by Nicholas Gill

Kihachi
2667 Federated Blvd
Columbus, OH 43235
614-764-9040

Catering mostly to a Japanese business clientele, this restaurant has managed to go relatively unnoticed until recently when every food critic in town began putting it on their top ten lists. Chef-owner Ryuji “Mike” Kimura runs this cutting edge restaurant in an unassuming Dublin shopping center. Many of the dishes, including the sushi, are based on what is fresh and available, often things of extraordinarily high quality. If you’re not after sushi there’s always the Sake steamed Duck or Shabu-Shabu.

Sapporo Sushi Factory
732 N. State Street
Westerville, OH
43082
614-895-7575

Formerly called Sapporo Wind when it was located on Cleveland Avenue, Sapporo Sushi Factory is still making a name for itself in the burbs. Executive chef originally hails from Japan and has decades of experience. Quality and skill are unparalleled at this not overly commercial or advertised restaurant on the north side. They have a long, long sushi menu, probably the longest in town, and one of the most original. For instance, the Horo Special Open Face Sushi is a crispy layer of rice overflowing with chunks of fresh fish in a creamy sauce. The Spicy Beef Roll: cooked spicy beef wrapped in soybean paper doesn’t lack creativity either.

by Nicholas Gill

Bento Go-Go
1728 N High St
Columbus, OH 43201

This restaurant is based on Japanese bento boxes, which combine a variety of small dishes in a divided box, often for take out. May of the boxes include sushi and it is available a la carte as well. As far as value goes, this is an excellent option and nice choice for those who don’t get too adventurous with their rolls and sashimi. The Crunching Buckeye Roll is a popular option and combines Unagi, Crabstick, and candied pecans. Bento Go-Go has a large selection of standards such as California rolls and Spicy Tuna, with several good sampler trays too. The upstairs is a trendy sake bar with live DJ’s that attract an edgy crowd from the Ohio State University campus.

by Nicholas Gill

Haiku
800 N High St
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 294-8168
Like a Haiku, sushi can be a form of poetry as well. Rice is rolled perfectly around a single ingredient, or group of, much like the balancing point in the middle of a Haiku. The restaurant is one of the longest running and most successful sushi restaurants in central Ohio. Haiku has one of the largest and most original sushi menus in town, with more than 50 options including nigiri, vegetarian rolls, hand rolls, and a long varied list of specialty rolls.

by Nicholas Gill

Nida’s Sushi
59 Spruce St
Columbus, OH 43215
614-228-4470
It’s just a small collection of appliances and a bar that takes a form of a stall in the North Market. Surprisingly Nida’s is quite good though and is great for take out too. The prices are very reasonable for the quality of the product and the craftsmanship. The selection is somewhat limited to standard maki and nigiri, and they will even sell you sushi grade fish and all other sorts of accessories.