Some like it raw
Seafood is pretty much at the heart of Lowcountry cooking. She-crab soup, fried flounder, frogmore stew, deviled crabs, crab cakes, shrimp and grits and fire-steamed oysters are just a few of the local marine wildlife dishes that grace our tables.
But the Lowcountry’s cuisine is ever expanding, offering an abundance of international seafood. This is most evidenced by the local abundance of sushi. A traditional Japanese dish, sushi originated on the other side of the world, but it has become beloved amongst Charlestonians.
“Sushi has been such a thing on the global stage for so long, and it’s always been an option in Charleston, but now there’s just so many people moving down from other places,” said Chris Schoedler of Sushi-Wa Izakaya. “We see a lot of people from New York moving down here and they’re kind of looking for something to remind them of home.”
Sushi rolls are the perfect snack for an on-the-go meal or paired with edamame, a ginger salad and a Kirin Ichiban or warm sake to create a relaxing lunch or dinner with old friends.
Here’s where to find sushi of all shapes, sizes and textures in the Lowcountry, spanning from the downtown peninsula to the furthest reaches of Summerville. Note, this list is not exhaustive, but if you can’t fulfill a craving from what follows, we can’t help you.
Downtown
167 Sushi Bar
Moderate
289 East Bay St. (843) 625-3031
167raw.com/charleston-sushi-bar/
Open Mon. to Sat. lunch and dinner
167 is an intimate little spot with only 24 seats offering daily nigiri, sashimi and futomaki rolls and an array of unique hot items from the “izakaya” side of the menu.
FishBowl
Inexpensive
433 King St. (843) 640-3925
pokestopchs.com/fishbowl
Open daily lunch and dinner
Fuji
Expensive
585 King St. (843) 459-2888
Fujicharleston.com
Open daily lunch and dinner
Hokkaido Sushi & Hibachi
Moderate
99 Westedge St., Ste. 1600 (843) 501-7296
Hokkaidocharleston.net
Open Tuesday to Sunday lunch and dinner
Kanji
Inexpensive
1300 Savannah Hwy, Unit 1. (843) 766-6669
Kanjicharleston.com
Open daily lunch and dinner
MESU
Expensive
570 King St. (843) 438-6640
Mesuchs.com
Open daily dinner and late night
O-Ku
Expensive
463 King St. (843) 737-0112
O-kusushi.com
Open daily dinner
This longtime favorite spot helped revive the dining scene on Upper King Street and is well worth a stop for a plate of tataki or their most excellent scallop crudo.
SHIKI
Expensive
334 East Bay St. (843) 720-8568
Shikicharleston.com
Open Monday to Friday lunch and dinner, Saturday dinner
Sushi 101 on King
Inexpensive
306 King St. (843) 764-3636
Open daily lunch and dinner
Sushi-Wa Izakaya
Expensive
1503 King St. (843) 735-8633
Open Wednesday to Sunday dinner
Sushi-Wa isn’t the typical sushi joint in Charleston. Offering only nigiri omakase-style dining, guests can get tastes of more fresh seafood than the standard tuna or salmon, like sea urchin, mackerel or Kagoshima A5 wagyu beef.
Wasabi
Expensive
1121 Oakland Market St., Ste. P
(843) 284-8337
Open Tuesday to Sunday lunch and dinner
James Island/Folly Beach
James Island Fire Grill Hibachi Sushi
Moderate
1411 Folly Road. (843) 501-7771
Jamesislandfiregrill.com
Open daily lunch and dinner
Jiang’s Asian Kitchen
Moderate
520 Folly Road. (843) 406-0508
Jiangsasiankitchen.com
Open daily lunch and dinner
Kanji
Inexpensive
807 Folly Road. (843) 779-6888
kanjisushihibachi.com
Open daily lunch and dinner
Snapper Jack’s
Moderate
10 Center St., (854) 800-4048
snapperjacks.net
Open Thursday to Sunday lunch and dinner
This Folly Beach favorite seafood-heavy bar also offers a full sushi menu. The Folly Roll holds tempura lobster, avocado, crab and cream cheese. Topped with filet mignon, wasabi sauce, spicy mayo, sriracha and green onions.
