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King of the Roll, Portland.
King of the Roll, Portland.
Adam H. Callaghan/Eater

The Essential Sushi Restaurants in Maine

From Portland to Brewer, these places slice like a ninja, cut like a razor blade.

by Adam H. Callaghan
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King of the Roll, Portland.
| Adam H. Callaghan/Eater
by Adam H. Callaghan

Sometimes you don't want your seafood fried or steamed, simply sliced, perhaps rolled, and certainly served raw. With that said, outstanding lobster shacks abound, but Maine's top sushi spots are trickier to track. Here are eleven that know their way around fresh fish. Are there others you think are to die for? Share in the comments. Note: map points are ordered roughly south to north.

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Yosaku

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The sushi here is solid, and what better place to enjoy it than that beautiful patio?

[Photo: Courtesy of Yosaku]

1 Danforth St, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 780-0880
(207) 780-0880

Miyake

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A truly world-class experience in Portland, chef Masa Miyake's eponymous sushi temple is for fish fanatics, not bargain hunters.

[Photo: Courtesy of Miyake]

468 Fore St, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 871-9170
(207) 871-9170

Pai Men Miyake

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The casual offshoot of Miyake, Pai Men focuses on ramen but offers a handful of excellent sushi rolls, including the Maine Crab with broiled mayo glaze. There's a better beer selection to wash it down with here, too.

[Photo: Courtesy of Pai Men Miyake]

188 State St, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 541-9204
(207) 541-9204

Also featured in:

Benkay Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar

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Willing to set aside freedom of choice and pay a little extra? Then pony up to the bar and order the omakase, or chef's tasting menu. Available at many sushi bars and done exceptionally well here, this style of prix fixe affords unique items and the best the chef has to offer.

[Photo: Courtesy of Seiji A./Yelp]

2 India St, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 773-5555
(207) 773-5555

Kushiya Benkay

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Seemingly less popular than its sister restaurant Benkay, this well-positioned locale offers simple, tasty rolls for $3 (and yakitori skewers for $2) from 5 p.m. to close. Be ready for a sugar rush if you take advantage of the $10 deal on 40 ounce Mai Tais, though.

[Photo: Courtesy of Seiji A./Yelp]

653 Congress St, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 619-7505
(207) 619-7505

Also featured in:

King of the Roll

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It helps to know the highlights of the low-priced menu here, including nigiri selections like ankimo (monkfish liver, often called the foie gras of the sea for its richness) and the ice cream cone-shaped Baha Scallop Hand Roll, which is both delicious and fun to eat.

[Photo: Adam H. Callaghan/Eater]

675 Congress St, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 828-8880
(207) 828-8880

Suzuki's Sushi Bar

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Owner Keiko Suzuki and her team of female chefs run the midcoast's ultimate sushi destination. The quality here can't be beat, and the prices aren't bad either considering the amount of local ingredients used in the kitchen.

[Photo: Courtesy of Suzuki's]

419 Main St, Rockland, ME 04841
(207) 596-7447
(207) 596-7447

Mr. Wat

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The sushi plays second fiddle to the Thai dishes at Mr. Wat, but the rolls at this small spot are generally satisfying and priced cheaply.

[Photo: Courtesy of Mr. Wat]

106 Commercial Street, Rockport, ME 04856
(207) 230-7315
(207) 230-7315

Yoshi Japanese Restaurant

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Sure enough, Brewer has a lovely sushi spot in Yoshi. Enjoy a wide variety of special rolls, sashimi, or nigiri at a western-style table or on a pillow on the floor in the traditional Japanese way.

[Photo: Courtesy of Yoshi]

373 Wilson St #2, Brewer, ME 04412
(207) 989-9688
(207) 989-9688

Ichiban Sushi Bar

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With around 70 maki rolls ranging from classic to quirky, Ichiban has something for everyone. Try the Halloween Roll, an unusual selection with pumpkin tempura, avocado, and cream cheese.

[Photo: Courtesy of Ichiban]

[Photo: Courtesy of SOURCE]

226 Union St, Bangor, ME 04401
(207) 262-9308
(207) 262-9308

Kobe Japanese Grill & Sushi Bar

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This hibachi and sushi "ninja house" slashes prices during its long Happy Hour, Tuesday and Thursday 4 to 8 p.m. It also claims its Tokyo Monster — a pink soybean sheet stuffed with shrimp tempura and topped with a baked sea scallop, parmesan, crab meat, sauteed onions, and "exotic caviar" — is the "Biggest Roll in Maine!"

