From serene sushi counters to lively roll focused spots, Lexington offers a thoughtful mix where freshness and skilled hands take center stage. Whether you are meeting friends after a show, planning a relaxed date, or simply craving pristine fish with attentive service, there is a comfortable table waiting at a sensible price.
Let’s get to it.
Zen Sushi & Sake
The fun at Zen Sushi & Sake starts with a flight schedule. Fish comes in from Toyosu and Fukuoka on set days, which is why the seasonal nigiri stays bright and focused. Freshness drives the menu, not gimmicks.
There is a reserve-only 12-course omakase around 98 dollars that showcases that sourcing. Seats are limited, so plan ahead. Chef’s-choice sashimi or nigiri gives a lighter commitment.
If you prefer a broader table spread, the menu balances Edo-style classics with playful rolls like Amazing Tuna and Fancy Salmon. Cooked comforts include gyoza, tonkotsu ramen, and a saucy Bourbon Tso Chicken. Vegetarian notes make ordering easy for mixed parties.
The Beaumont dining room leans casual elegant, with sushi-bar seats if watching the knife work sounds relaxing. Prices land between weeknight treat and special occasion, depending on how deep you go into the premium list.
There is also a smaller campus counter at The 90, plus takeout and delivery when the sofa wins. Reservations are smart, and required for omakase. A strong choice for anyone who values top-flight fish and a menu that keeps every guest comfortable.
Osaka Japanese Restaurant Hamburg
Variety gets top billing at Osaka in Hamburg. The menu slides from clean, traditional nigiri and sashimi to fully loaded, American-style rolls, with hibachi, teriyaki, and tempura keeping non-raw eaters happy.
Grab a seat at the sushi bar to watch Chef Ivan Lin and the team work with neat rice and well-cut fish, or settle at a table and let the hibachi show roll by. This family-operated outfit added new Lexington locations in 2024, yet the Hamburg spot still feels personal, with a separate sake and cocktail bar inside the Holiday Inn.
Pricing lands in the comfortable middle, which makes it easy to turn a Tuesday into a sushi night, yet it also handles small celebrations without strain. Service tends to be attentive and warm. Walk-ins are common, and takeout or delivery keeps things flexible.
Details matter here. Management highlights fresh sourcing, and the house low-sodium, gluten-free soy sauce is a thoughtful touch for diners watching salt or wheat. Vegetarians have real options, and cooked rolls soften the jump for cautious friends.
Choose Osaka Hamburg if your group craves both tradition and creativity, wants value without sacrificing freshness, and likes the energy of a working sushi bar. It is a crowd-pleaser that still respects the craft.
Osaka Japanese Restaurant Boston Rd
Fresh, thick-cut sashimi at a fair price is Osaka’s calling card on Boston Road. The family runs a balanced sushi program, with pristine nigiri for purists alongside the kind of playful specialty rolls that win over skeptics. Pull up at the sushi bar and the chefs are happy to choose a few pieces on the fly if asked, no formal omakase required.
Mixed group in tow? The menu stretches well beyond raw fish, with hibachi, teriyaki, tempura, and several vegetarian choices. There is even a housemade low-sodium, gluten-free soy sauce, which is a considerate touch. Kids and first-timers ease in with cooked rolls and combo plates.
The Boston Road dining room is small and friendly, so peak times can fill quickly, and reservations help. Portions lean generous, prices land in the casual-to-mid range, and online ordering keeps takeout and delivery humming. Weekday lunch specials make a low-commitment first visit.
When it is time to sip, sake fans will find a tidy selection here, and sister locations around Lexington offer a full bar. Beer and wine keep things simple. Staff will steer you toward pairings if you want a nudge.
Want classic nigiri, fresh fish, and crowd-pleasing variety without upscale pricing? Osaka Boston Road fits, from date nights to family dinners and sushi-bar purists. Parking is easy, and orders travel well if you prefer the sofa.
Michikusa Japanese Restaurant
In East Lexington’s Hamburg area, Michikusa is the quiet standout, built on fresh fish and a steady hand behind the counter. Chef-owner Hiroshi Aoyagi runs a tight, friendly sushi bar with the intimacy of a true izakaya. Small room, relaxed hum, no showboating, just craft.
The appeal is value without compromise. Prices sit in the casual-to-moderate lane, yet the nigiri and sashimi lean traditional and precise. It suits a date, a solo perch at the counter, or a low-key catch-up when you want quality to do the talking.