Mt. Pleasant & Daniel Island
Fuji
Expensive
644 Long Point Road. (843) 856-5798
2114 Hwy 41, Unit 100. (843) 631-1448
Fujicharleston.com
Open daily lunch and dinner
Sit at the chef’s counter at Fuji to watch sushi rolls be made right before your eyes | Photos by Rūta Smith
Kanji
Inexpensive
1039 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., Unit 11
(843) 888-8898
Kanjicharleston.com
Open daily lunch and dinner
Kanpai
Moderate
1035 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., Ste. B-9
(843) 388-8001
Kanpai-japanese-restaurant.business.site
Open Tuesday to Saturday dinner
Locals
Moderate
1150 Queensborough Blvd., Ste. B.
(843) 388-5114
Localssushi.com
Open daily lunch and dinner
Mix a bar with some experimental sushi and you have Locals. A different type of sushi place, enjoy a cold beer and some sports on TV with your roll.
Wasabi
Moderate
194 Seven Farms Drive (843) 388-8828
Wasabirestaurantgroup.com
Open Monday to Friday lunch and dinner, Saturday dinner
North Charleston
Ginza Japanese Grill
Inexpensive
5647 Rivers Ave. (803) 774-4745
Ginzagrillmenu.com
Open daily lunch and dinner
Mei Thai
Inexpensive
7685 Northwoods Blvd. (843) 824-8887
Meithaicharleston.com
Open Monday to Saturday lunch and dinner
Mei Thai has a lot to offer besides just sushi. Get a taste of authentic Filipino and Thai cuisine in addition to sushi rolls.
Seasons of Japan
Inexpensive
7620 Rivers Ave. #330. (843) 572-2818
4948 Center Pointe Drive #105. (843) 554-7544
Seasonsofjapan.com
Open daily lunch and dinner
Taste of Tokyo
Inexpensive
3032 W Montague Ave. #204. (843) 566-5200
Tasteoftokyosc.com
Open daily lunch and dinner
Summerville
Bushido
Moderate
9730 Dorchester Rd. Unit 106-107. (843) 695-8777
Bushidosummerville.com
Open daily lunch and dinner
Fuji
Expensive
501 Front St. (843) 879-9555
Open daily lunch and dinner
Kanji
Inexpensive
1211 North Main St. B. (843) 900-5854
Kanjicharleston.com
Open daily lunch and dinner
Sushi 201
Moderate
103 S. Main St. (843) 285-5357
Sushi201.menufy.com
Open daily lunch and dinner
It’s a little further out if you’re coming from the peninsula, but it’s worth the trip. Sushi 201 keeps it rolling with an expansive menu and quality rolls at affordable prices.
Wasabi Japanese Steakhouse
Moderate
202 Berkeley Cir. (843) 821-9292
Wasabiofsummerville.com
Open daily lunch and dinner
West Ashley
Bushido
Moderate
1975 Magwood Dr. (843) 573-2440
Order.bushidojapaneserestaurant.com
Open daily lunch and dinner
Ginza Japanese Grill
Inexpensive
946 Orleans Rd. #G1. (843) 297-4199
Ginzagrillmenu.com
Open daily lunch and dinner
Hachiya Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar
Moderate
688 Citadel Haven Dr. (843) 571-6025
Hachiyakyoto.com
Open Tuesday to Sunday dinner
Ichiban Steak House & Asian Fusion
Inexpensive
1716 Old Towne Road, (843) 641-0066
Ichibancharleston.com
Open daily lunch and dinner
Ichiban is a great choice for lunch, with affordable lunch deals such as its Maki B, offering spicy crab, spicy tuna and spicy salmon rolls for less than $15. Or, if you’re feeling dinner with a loved one, grab a sushi boat.
King’s Sushi
Inexpensive
1119 Wappoo Road #H. (843) 737-5211
Open daily lunch and dinner
All you can eat sushi at an affordable price for quality rolls. Need I say more?
Kobe Grill
Inexpensive
1836 Ashley River Road #O. (843) 297-8097
Kobegrillsc.com
Open daily lunch and dinner
Locals
Moderate
1690 Olde Towne Road. (843) 763-3908
Localssushi.com
Open daily lunch and dinner
Osaka Asian Bistro
Inexpensive
100 Folly Road. (843) 852-9979
Osakacharlestonsc.com
Open daily lunch and dinner
Poke Burri
Moderate
835 Savannah Hwy. (843) 887-8744
Pokeburri.com
Open daily Tuesday to Saturday lunch and dinner
Though ‘poke’ is in its name, Poke Burri also offers a selection of sushi rolls, just not the ones you’re used to. The sushi burrito, you’ve perhaps heard of, but what about a sushi donut?
Zen Asian Fusion
Expensive
2037 Sam Rittenberg Blvd. (843) 766–6331
Zenasianrestaurant.com
Open daily lunch and dinner
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