[Photo: Courtesy of Kobe]

829 Hogan Rd, Bangor, ME 04401
(207) 992-9983
(207) 992-9983
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Yosaku

1 Danforth St, Portland, ME 04101
The sushi here is solid, and what better place to enjoy it than that beautiful patio?

[Photo: Courtesy of Yosaku]

1 Danforth St, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 780-0880
(207) 780-0880

Miyake

468 Fore St, Portland, ME 04101
A truly world-class experience in Portland, chef Masa Miyake's eponymous sushi temple is for fish fanatics, not bargain hunters.

[Photo: Courtesy of Miyake]

468 Fore St, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 871-9170
(207) 871-9170

Pai Men Miyake

188 State St, Portland, ME 04101
The casual offshoot of Miyake, Pai Men focuses on ramen but offers a handful of excellent sushi rolls, including the Maine Crab with broiled mayo glaze. There's a better beer selection to wash it down with here, too.

[Photo: Courtesy of Pai Men Miyake]

188 State St, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 541-9204
(207) 541-9204

Benkay Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar

2 India St, Portland, ME 04101
Willing to set aside freedom of choice and pay a little extra? Then pony up to the bar and order the omakase, or chef's tasting menu. Available at many sushi bars and done exceptionally well here, this style of prix fixe affords unique items and the best the chef has to offer.

[Photo: Courtesy of Seiji A./Yelp]

2 India St, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 773-5555
(207) 773-5555

Kushiya Benkay

653 Congress St, Portland, ME 04101
Seemingly less popular than its sister restaurant Benkay, this well-positioned locale offers simple, tasty rolls for $3 (and yakitori skewers for $2) from 5 p.m. to close. Be ready for a sugar rush if you take advantage of the $10 deal on 40 ounce Mai Tais, though.

[Photo: Courtesy of Seiji A./Yelp]

653 Congress St, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 619-7505
(207) 619-7505

King of the Roll

675 Congress St, Portland, ME 04101
It helps to know the highlights of the low-priced menu here, including nigiri selections like ankimo (monkfish liver, often called the foie gras of the sea for its richness) and the ice cream cone-shaped Baha Scallop Hand Roll, which is both delicious and fun to eat.

[Photo: Adam H. Callaghan/Eater]

675 Congress St, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 828-8880
(207) 828-8880

Suzuki's Sushi Bar

419 Main St, Rockland, ME 04841
Owner Keiko Suzuki and her team of female chefs run the midcoast's ultimate sushi destination. The quality here can't be beat, and the prices aren't bad either considering the amount of local ingredients used in the kitchen.

[Photo: Courtesy of Suzuki's]

419 Main St, Rockland, ME 04841
(207) 596-7447
(207) 596-7447

Mr. Wat

106 Commercial Street, Rockport, ME 04856
The sushi plays second fiddle to the Thai dishes at Mr. Wat, but the rolls at this small spot are generally satisfying and priced cheaply.

[Photo: Courtesy of Mr. Wat]

106 Commercial Street, Rockport, ME 04856
(207) 230-7315
(207) 230-7315

Yoshi Japanese Restaurant

373 Wilson St #2, Brewer, ME 04412
Sure enough, Brewer has a lovely sushi spot in Yoshi. Enjoy a wide variety of special rolls, sashimi, or nigiri at a western-style table or on a pillow on the floor in the traditional Japanese way.

[Photo: Courtesy of Yoshi]

373 Wilson St #2, Brewer, ME 04412
(207) 989-9688
(207) 989-9688

Ichiban Sushi Bar

226 Union St, Bangor, ME 04401
With around 70 maki rolls ranging from classic to quirky, Ichiban has something for everyone. Try the Halloween Roll, an unusual selection with pumpkin tempura, avocado, and cream cheese.

[Photo: Courtesy of Ichiban]

[Photo: Courtesy of SOURCE]

226 Union St, Bangor, ME 04401
(207) 262-9308
(207) 262-9308

Kobe Japanese Grill & Sushi Bar

829 Hogan Rd, Bangor, ME 04401
This hibachi and sushi "ninja house" slashes prices during its long Happy Hour, Tuesday and Thursday 4 to 8 p.m. It also claims its Tokyo Monster — a pink soybean sheet stuffed with shrimp tempura and topped with a baked sea scallop, parmesan, crab meat, sauteed onions, and "exotic caviar" — is the "Biggest Roll in Maine!"

[Photo: Courtesy of Kobe]

829 Hogan Rd, Bangor, ME 04401
(207) 992-9983
(207) 992-9983