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    Ran Zan Japanese Restaurant

    4.0 (165 reviews)
    ModerateJapanese, Sushi Bars
    Closed 5:00 pm - 8:30 PM

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    Takoyaki
    Otniel L.

    I've lived in Rhode Island for over 30 years and this is by far the best sushi restaurant in lil Rhody, if you got a problem with that, then please give me other candidates...I'll wait, lol. Well, I won't get into the weeds of all the sushi I've had here, but the Dragon Roll is my favorite as well as the Takoyaki appetizers. The Takoyaki has a crispy outer shell with a creamy octopus filled center, if you enjoy octopus, then I think you'll absolutely love this dish. The Dragon Roll as well as the other sushi always tastes fresh and the key is also having the right rice to fish/veggie ratio. The staff is so nice, friendly and informative. I've been here so many times and I'll keep coming back as long as they remain consistent, it's been 10 years strong for me and it's always BOMB.COM!!! -ODL Follow my IG: @AOEAT

    Annie R.

    This is hands down my favorite sushi spot in RI...actually in the US so far! It's so authentic, fresh, crave-worthy, and delicious! I can eat at this spot every single day if I could. It's a very cozy and and Japanese style restaurant. It's A bit small and probably has about 8-10 small tables there. But every time we go it's mostly packed! And the staff is soooooooooo sweet! Like I don't even care how long it takes them to get my food out bc they are just so nice. So yes, be patient with them as they tend to be short staff. But their food is soooooooo worth it. I'm a regular and will be going back constantly!

    Rainbow roll
    Aheli P.

    This my favorite sushi spots in Providence. We stopped by late on a Wednesday night, and got counter seats (my personal favorite spot). We tried: - age dashi tofu (friend tofu in a dashi broth) - hamachi (yellow tail) nigiri - sake (salmon) sashimi - unagi (eel) nigiri - spicy scallop roll (off menu) - rainbow roll You get two pieces for nigiri and sushi, and 3 pieces for the salmon. The quality of the fish is incredible. The yellowtail was one of the best cuts of fish I've ever tasted. We went back for seconds! The pricing is incredibly affordable and the staff is the sweetest.

    Caitlin T.

    Ran Zan is the most authentic Japanese restaurant in RI. This is coming from a very picky LA- native of Japanese descent. Their more traditional dishes are really the highlight, like the Japanese pickles and ume plum shaved ice during the summer. They are so kind and the inside is really quaint and reminds me of Japanese restaurants I grew up going to. It can take a while to get food when it's busy, so I'd recommend picking up. They don't often pick up the phone, so you have to order in person.

    Jamie D.

    Everyone around me hyped up how this is their go to Japanese restaurant especially for sushi. I don't know if I would say it's the first choice or completely agree. I think the quality and the taste was great but it seems like there weren't many things on the menu available. The service was amazing and super friendly. I think there must be things that are must get here and I didn't get it, so I'm not particularly in love with this place. I'll be back so they can prove me wrong!

    Sashimi Deluxe
    Anna K.

    I soooooo wanted to love this restaurant because it's small family business and is definitely the most traditional Japanese restaurant that I've found in Rhode Island. Unfortunately, the quality of my experience did not even come close to expectations. I ordered the sashimi deluxe, which was only so-so. The fish quality was not very fresh and tasted slightly fishy. The unagi nigiri was okay, and probably the best part of the meal. I went with a group of 4 people. My friends ordered the pork katsu, udon, and unaju. The sushi bar dishes came out relatively quickly (about 30 minutes), but the cooked dishes took around 1.5 hours to come out. We came right when the restaurant opened so we were surprised that it took so long. The restaurant itself is pretty typical for a standard traditional Japanese restaurant (dining area and sushi bar seating). The noise level was quiet-moderate. I really loved all the art on the walls. Overall, was okay for a one-time try, but I probably wouldn't come back.

    The master at his sushi bar.
    TJ S.