Look for silky toro, uni, and yellowtail when they are on, backed by monthly Chef Specials that change often, so you can explore without committing to a marathon tasting. Not everyone eats raw? Ramen, katsu curry, tempura, agedashi tofu, and eggplant keep the table happy, with vegetarian choices that feel intentional rather than afterthoughts.
Choose a counter seat to watch the pace, or claim a table and settle in with sake, Japanese beer, or a light cocktail. Weekday lunch combos make an easy first pass. Takeout is available, though the sushi bar is where the finesse shows. Ideal for anyone who values craft over flash.
Happy Sushi + Wings （All You Can Eat）
Sushi and wings on one menu sounds chaotic; here it just works. Happy Sushi + Wings leans playful without losing focus, which is part of its charm in Lexington.
The roll list is massive, with fusion signatures that arrive bright and tidy. Think volcano-style, crisp tempura edges, smart sauces. Traditionalists will find standard nigiri and sashimi, though the raw selection is shorter than the roll lineup. Fish tastes clean, portions are fair, and plates look cared for.
Service has a family-run warmth. Owners circulate, staff checks in, and the room feels relaxed rather than rushed. Drinks skew casual, boba even shows up, so do not expect a deep sake list.
Value is the headline. Prices stay gentle for the quality, and mixed groups do well here because cooked options are plentiful, with wings, noodles, and tempura alongside gluten-free and vegetarian picks. The all you can eat branding has floated in and out over time, so treat it as a bonus rather than a promise.
Go off peak if crowds wear you out. If you prefer takeout, their packaging keeps hot and cold separate, which helps by the time you get home.
Zundo Izakaya Ramen, Sushi Robata
Sushi purists and comfort-seekers share tables here, and it works. Zundo Izakaya Ramen, Sushi Robata blends a full sushi bar with steaming bowls and charcoal-kissed skewers.
Nigiri and sashimi stay clean and classic, with fresh fish and rice packed just right. Then come the creative detours like sushi pizza and house rolls. Traditional or fusion, your call.
When announced, the chef’s-choice omakase runs about 10 courses, historically around $85 per person, with seats at the counter for a more interactive feel. A smart pick for date night that wants a bit of theater without white tablecloth fuss.
Non-sushi eaters are fine too. Robata pork belly, chashu buns, donburi, and several ramen styles land with broth and noodles made in-house daily. Veg sides keep plant-based diners comfortable.
The room splits between izakaya and a casual bubble-tea side, and yes, a robot server glides by. Modern without being loud, it suits small groups and easy catch-ups, with a sake-focused bar for good measure.
Pricing spans everyday bowls to special-occasion omakase, which makes it just as useful for weeknights as for celebrations.
Ginger Wasabi Sushi + Grill
Value-minded sushi that does not skimp on variety, that’s Ginger Wasabi Sushi + Grill in the Maxwell corridor near downtown Lexington. It feels comfortable, not fussy, and it leans into fun.
The menu is roll-forward and playful. Think Pink Lady, Wildcat, Tiger, Volcano, and Rainbow, with nigiri combos, poke bowls, and sashimi-style plates rounding things out. Sushi fries show up for the curious, and there is often a sweet finish like tempura cheesecake.
Bringing a mixed crowd? Bento boxes, teriyaki, fried rice, ramen or lo mein make ordering easy, and there are veggie rolls and meatless sides for plant-forward eaters. Seating is casual at tables or the counter, walk in, order online for pickup, or use delivery apps.
Prices land in the affordable to mid range, and portions are generous, which is part of the charm. Many nights run late, so it is a reliable fix when a craving hits after the show or a game.
Cocktails lean bright and breezy, strawberry mojitos and house specials, with beer to keep it simple. Go for creative, American-style sushi and value, not a hushed omakase. If that balance sounds right, Ginger Wasabi fits the bill.
Tachibana Japanese Restaurant
The sushi counter says plenty. Walk-up seats go fast, the knives stay busy, and chef’s-choice sets let the kitchen lead.
A Lexington fixture since 1987, Tachibana leans traditional under a Japanese-trained chef, with a broad nigiri list. Tuna, yellowtail, salmon, mackerel, scallop, sweet shrimp, and eel are routine, while fatty tuna and uni show up at market price. Clean, delicate prep keeps the fish front and center.
Value is strongest at lunch. Bento and sushi combos land around the low-to-mid twenties, and Thursday’s chirashi is the savvy move for variety.
