or crawfish. Ramen covers tonkotsu and miso, spicy or not, and travels well for takeout. Non-sushi choices include karaage, chicken katsu, gyoza, tempura, yakisoba, fried rice, and several vegetarian options.
The room is relaxed and family friendly, with sushi bar seats, TVs in view, and plenty of tables. Walk-ins are typical, though the dinner rush can stack up. Weekday lunch, a 4:30 to 6 pm happy hour, and easy online pickup or delivery keep regulars coming back.
Mido Sushi
Looking for a true neighborhood sushi bar? Mido Sushi in Chandler fits the bill, with the owner-chef often working right behind the counter. Regulars praise the consistency, and the restaurant picked up a City Beat News Spectrum Award for customer service. The space is intimate, with bar seats and a handful of tables.
The menu balances classic nigiri and sashimi with a long list of specialty rolls. Tuna, salmon, yellowtail, scallop, ikura, and unagi headline the traditional side. House favorites include the Pancho, Mido, Cherry Blossom, Volcano, and Baked Scallop rolls. Portions are generous, a solid value.
Drinks are a strong suit. Expect Kirin, Sapporo, and Asahi, plus hot or cold sake, unfiltered nigori, flavored cold sake, and soju. Sake and soju bombs are on offer for livelier nights.
Happy hour runs all day Tuesday through Thursday, with a lunch happy hour Friday and Saturday from 11:30 to 2:00. Closed Sunday and Monday. Takeout is available, but chatting with the sushi chef is part of the charm. Non-sushi eaters can choose teriyaki, katsu, tempura, fried rice, yakisoba, or shrimp tempura udon, and vegetarians have several roll and tempura options.
Shimogamo Japanese Restaurant
For a polished, authentic experience, Shimogamo anchors the East Valley’s sushi and izakaya scene. Bigeye tuna, hamachi, kanpachi, saba, hotate, ama ebi, ikura, and unagi are trimmed in-house, then brushed with house nikiri. Highlights include the White Truffle Amberjack, real hon wasabi, and a specials board that brings seasonal and rare catches.
Omakase is available by reservation. Chandler runs a 120 dollar tasting that spans about 2 to 3 hours. Gilbert offers an 80 dollar omakase, plus a 14-course Sushi Omakase on Wednesday and Thursday for about 120.
Chandler centers on a 12-seat sushi bar and a calm dining room. Gilbert adds a sushi and robata counter, cocktail bar, tables, and a patio, and serves lunch and dinner.
Non-sushi eaters have ramen or udon, tempura, teriyaki, katsu, and rice bowls. Vegetarian rolls, including shojin, are clearly marked.
Pricing sits mid to high, with occasional wagyu specials. The sake-forward bar, guided by Mika Otomo, pours Japanese spirits and wine. Dressy-casual, date-night friendly, and family-run. Reservations recommended, with online takeout and delivery through partners.
Yoko Fast Food
Since 1993, this family-run Mesa standby has been the reliable move for quick, affordable Japanese comfort food and straightforward sushi. The vibe is unfussy, the portions are generous, and the prices stay friendly.
The sushi list is compact and made to order. You will find California, spicy crab, salmon, tuna, veggie, and inari rolls that do exactly what you want on a busy weeknight. Combo deals stretch the budget and make it easy to add a roll.
If your group leans more teriyaki, the kitchen has you covered with chicken or beef, plus orange or lemon chicken, beef and broccoli, green pepper beef, yakisoba, fried rice, and noodle soups. Round things out with gyoza, egg rolls, or crab rangoon. Vegetarian choices are easy to assemble, and there is plenty that is fully cooked.
Ordering happens at the counter, with lots of tables for casual dine in. Takeout is streamlined with online ordering and third party delivery. Parking along Gilbert Road is easy for quick pickups.
Lunch and combo plates are the best value. It is first come, first served. Closed on Sundays, and hours vary the rest of the week.
Kodo Sushi Sake
For a polished sushi experience in Chandler that does not blow the budget, Kodo Sushi Sake blends classic nigiri with a few chef touches like aburi oshi and a Korean style hoe-deopbap poke don.
Expect salmon, tuna, and yellowtail, plus richer options like toro, uni, salmon belly, and hamachi belly. Popular rolls include the cucumber wrapped Oasis, Rainbow, and Volcano. The aburi creamy garlic salmon or tuna is a sleeper hit when you want something a little decadent.
Value holds up across the menu. Nigiri typically runs about 4 to 12 dollars per piece, rolls land in the 12 to 17 range, and bowls stay in the low to mid 20s. Weekday lunch bento boxes add deals. Omakase around 54 dollars, or a Chef’s Choice sashimi platter near 70, shows off freshness and variety.
The room is relaxed and locally owned along Gilbert Road with plaza parking. Choose the central sushi bar, a table, or the patio. Mostly walk in, and peak times can stack up, so a quick call ahead helps.
Cooked options include teriyaki, ramen, yakisoba, fried rice, karaage wings, hamachi kama, and tempura. Vegetarians can reach for avocado or kappa rolls, veggie or yam rolls, tofu teriyaki, and veggie yakisoba. The bar keeps things interesting with Kikusui, Hakutsuru, Sayuri nigori, lychee martinis, sake sangria, and Japanese beers. Takeout travels well, and delivery is available.