    When I want authentic Japanese food that I grew up in Tokyo, Ranzan is where I go. It is not a "trendy" fusion Japanese/Asian place that pretends and looks like Japanese. This place is the real thing. If you prefer the subtle seasoning and delicate presentation of real Japanese food, then go there. It is a small joint with very simple decor. Nothing fancy about it but the food is why you want to come here. The Japanese owner couple has been running this place for over 17 years. This is a timeless expression of passion for the authentic food prepared the way I know them to be true. You will not find stupid "hibachi" tricks that you will in so many fake Japanese restaurants like Ichigo Ichie.

    Dragon Roll  Crab Nigiri Etc.
    Matthew Y.

    A pretty satisfying meal I had for my first time eating at this restaurant. The waiter was a very nice young man whom seated my wife and I promptly. The place is smaller than your everyday restaurant, but that's just how it is in Japan. I did order the Tako Yaki, but it seemed like they didn't have any left, which was a downer of course, but the sushi made up for it. The Mrs. and I ordered a small meal to share between the two of us since the prices for the nigiri was a tad much. When the meal arrived in a shorter waiting period than expected, it came neatly organized on a wooden board type structure. Enjoyed every bite! There was a misunderstanding when it came to paying for our meal, but that didn't hinder the overall experience.

    Sushi small lunch

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    Amazing sushi. The best outside of Boston. Small place so you have to wait and be polite but it is worth the wait.

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    2 years ago

    Great food. Excellent Service. Cool, relaxed atmosphere. My child loves watching the Japanese television feed at the sushi bar.

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    Somo Kitchen and Sushi

    Somo Kitchen and Sushi

    4.3
    (207 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$

    Wow! So we almost left because parking in this area is atrocious! I'm so glad we didn't leave…read morebecause it is by far the best sushi I've had in all over Rhode Island!! From the miso soup, Korean dumplings to the Philadelphia sushi roll I had! Very friendly service along with the delicious food! Such beautiful decorations inside that make you smile when you walk in! My husband had the caterpillar remix and dragon with a side of sweet eel sauce and he was in heaven! My son had a Philadelphia roll and the à la carte nagari with salmon and he was so happy and he said it's the best sushi he's ever had! My husband lived in Japan for 6 months and he was very impressed by the quality and taste of the food we had today! We got to meet the chef and he was amazing and humble and sweet! You need to stop here and try it for yourself!

    We found this sushi spot on our way back from my son's soccer game after seeing the high ratings…read moreand multiple posts advertising it as a top Yelp location. With a 4.6 rating, we were genuinely excited to try it. Walking in, first impressions were great. The inside of the restaurant was super cute, the artwork was beautifully done, and the initial greeting was welcoming. Unfortunately, things started going downhill pretty quickly after that. We had a few questions about the menu, but the hostess seemed confused and didn't really understand what we were asking, so we ultimately just gave up and ordered what sounded good. Food-wise, it was very mixed. The sushi roll was phenomenal...genuinely the best part of the experience, and my son absolutely loved his. The shrimp udon was okay, but the portion was noticeably smaller than what most sushi places serve. The salmon poke bowl was very basic and honestly underwhelming. I also asked for spicy mayo, which was never brought out. The biggest disappointment was the service. Paying $4 for a canned soda with no refills already felt excessive, but when my son accidentally spilled it, we cleaned it up immediately ourselves. No one offered extra napkins, replaced the plate, or even asked if we wanted another drink. It just felt inattentive from start to finish. To make matters worse, one staff member was sitting at the bar listening to something loudly on a laptop, which completely took away from the atmosphere and felt unprofessional. As someone who used to waitress, I understand the service industry and I'm usually a generous tipper. But I also believe tips reflect service, and unfortunately this experience missed the mark. After picking up our receipt, the hostess was visibly unhappy with the tip amount and had no issue making that clear which only reinforced the poor experience. I very rarely leave one-star reviews, but for a place with a 4.6 star reputation and "top-rated" marketing, this was incredibly disappointing. Cute atmosphere and one great sushi roll aside, the service and overall experience were just not what we expected.

