The best Japanese restaurants in Manchester

Glamorous restaurant Sexy Fish is known for Japanese and Asian cuisine. It's a great choice for sushi lovers but also serves other options like skewers, tempura, and salmon teriyaki. Omakase menus are available as well. The setting is lavish with rich colours and impactful aquatic decor. Live music enhances the ambience every Wednesday.

Visit Teppanyaki Chinatown for a lively and theatrical Japanese meal. The flamboyant chefs prepare your food in front of your eyes, ensuring that each dish is just as you like it. Diners can choose from set menus as well as dishes like sushi, noodles, and grilled meat. This bustling restaurant has a colourful and vibrant interior.

Try Shogun Ramen & Bar for an affordable meal - it claims to serve up the cheapest ramen in town. There's no compromise on quality though; expect well-presented and thoughtful bowls piled up with tasty ingredients, including vegan and halal ramen. Small plates and Japanese drinks are served too, plus the restaurant has a mammoth ramen food challenge to tackle.

Ranked as some of the best ramen available in the city, New Wave Ramen runs a couple of casual locations. Everything is made in-house, including the noodles, and food is prepared using sustainable local produce and artisan Japanese ingredients. Expect small plates, ramen bowls, bao buns, and grilled meat at these buzzy spots.

The chefs at Sapporo Teppanyaki have tons of personality and offer diners a theatrical experience. This fun and lively venue is bright and colourful, with the chefs preparing your food right in front of you. The à la carte menu includes small plates, sushi, tempura, and noodles, plus there are tasting menus. This restaurant also does takeaways.

Previously known as Wasabi, Wazuzhi is located in Chinatown and serves Japanese dishes. There's a soundtrack of J-pop to enjoy as you sample affordable conveyor belt sushi, plus small plates, hirata buns, noodles, and other cooked dishes. This lively restaurant also serves Asian desserts and bubble tea, plus takeaways are available.

Withington is home to Kyotoya, a buzzing local restaurant serving food that offers value for money. The restaurant has indoor and outdoor tables and serves a comprehensive menu of authentic Japanese recipes. The menu includes set meals in addition to options like tempura, noodles, and sushi and sashimi.

One of Manchester's favourite ramen restaurants is Tokyo Ramen. This compact venue has a minimalist look, a hip-hop playlist, and some quirky touches. The concise menu features ramen bowls, sides, and beer, cocktails, and soft drinks. This is a casual dining destination that doesn't accept reservations.

Sakura Japanese Restaurant is fun and futuristic. At this venue, you order via tablet, and your food is served by robot waiters, who offer service tailored to your preferences. It's ideal for any occasion, serving up a limitless buffet of sushi and other Japanese dishes, along with colourful cocktails. The space is also bright and colourful.

Yuzu Japanese Tapas serves classic Japanese dishes in the heart of Manchester. Everything is prepared from scratch and served in a tranquil, minimalist space with wooden furniture. Start your meal with small plates like agedashi tofu or tempura before sampling mains such as noodle soup, yaki udon, or teriyaki salmon.

One Sushi offers quality sushi sets to take away but also does a unique omakase meal that you enjoy standing up. The experience lasts for one hour and takes place in the compact and bustling venue, with each piece of sushi presented to you by the chef. This place has a sleek and streamlined appearance, serving a wide variety of sushi rolls and combo boxes.

Waku Waku stands out in Manchester thanks to its unique design. Modelled on comic cafés in Asia, the interiors are monochrome and feature intricate details drawn by hand to create a 2D optical illusion. Sit in this fascinating space to enjoy Japanese recipes like donburi, sushi, and noodles. Takeaway meals are also available.

You'll find Unagi in a number of locations around Manchester, specialising in sushi and street eats from Japan. It started as a food truck and now has restaurants with indoor and outdoor tables and stylish designs. Opt for light snacks like edamame and gyoza, or choose a more substantial meal like sushi, poke bowls, or noodles.

Casual eatery Gyoza Wang opened in 2022. This local spot is modern and bustling and is popular for takeaway meals. Handcrafted gyoza is the focus of the menu, available with various fillings, including veggie and vegan options. Side dishes and katsu curry are on the menu as well. Tea, soft drinks, and Asian beers complete the experience.

Didsbury's diners go to Nagoya Sushi & Noodle Bar for Japanese cuisine. The restaurant is modern and is decorated with bold Japan-themed murals. A wide variety of Japanese recipes are on the menu, including sushi and sashimi, noodles, and chicken teriyaki. Vegetarian dishes are also available here, and you can eat in or get a takeaway.

Maki & Ramen started life in Edinburgh, and the Manchester location was the first to open in England. Authentic and flavoursome food is served in a charming space decorated with flowers and bright colours. The menu includes plenty of classic dishes like fried noodles, donburi, ramen, and sushi, with vegan choices available. Cocktails and desserts are also served.

Samsi has been open in Manchester for more than 20 years. This long-established restaurant is bustling, with a dining space enhanced by cherry blossoms and pops of colour. The restaurant also does takeaways. Choose dishes like tempura, sushi, curry, and ramen, or opt for a set menu designed to be shared by two people.

Sushi Marvel offers an elegant space to sample sushi and other Japanese recipes. This simple restaurant offers a good-value set menu plus an authentic selection of à la carte dishes like sushi and sashimi, noodles, and donburi. Alcoholic drinks are also available. This place offers takeaways in addition to eating in.

Savour a comforting bowl of ramen in Piccadilly Gardens at Shoryu Ramen. This relaxed and contemporary restaurant specialises in creamy pork broth simmered for 12 hours, but a vegan version is served here too. You can also get side dishes, sake, and cocktails, plus there's a convenient set menu aimed at younger ramen lovers.

Sushi fanatics in Manchester can't resist Sushi Mami. It's a relaxed and trendy restaurant with a vibrant appearance. In addition to the à la carte menu, this place offers an indulgent all-you-can-eat experience with unlimited sushi and side dishes like rice and noodles. The menu also includes stir-fries and robata-grilled dishes.

Peter Street Kitchen serves an original blend of Mexican and Japanese cuisines. This restaurant is contemporary and grand, with a light interior. You can begin your day with breakfast here or visit for dinner. Tasting menus and à la carte dishes with nods to both cuisines are available. A special menu is also available for private dining.

Ring Sushi Hotfood is a low-key local eatery in Chorlton. The venue has indoor and outdoor seating and authentic decorating touches. Have a meal here or get a takeaway. Various types of sushi are served, as well as hot dishes such as noodle soup, fried noodles, and curry. The menu includes halal-friendly dishes.

You'll find Zumuku Sushi in a number of locations around Greater Manchester. These restaurants are modern and often have outdoor tables. Dishes here are freshly prepared using traditional Japanese techniques. The main menu features sushi and hot dishes, whilst some locations also offer set lunches and unlimited sushi meals.

Opened in 2023, House of Fu is a centrally-located spot for ramen, cocktails, and karaoke. This lively venue is vibrant and colourful, with private karaoke rooms and a basement cocktail bar. Visit for ramen and other Japanese-inspired dishes, including bottomless brunch on Saturdays. There are special offers on cocktails every day too.