Denver's ten best sushi restaurants

Jim Wills

7. Taki Sushi
This Washington Park spot doesn't look like much from the outside, where a sign bills it as Japanese fusion cuisine -- slightly off-putting when you're after good sushi. But don't let that deter you, because inside this small, neighborhood spot, the sushi chefs serve up stellar cuts of fish, handrolls brimming with things like spicy tuna and yellowtail with jalapeño, one of our favorite chirashi bowls in town and fresh specials shipped in that day, which are usually worth considering.

Jim Wills

6. Osaka Sushi
Despite its gimmick-less facade and sparse interior -- not to mention its location in a hard-to-access Colorado Boulevard strip mall -- Osaka Sushi has commanded what could be called a cult following, a loyal cadre of sushi fanatics to whom this joint is the only one in town. That's because the place boasts damn fine cuts of pretension-free fish alongside a long list of rolls that span everything from traditional maki to wild combinations tucked into rice -- including the nuclear roll, a spicy tuna roll made with chile oil and habañero peppers that's so hot, it's spawned its own eating challenge.

Mark Manger

5. Sachi Sushi
One of the best sushi spots in the state is easy to miss if you're not looking. Sachi Sushi is tucked into a corner of the Niwot Market, and it consists of a handful of tables flanking a sushi counter. But from that unlikely location, Tsukasa Hibini, a native of Japan who spent three decades in the sushi business in this country, turns out impressive Japanese specials, as well as sushi that's basic in concept but excellent in cut and quality. On Sundays, you can side your fish with top-notch ramen, too.

Jim Wills

4. Sushi Yoshi
The chefs at this strip-mall sushi bar go to great lengths to follow traditional Japanese recipes and cooking techniques, and to do it in a surprisingly serene setting, complete with tatami mats. Each dish is made to order from scratch, resulting in some of the most delicious, authentic Japanese fare available in Superior. Sushi is taken seriously here, and carefully chosen, precisely sliced and artfully plated fish is featured in both the bento boxes that reign at lunch and the traditional izakaya offerings at dinner.