    Photos
    Inside decor
    Inside decor
    Chicken Karaage
    Chicken Karaage
    Main bar

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    Main bar
    Haruki East

    Haruki East

    3.9
    (346 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    I've been coming to Haruki East for at least 15 years, which is probably the strongest endorsement…read moreI can give any restaurant. In a state with no shortage of sushi options, this has remained my go-to spot year after year. At this point, I think I've tried either everything on the menu or come pretty close to it. That's what happens when you keep returning to the same place for over a decade. The reason I keep coming back is simple: consistency. The fish is always fresh, the sushi is well prepared, and the food is reliably good. If I order something cooked, it arrives hot and exactly as expected. There are restaurants where you're rolling the dice every visit. Haruki East has never felt like one of them. The restaurant itself is clean, comfortable, and easy to get to. The location is convenient, and the prices are very reasonable considering the quality of the food. That's become increasingly rare these days. The only reason I'm stopping at four stars instead of five is the service. While I've never had a genuinely bad experience here, the last few visits have been noticeably slower than I remember. Service has also felt a bit inattentive at times, and these weren't during packed dinner rushes or busy weekend nights. Nothing terrible, just enough that I found myself waiting longer than expected for drinks, check-ins, or the bill. That said, the food continues to be excellent, and that's ultimately why I keep coming back. After 15 years, Haruki East has earned a level of trust that few restaurants achieve. When I'm craving sushi, this is still the place I think of first. The occasional service hiccup hasn't been enough to change that. If you're looking for fresh fish, a broad menu, reasonable prices, and a restaurant with a long track record of getting the important things right, Haruki East remains one of the best choices in Rhode Island.

    Lots of great sushi options. Great place for a date night or going out with friends. Really cool…read morevibes too.

    Photos
    The sushi bar at Haruki East
    The sushi bar at Haruki East
    Sashimi - Seabass (left) Bluefin Tuna (center) Salmon (right)
    Sashimi - Seabass (left) Bluefin Tuna (center) Salmon (right)
    Interior

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    Interior
    Den Den Cafe Asiana

    Den Den Cafe Asiana

    4.3
    (896 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    I don't get to this Den Den location as often as I want to! It's super casual and delicious. I have…read morebeen really looking forward to trying their soft tofu stew but instead ordered the Japchae noodles. Very good! For the table we had edamame and dumplings too.

    Den Den Cafe Asiana is a Korean and Japanese cafe style restaurant steps away from RISD and Brown…read moreon College Hill in Providence, and it operates with a counter service format where I ordered at the front and the food came to my table. I walked into a space that is small and moody, the kind of room that feels lived in rather than designed for a particular aesthetic, and it suited the casual neighborhood feel of the surrounding area. The hot stone bibimbap is the dish that comes up most consistently and with the most enthusiasm. I ordered it and the stone bowl arrived sizzling. The rice along the bottom edges got crispy against the heat in a way that changed the texture and flavor of the whole dish as I ate through it. The beef and mushroom tofu versions are both well executed, and the egg on top finished the bowl correctly. The katsu is a solid option for anyone coming in looking for something more straightforward. I tried it and the breading was crispy while the cutlet inside stayed tender, and the sauce ratio was handled well rather than drowning what was underneath. The gyoza, japchae, seafood pancakes, and yaki soba fill out a menu that covers enough ground to satisfy a table with different preferences. Side dishes are served in modest portions, which was the main point of friction for me since I am used to more generous banchan. Food came out at a good pace and arrived hot. For Korean and Japanese comfort food in Providence, Den Den is a reliable and genuinely satisfying stop.

    Photos
    Den Den Cafe Asiana
    Den Den Hot Stone Bibimbap
    Den Den Hot Stone Bibimbap
    Den Den Hot Stone Bibimbap (Soy marinated beef)

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    Den Den Hot Stone Bibimbap (Soy marinated beef)

    Ran Zan Japanese Restaurant - japanese - Updated July 2026

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