Yama Sushi House
Across Chandler and Scottsdale, Yama Sushi House earns repeat visits for fresh fish and a menu that works for mixed tastes. You get pristine nigiri and sashimi alongside a deep lineup of specialty rolls, from baked lobster to spicier, smoky combinations.
If you like options, this kitchen delivers beyond sushi. Ramen, udon, poke bowls, tempura, yakisoba, and lunch bento sets keep everyone covered. Higher end choices such as uni and sweet shrimp sit next to the classics, which signals consistent sourcing and care.
Prices are fair for the quality. Lunch specials soften the bill, and afternoon happy hour brings real savings on rolls and appetizers. There is a full bar with beer and a thoughtful sake selection.
Dining rooms are compact with an L shaped sushi bar, so online reservations are smart for larger groups. Service is full sit down, not counter quick.
Prefer to stay in? Yama offers online ordering, takeout, and delivery. It has been a reliable local chain since the mid 2010s.
DOZO Izakaya
In Tempe, DOZO Izakaya hits that balance between pristine nigiri and a comforting bowl of ramen without a lot of fuss. The setting feels like a neighborhood spot, with sushi bar seats, tables, and a heated patio.
The sushi program leans traditional. Look for tuna, salmon, and yellowtail, plus specialty rolls made to order at the bar. Uni appears when available. Baked scallop items are popular, and chef’s choice chirashi and sashimi platters simplify ordering when you want variety.
Pricing sits in the casual midrange. Lunch ramen or bento combos are a solid value, and happy hour deals are posted in house. A printed sake list explains grades, with beer, tea, and soft drinks rounding things out.
Vegetarian diners do well with veggie ramen, tofu, and avocado or yam rolls. Non sushi eaters have plenty too, from yakitori and tempura to donburi, katsu, gyoza, and fried rice. It is a la carte, not all you can eat.
Locally owned with friendly service and regulars who praise consistent execution. The room is small, so call ahead for peak dinner. Pickup and major app delivery make weeknights easy.
A Sushi and Grill
When all you can eat is the plan, A Sushi and Grill in South Tempe delivers variety and value near McClintock and Baseline. The format is simple. Choose a lunch or dinner tier, fill out a paper order sheet, and settle in for a typical two hour seating. Lunch lands in the low 20s. Dinner runs upper 30s to about 40, depending on tier. A la carte is available if that fits better.
The sushi lineup covers purists and roll lovers. Expect 40 plus specialty rolls like Rainbow, Tiger, Vegas, Popcorn Lobster, and Green Dragon. Nigiri mainstays include salmon, tuna, yellowtail, eel, and ikura. Sashimi is available.
Order big and servers may send out dry ice boats for fun presentation. Spacious booths and tables make it easy for groups.
Non sushi eaters can keep busy with udon or soba, yakisoba, fried rice, chicken katsu, skewers, grilled salmon, beef short rib, tempura, gyoza, and spring rolls. Vegetarians have plenty too, from cucumber and avocado rolls to inari, edamame, veggie tempura, salads, and miso.
It leans fusion and AYCE rather than omakase. The daily lunch window brings better pricing. Walk ins are welcome, though peak dinner and weekends can mean a short wait. Since 2024, it has become a go to for East Valley diners.
House Modern Sushi Restaurant
On the Mesa Grand strip near US-60 and Stapley, House Modern Sushi delivers fresh fish, friendly service, and weeknight-friendly prices. Family owned with a relaxed neighborhood feel, it balances classic nigiri with creative rolls.
Go for the What the Heck roll with shrimp tempura, soft-shell crab, and spicy tuna. The warm, shareable baked Japanese Lasagna is another solid pick. Purists can zero in on Yellowtail Lover, the House Special Sashimi, and clean cuts of tuna, salmon, and yellowtail. Most rolls land in the low to mid teens, and portions are generous.
Not into raw fish? The kitchen turns out chicken or pork katsu, teriyaki, short ribs, tempura, udon, and yaki soba. Vegetarians get miso, salads, cucumber or avocado rolls, and veggie tempura.
Seating is easy with sushi-bar spots and standard tables. The full bar covers sake, beer, wine, and cocktails. Cap the meal with mochi or fried ice cream.
Reservations help on busy weekend dinners. Closed on Tuesdays. Parking is easy in the plaza near the AMC and Starbucks. Takeout and delivery on the major apps run smoothly.
Sushiya
For a no-fuss sushi fix in the East Valley, Sushiya delivers fresh fish at friendly prices, especially at the sushi bar where regulars say quality stays tight. The menu leans a la carte. There is no formal omakase here, just well-made standards.
Signature rolls include Geisha, Las Vegas, Caterpillar, Rainbow, Popcorn or Volcano, and Crunch. Nigiri and sashimi platters benefit from fish delivered daily, according to loyal customers. Overall pricing sits comfortably midrange.
Happy hour stands out with very inexpensive rolls and discounted hot sake or sake bombs. Beer and wine are available too.
Expect a cozy, hole-in-the-wall spot in Gilbert’s Shops at Gilbert Fiesta with sushi-bar seats and simple tables. Vegetarian options, kid-friendly bites, chicken katsu, and tempura make it easy for mixed groups. Takeout and delivery are straightforward. Call ahead at peak times since reservation details vary.
Best for diners who favor American-style specialty rolls with solid sashimi rather than a formal omakase experience. A long run as a neighborhood favorite backs that up.
