From polished chef’s counters to relaxed neighborhood rooms, Omaha’s sushi scene offers freshness, value, and places where conversation comes easy. Whether the evening calls for an indulgent omakase or a sensible platter to share, expect attentive service, balanced flavors, and options that suit early dinners and unhurried nights.
Let’s get to it.
Isla Del Mar Restaurante – West
At Isla Del Mar’s West location, coastal Mexican flair meets sushi, and the mash-up works. West Omaha gets a lively spot that stays comfortable enough for a catch-up dinner.
The sushi bar turns out clean nigiri and sashimi alongside playful rolls like Hulk, Azteca, and Baconator. Vegetarian choices and the house Isla series keep the menu interesting without getting fussy. Rice is seasoned right, fish tastes fresh, and sauces accent rather than smother.
Budget friendly is the headline, with many rolls around ten to fifteen and nigiri by the pair. The Sushi Boat, about forty five, suits share-happy groups who want variety without sticker shock. Portions are generous enough that a couple of plates can cover a table.
There is bar seating for sushi, starting after noon, plus standard tables, reservations, and easy online takeout. Drinks run from micheladas to sake, so no need to BYO, though omakase seekers should look elsewhere. Service keeps a steady pace, and the vibe leans upbeat without getting loud.
Yoshitomo
Ota is the showstopper at Yoshitomo. A private omakase counter with just six to eight seats, it typically runs on limited weekend seatings and requires a reservation. Multi-course, chef-led, and tightly paced, it brings a bit of theater to the sushi ritual.
Chef-owner David Utterback has turned this Benson gem into a serious sushi destination, with James Beard level buzz to match. The kitchen toggles between pristine nigiri and sashimi and playful tasting plates, so the menu reads both Tokyo-focused and a touch creative. High-end imports come in through trusted suppliers, which is why the specials board often feels like a greatest-hits list.
Prices land in fine-dining territory, particularly for omakase and premium nigiri. The trade-off is intention and polish, perfect for an anniversary or a slow, indulgent night. Non-raw options, from grilled and broiled fish to rice bowls, keep mixed groups comfortable, and there are vegetarian-friendly plates as well.
The room is intimate, with a true sushi-bar heartbeat, and a thoughtful list of sake, wine, cocktails, and Japanese beers to match the food. Reservations are smart for dinner and required for Ota. Takeout exists, but the courses sing most when you settle in and let the chef steer.
Rizin Japanese Ramen (来迅 ライジン)
Start with ramen, stay for the rolls. Rizin Japanese Ramen in Rockbrook Village keeps it intimate, a small dining room with a counter where you can watch the action and settle in without fuss.
The sushi lane is roll-forward, not a nigiri shrine and no omakase. Think Spicy Tuna, Spicy Crab, and the Omaha Crunchy Roll, plus a few fried or cream-cheese numbers that satisfy a comfort-food mood. It is approachable, fresh-tasting, and easy to mix and match with a bowl.
Value is the quiet headline. Ramen tends to land around ten to twelve dollars, with modestly priced rolls and appetizers alongside. Reviews consistently praise the broths for depth, which makes lunch or a quick supper feel like a smart spend. The room is small, so peak times can stack up, and takeout is a handy fallback.
Mixed groups do well here because there are many cooked choices. Gyoza, kara-age, tempura, and vegetable or paitan ramen suit non-raw eaters, while a cold Kirin or Asahi keeps things simple.
Choose Rizin when a casual ramen bar with bonus sushi fits the bill. It is not a formal sushi counter, yet it reliably scratches the roll craving without straining the budget.
Memoir
Sushi that plays nicely with a steak knife. Memoir bridges the gap between raw-bar cravings and an American grill, and it does so with polish. Set in the Old Market, it feels upscale without turning stiff.
The sushi side runs à la carte. No formal omakase, just well-cut sashimi, clean nigiri, and rolls that lean fresh rather than saucy. Serrano yellowtail and spicy tuna sit alongside California and vegan staples. Flagship’s responsible sourcing shows in the texture.
There is no sushi counter. Chefs work from an open kitchen while a central bar takes the spotlight. Sake and polished cocktails pair easily, and the list is broad enough to meet the menu halfway.
Prices land in the $$$ range, a high-end casual feel. Weekday happy hour trims the tab on select rolls and drinks. Works for date night, business dinners, or mixed groups split between toro and ribeye.
