Best Japanese and Sushi Restaurants in Bristol

Bristol's Japanese food scene is small compared to its Thai or Indian restaurant count, but it's grown well beyond the chains in recent years. For a proper sit-down meal, Yakinori on Park Street and KIBOU in Clifton are the two most consistently recommended, while Fujiyama and Izakaya Bristol both have loyal followings in Clifton too.

The best Japanese and sushi restaurants

KIBOU, Clifton

KIBOU is a two-storey Japanese restaurant and bar at 16 King's Road in Clifton, built around a contemporary, Tokyo-inspired look, with a dining room, an open sushi kitchen with high-top seating, and a separate cocktail bar and lounge. The menu covers steamed bao buns, gyoza, ramen, tempura and katsu curry alongside sushi, including a signature tempura-fried Volcano Roll. It's open Monday to Wednesday 12pm to 11pm, Thursday to Saturday 12pm to midnight, and Sunday 12pm to 11pm, with a separate takeaway window on weekdays and weekends. It's a good pick if you want atmosphere as much as food, and it does vegan options too.

Yakinori, Park Street

Yakinori sits at 78 Park Street, in the middle of the walk between the Harbourside and Clifton, and describes itself as a "friendly neighbourhood spot" rather than a special-occasion restaurant. It's known for fresh sushi, ramen and a broad spread of Japanese-inspired dishes, and works equally well for a quick lunch or a sit-down dinner. Opening hours are Sunday to Wednesday 11am to 9pm and Thursday to Saturday 11am to 10pm.

Fujiyama, Clifton

Fujiyama, on Regents Street near Royal York Crescent, has built a reputation over the years for traditional Japanese cooking rather than the more bar-and-cocktail approach of some newer openings. Expect nigiri and sushi alongside dishes like karaage and donburi rice bowls, in a basement dining room that regulars tend to prefer for its cosier feel. It also does delivery and collection, with free delivery within three miles in the evening and a £20 minimum for online orders.

Izakaya Bristol, College Green and Clifton

Izakaya takes its name and format from Japan's casual "stay, drink, eat" bars, and has two Bristol branches: the original on College Green, open since 2018, and a Clifton branch that opened in 2023. The menu runs through Japanese street food, katsu curry, udon, poke bowls, sushi and sashimi, alongside sake, beer, wine and cocktails, and it leans toward a relaxed, informal atmosphere rather than fine dining.

Bento Boss

Bento Boss, based in Redland, is more of a sushi and pan-Asian delivery and collection operation than a sit-down restaurant, and it's built a strong following on delivery platforms for bento boxes and sushi sets. It's the option to know about if you want good sushi delivered rather than a table booking.

The chains: itsu and YO! Sushi

If you want something reliable and fast rather than a destination meal, itsu has a branch in Broadmead and another near Cribbs Causeway, and YO! Sushi has a branch at Cribbs Causeway too. Both are the familiar conveyor-belt or grab-and-go format you'll find in most UK cities, useful for a quick, healthy-ish lunch rather than a special trip.

Quick comparison

A note on cuisine and quality

Japanese food covers a lot of ground, from sushi and sashimi to ramen, katsu curry, izakaya small plates and donburi rice bowls, and Bristol's restaurants split fairly evenly between "modern Japanese" places that lean into fusion and cocktails, and more traditional, food-first spots. If you're after an omakase-style tasting experience in the way you'd find in London or Manchester, Bristol doesn't really have that yet at the time of writing. What it does have is a solid, growing set of independents worth seeking out rather than settling for the chains.

Getting there

Most of Bristol's better Japanese restaurants cluster around Clifton and the Park Street to Whiteladies Road corridor, both an easy walk or short bus ride from the centre. Our Clifton guide covers the wider neighbourhood if you want to make a day of it, and our Redland and Cotham guide is useful if you're heading that way for Bento Boss or exploring further out. If you're comparing cuisines more broadly, see our guides to Thai restaurants and Indian restaurants in Bristol.

Frequently asked questions

Where's the best sushi in Bristol? KIBOU and Yakinori are the two most consistently recommended for sit-down sushi, with Fujiyama and Izakaya Bristol both also well regarded. For sushi delivered rather than eaten in, Bento Boss has a strong local following.

Is there an omakase or tasting-menu Japanese restaurant in Bristol? Not currently in the way you'd find in London or Manchester. Bristol's Japanese restaurants lean toward izakaya-style sharing plates, sushi menus and ramen rather than formal tasting menus.

Where are most of Bristol's Japanese restaurants? Clustered around Clifton and Park Street, with a couple of chain options in Broadmead and at Cribbs Causeway, and Bento Boss based in Redland for delivery.

Is KIBOU or Yakinori better for a special occasion? KIBOU, with its two-storey dining room, sushi kitchen and cocktail bar, is the better pick for a special occasion or group night out. Yakinori is better suited to a casual lunch or weeknight dinner.

Do any of Bristol's Japanese restaurants deliver? Yes. Fujiyama offers delivery and collection with free delivery within three miles in the evening, and Bento Boss operates primarily as a delivery and collection sushi business through the major delivery apps.

Is there a vegan-friendly Japanese restaurant in Bristol? KIBOU lists vegan options on its menu, and most of the izakaya-style menus, including Izakaya Bristol's, include vegetable-based small plates and udon options that work for vegetarians, though it's worth checking specifics for fully vegan dishes.