Delaware diners enthusiastically embraced sushi and sashimi in the late 20th century. At the time, Japanese finger foods were mainly available in small Asian restaurants.
No longer.
Today, sushi appears on mainstream concepts’ menus. Meanwhile, many ethnic eateries that offer sushi fuse multiple cuisines. Here are 18 examples of the traditional and the avant-garde.
The OG: The Cultured Pearl
Susan Wood made waves when she opened a Rehoboth Beach sushi restaurant in 1993. Back then, even D.C. tourists were skittish about raw fish. But Wood and her husband, Rob, wooed them with cooked options and entrees. The couple kept their standards high. For instance, chefs break down whole fish on-site. The upstairs deck with koi “canals” is a distinctive draw.
301 Rehoboth Avenue, Rehoboth Beach | 227-8493
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Tried & True: Kyoto Japanese Cuisine
For 20 years, this Pike Creek eatery mainly drew inspiration from Japan. However, now there are Thai items. Creative takes include the Kennett Square Roll with grilled steak, crab stick, tomato, mayo and eel sauce.
4563 New Linden Hill Road, Wilmington | 368-9882
Urban Attitude: Mikimotos & Stingray Sushi Bar + Asian Grill
The late Darius Mansoory opened Mikimotos in 2000 to combine upscale sushi and hip cocktails. The downtown Wilmington restaurant’s sushi menu is extensive, but the Hairy Mexican roll (fried shrimp, avocado, spicy mayo and eel sauce) has been a favorite for 24 years.
1212 Washington Street, Wilmington | 656-8638
Mansoory initially opened Stingray in Rehoboth to fuse Latin and Asian cuisine. Today, the melting pot focuses on Asian flavors. Picture dim sum, potstickers and sushi. Like Mikimotos, the atmosphere is lounge-like yet modern. The restaurant also sports an outdoor section.
59 Lake Avenue, Rehoboth Beach | 227-6476
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A Labor of Love: Takumi
Sushi chef Hideyuki Okubo and his wife, Jessie, met while working at Utage, one of the area’s first Japanese restaurants. When Utage closed, the couple opened Takumi and added Chinese dishes from her native homeland. Okubo goes beyond salmon and tuna to offer striped bass, mackerel, octopus and clams.
1601 Concord Pike, Wilmington | 658-8887
The Concord Pike Connection: Le Shio, Jasmine and Masamoto
Takumi is the first in a string of sushi restaurants on Concord Pike (Route 202). Next is Le Shio, which has an impressive sushi menu and Thai and Chinese dishes.
2303 Concord Pike, Wilmington | 888-0145
Five minutes up the highway, Jasmine has expanded and downsized a few times but remains a steady Brandywine Hundred presence. Sushi specialties include the 202 roll with spicy tuna, mango and avocado, topped with spicy mayo and eel sauce. Chinese, Thai and Korean entrees demonstrate Jasmine’s diversity.
3618 Concord Pike, Wilmington | 479-5618
After crossing the Pennsylvania border, check out Masamoto in Glen Mills. This restaurant primarily serves Japanese and Chinese dishes. Hardcore sushi lovers come for the monkfish liver.
1810 Wilmington Pike, Glen Mills | 610-358-5538
Maki in Middletown: Sushi Yama and Kiku Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar
Sushi Yama might serve lemongrass soup, but its focus is mainly on special rolls, traditional maki, teriyaki and other Japanese favorites.
572 W. Main Street, Middletown | 376-8680
Kiku Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar boasts a large bar with vibrant underlighting and hibachi grills for dinner and a show. The rolls demonstrate the chefs’ creativity. Consider the Pink Lady: lobster salad, avocado, and mango rolled in a soybean wrapper with wasabi sauce.
417 S. Ridge Avenue, Middletown | 378-8868
Strange Bedfellows: Pizzeria Maki
According to Google search data, pizza is the world’s most popular takeout food, and sushi isn’t far behind. The founders of Pizzeria Maki decided to marry the two. Well, not literally—there are menus for pizza and sushi. However, ingredients cross over in innovative ways.
4007 Kennett Pike, Greenville | 654-8693
45 Baltimore Pike, Glen Mills | 484-800-4976
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Craving Sushi in the Capitol: Chaiyo Sushi & Thai
There is a plethora of Thai dishes at Chaiyo. However, it’s one of the few sushi-centric spots with a menu section for poke bowls. Veggie rolls also get their category.
1030 Forrest Avenue, #116, Dover | 678-0111
1151 E. Lebanon Road, Dover | 538-5216
Rolling Down Route 1: Tokyo Steakhouse and Saketumi
Once, it was hard to find an upscale restaurant on Coastal Highway, let alone an Asian restaurant. Now, two are within close proximity.
You can’t miss Tokyo Steakhouse. It’s the pagoda-like structure next to Home Depot. While best known for its grill, the restaurant also offers sushi, sashimi and rolls.
17906 Coastal Highway, Lewes | 645-9728
Saketumi specializes in sushi and Japanese dishes, as well as Chinese, Korean and Thai fare. Try the Tuna, Tuna Surprise (TTS), which features blackened tuna, asparagus, sweet goma (sesame) sauce and wasabi aioli, draped with tuna and sprinkled with tobiko and chives.
18814 Coastal Highway, Rehoboth Beach | 645-2818
A Happy Surprise: Striper Bites and Big Fish Grill Rehoboth
Striper Bites in downtown Lewes mainly takes an American approach. Think crab cakes, grilled salmon and fish stew. However, there is a section for sushi rolls, including the Firecracker Tuna Roll, which has spicy tuna, jalapeno, cucumber, sriracha and spicy mayo.
107 Savannah Road, Lewes | 645-4657
The flagship Big Fish Grill at the entrance to Rehoboth Beach serves seafood and shellfish dishes to please multigenerational families. But it also appeals to sushi fanatics. There are more than 15 sushi, sashimi and roll selections. Moreover, you can add extra avocado, Maryland crab and wasabi mayo.
20298 Coastal Highway, Rehoboth Beach | 227-3474
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AYCE: Sakura
Sakura’s all-you-can-eat sushi option is made to order to ensure that customers get fresh ingredients and reduce food waste.
4713 Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington | 660-8981
The Next Generation: Yuzu Sushi
John “Yanni” Lambrinos was 16 when he began climbing the kitchen ladder at Flying Fish Café & Sushi Bar. Now, his family owns Yuzu Sushi in Flying Fish’s old Village of Fenwick location. Many rolls have beachy names or coastal flair. Consider the Spider Pig, tempura soft-shell crab with bacon, Old Bay, avocado and spicy mayo.
300 Coastal Highway, Unit 7, Fenwick Island | 443-880-4738
Related: Where to Find Mouthwatering Avocado Toast in Delaware