Lunch and weekend brunch broaden the calendar. Takeout is easy online, and reservations are wise for dinner. For quality sushi without the hush of a counter, with plenty for non-sushi eaters, Memoir balances both sides.
Akarui
Value and variety share top billing at Akarui, a downtown Omaha spot where traditional sushi meets modern, crowd-pleasing fun. It feels relaxed, not precious, which makes it easy for mixed groups and date nights that do not want a side of ceremony.
The sushi lineup runs deep. You will find classic nigiri and sashimi like tuna, salmon, yellowtail, scallop, and eel, plus chef’s-choice samplers and a generous chirashi for those who like a curated plate without committing to a full omakase. Roll lovers can go straightforward with tuna or California, or lean playful with Rainbow, Phoenix, Godzilla, Black Angel, and the local-leaning Husker.
Beyond sushi, the poke program is robust, from DIY bowls with tuna or salmon to signatures like Volcano and Hawaiian Classic. Plenty of cooked options keep non-raw eaters happy, including tempura, teriyaki, ramen, and even vegan bowls and a creamy vegan ramen. Prices are friendly for the quality, with rolls in the single to mid-teens and shareables like the Love Boat for a splurge that still feels sensible.
The room is spacious and modern with table service and a bar. Boba teas headline the nonalcoholic side, while sake flights, beer, and wine round things out. They take reservations online and offer takeout, delivery, and catering. Purists seeking an intimate chef’s counter experience should keep hunting, but for casual sushi nights and poke cravings, Akarui delivers.
Isla del Mar South
Call it surf-and-slice, a Mexican seafood party with a serious sushi habit. Isla del Mar South treats sushi as a headline, not a side note.
At the South Omaha location, the room hums with color and energy, sometimes even live mariachi. It is not a hushed omakase temple. It is where conversation carries, families settle in, and rolls fly from the sushi bar, and that energy sets the tone for the menu.
Expect dozens of specialty rolls layered with creamy sauces, tempura crunch, and playful toppings. Sashimi and nigiri are there for a cleaner bite, yet the heart of the list leans fusion. Ceviches, aguachiles, and towering mariscos keep seafood fans happily occupied.
Prices sit comfortably in the midrange, with portions that satisfy. Aguas frescas, cantaritos, and micheladas add to the fun, and they accept reservations along with online ordering. Family-owned since a 2017 food-truck start, the brand now spans West Omaha and Papillion, and it advertises fresh seafood prepared daily.
Choose this spot when variety matters and the table spans sushi lovers and taco loyalists. Purists chasing minimalist Edo-mae will be happier elsewhere. Everyone else will find a lively, crowd-pleasing take on sushi at Isla del Mar South.
Hiro 88 West Maple
When a table splits between sashimi purists and sesame-chicken loyalists, Hiro 88 West Maple keeps the peace. Polished without fuss, it fits date nights and group dinners.
Sushi leads the show, with premium-grade sashimi and nigiri plus 40-plus maki. The Hiro Crunch and Husker roll draw fans, and sushi boats or combos make sharing easy. Whether you perch at the sushi bar or grab a standard table, you have options.
If raw is not your thing, the kitchen has you covered with Chinese and Korean comforts, from teriyaki and tempura to peanut butter chicken. Bento-style sets streamline choices. Vegetarian and gluten-free callouts help.
Pricing sits in the mid-to-upper casual lane, but frequent happy-hour and half-price sushi deals, including some late-night and Sunday promos, can stretch value. The bar shines with a deep sake list, plus cocktails and wine.
This West Maple location has room to breathe, including private spaces for events. Reservations and takeout are easy. A trusted local pick with occasional consistency blips when busy, it suits variety seekers and lively nights out.
Ahi Sushi Ramen & Grill
Steady and welcoming, Ahi Sushi Ramen & Grill keeps West Omaha diners satisfied without losing the sushi thread. It is the kind of place a mixed group agrees on quickly.
Chef’s-choice sets take the guesswork out, from Sushi Regular or Deluxe to sashimi plates, chirashi, and the shareable Love Boat. Fresh fish comes in on a regular cadence, reflected in rotating sashimi. Prices stay mid-range, with most rolls around ten to fourteen and group trays from twenty to sixty-five.
Non-raw eaters are covered with miso and shoyu ramen, a house special bowl, tempura, katsu, and hibachi. Specialty rolls swing both sides, from Omaha and Godzilla to cream cheese crowd-pleasers, plus cucumber-wrapped naruto for something lighter.