Mixed groups settle in easily. There are classic and American-style rolls, plus ramen, tempura, donburi, yakitori, katsu, sukiyaki, and even shabu-shabu. Vegetarians get vegetable rolls, tofu, and zaru soba. The bar pours Japanese drafts, cold sake, and shochu cocktails.
Counter for a quick seat or a table for lingering, both work. Phone reservations help on busy nights. Go when you want solid craft, a calm room, and the option to splurge only on the premium bites.
Buddha Lounge
The litmus test of a sushi bar is a single piece of fish over rice. At Buddha Lounge, that restraint sits comfortably beside rolls that lean playful and bold.
A chef’s-choice option appears on the menu as ‘Chef’s choice of fresh fish over sushi rice.’ Expect familiar favorites like tuna, salmon, yellowtail, snapper, and fluke, with toro at market price when available. Prices land mid range, so you can explore without sticker shock.
The room reads modern lounge, low light, a full bar pouring sake and cocktails, and staff that handles both date nights and casual drop-ins. Reservations are accepted, which removes the guesswork from downtown evenings.
Not everyone in the group craves raw fish, and that is fine here. Tempura, fried specialty rolls, curries, and grilled plates keep non-sushi eaters happy, with vegetarian rolls and vegetable tempura to round things out.
Value shows at lunch through well-priced bento specials, and the online ordering makes takeout easy when the couch wins the night. As a downtown standby with consistent freshness and variety, it suits mixed crowds who want both classic nigiri and a little fun.
Tekka Japanese Grill & Sushi Lexington KY
Split personality, in the best way. Tekka balances a lively hibachi scene with a sushi bar that leans into creative rolls, so everyone from cautious eater to roll devotee can land happily.
Flexibility is the sweet spot. Prices sit mid range, and you can keep it simple with a couple of specialty rolls or build a full spread. Lunch bento combos add value without feeling skimpy.
Expect American-style flourishes: playful sauces, a few cream cheese cameos, and a long roll list alongside nigiri and sashimi. Feedback regularly calls the fish fresh. Ordering stays a la carte, not a formal omakase, so choices remain straightforward.
Seating follows your vibe. Pull up at the sushi bar with cold sake or a glass from the tidy wine list, settle at a standard table, or gather at hibachi for the show. Reservations help on busy hibachi nights, and takeout and delivery are available.
Vegetarian options and cooked plates abound, with gluten-free soy on request, though not a dedicated GF kitchen. Best for mixed parties and relaxed, crowd-pleasing sushi. If you crave a hushed omakase temple, this is not that.
Sakura 12 Japanese Restaurant
Wallet-friendly sushi that does not skimp on portion size is Sakura 12’s calling card. Set along Lexington’s Winchester Road corridor, this casual spot leans more neighborhood standby than night-out destination, and that is part of the charm.
The menu sticks to comforts: Alaska and Philadelphia rolls, shrimp tempura, and a roster of party rolls that scratch the American-style itch. Nigiri and sashimi are available, but there is no omakase or chef’s tasting. Hibachi and other cooked plates keep non-sushi eaters happy, with a few vegetarian choices in the mix.
Expect a small, booth-filled dining room with some teppan action, yet the operation shines with online ordering and easy pickup. Drinks are basic, so plan on a quick meal rather than a sake exploration.
Reviews mention value first and consistency second, which is a polite way of saying it can vary. For weeknight cravings, student budgets, and family takeout, it hits the mark. Purists chasing pristine fish and ceremony may prefer a splurge elsewhere. Calling ahead for current specials or sashimi availability is smart.
Sumo Hibachi and Sushi
The draw here is simple: one price, the whole menu. Sumo Hibachi and Sushi turns the all-you-can-eat idea into a choose-your-adventure that spans rolls, nigiri, sashimi, and hibachi.
Dinner typically lands in the mid 20s, lunch runs lower, and there is a time limit, so ordering in waves works well. Traditionalists can chase clean cuts of tuna or salmon, while maximalists can spring for specialty rolls like Dancing Eel, American Dream, and Crunch Munch. Hibachi covers chicken, steak, and tofu, so mixed tables and meatless diners are comfortable. It reads casual and value-forward rather than luxe, which suits families and budget-minded groups.
Bar seats let you watch the knife work, or grab a regular table. For birthdays and work outings, the private room is a smart call. Do phone ahead for big parties and to confirm current AYCE pricing.
Online chatter tilts positive on variety and price, with some notes about uneven freshness over time. Recent reviews are your best guide, and the bar seats offer a little quality reassurance.
Prefer a quieter night at home? Takeout and delivery are available a la carte.