Settle in at the sushi bar or at a table, with a full bar, tea, and boba for non-drinkers. Or go easy with carryout, delivery, and party trays. Vegetarian picks and gluten-free markings are noted, and GF soy is available on request.
Bottom line, Ahi is an easy, moderately priced win when some want rolls and others want ramen.
Maru Sushi Korean Grill
Menus that try to please everyone usually fizzle. Maru is the exception. Sushi purists and grill loyalists both leave happy.
Joyeon Wang keeps the sushi side chef-driven and seasonal, so the specials board has a pulse. Specialty rolls have fun without tipping into gimmickry, from Dragon and 007 to the house Maru Special, plus those baked Chicago or Lion King-style creations. Traditionalists can settle into clean nigiri and sashimi, and the inari nigiri steals more than its share of smiles.
Meanwhile, the Korean grill menu anchors the table with bulgogi, bibimbap, dumplings, and tempura, which is a relief if someone in the group skips raw fish. Vegetarians are not an afterthought, with veggie rolls and tempura that actually crunch.
Prices land mid-range, with generous lunch specials and a Sunday all-day happy hour that regulars rave about. The beverage list runs from sake to a tidy set of cocktails and bottled wines, so pairing is easy.
Service is full and unfussy. A few counter seats face the sushi action, yet most will prefer comfortable tables. Walk-ins work early, though peak evenings reward a reservation. Takeout and delivery behave nicely on busy nights.
Oma’Oma’O Poke & Sushi
Fresh fish without fanfare is the promise at Oma’Oma’O Poke & Sushi, a fast-casual spot where poke leads and sushi follows. In West Omaha strip centers, it stands out for clean-tasting bowls priced for real life.
Start at the poke line and build your own, or let a signature bowl do the deciding. They market sushi-grade ahi and salmon, and appetizers range from edamame and kani salad to crab rangoon. Non-raw eaters get teriyaki chicken or cooked shrimp, plus greens for a lighter route.
Rolls get playful, with spicy crab, tuna, and occasional octopus. Nigiri and sashimi are on hand, though the sweet spot here is bowls and creative rolls that travel well. Prices sit in the casual to midrange, and occasional two-for roll deals keep lunch or takeout easy on the wallet.
This is counter service, not a chef’s counter, so skip expectations of omakase ritual. Seating fits families and groups, though pace can ebb and flow and a roll may land a touch uneven. Bubble tea and Thai rolled ice cream seal the deal, and takeout or delivery make Oma’Oma’O a practical poke-forward pick when freshness matters more than ceremony.
Genji Japanese Steakhouse
The onion volcano is only half the story at Genji. Chefs juggle spatulas and coax flames into applause, yet the sushi bar quietly holds its own with a roll-heavy menu and straightforward nigiri and sashimi. It is not an omakase temple, but it is reliable and fun.
Mixed groups breathe easy here. Hibachi covers steak, chicken, salmon, even lobster, while the sushi side offers favorites plus a few house specials. Vegetarians get real choices, including tofu and vegetable hibachi, so no one is stuck picking at sides.
Mid range pricing keeps it friendly for birthdays and group nights. A full bar pours sake, cocktails, and Japanese beer, so things feel celebratory from the first round.
Seating splits between lively communal grills, a standard dining room, and the bar. Weekend waits can stretch, so reservations help. Reviews praise the show and energy, with occasional notes about uneven pacing. Want the fish without the fanfare? Order to go and keep the feast at home.
Ponzu Sushi and Grill
Creative rolls meet smart pricing at Ponzu Sushi and Grill. Godzilla, Coco Loco, Firecracker, and a parade of salmon-forward options keep things lively, while the nigiri stays clean and fresh.
This is not a hushed omakase counter; it leans a la carte with tasting-sized bites and plenty of cooked plates. If your group includes sushi loyalists and cautious diners, everyone lands happy.
Lunch combos and a well-priced happy hour make it easy to sample widely without sticker shock. Dinner runs higher but stays in the casual to mid range lane, and peak times fill up, so reservations help for evenings and larger parties.
In Aksarben Village, choose the sushi bar to watch the action, regular tables for lingering, or a patio when the weather plays nice. The bar mixes cocktails and pours sake. Gluten-free soy is available, and vegetarian or vegan rolls are easy to arrange.
Save room for the signature cookie-dough rangoons. Takeout and third-party delivery keep it flexible. Skip it if you want a chef-led tasting menu. Choose it for variety, value, and a relaxed, social vibe.
