All the positive Yelp reviews had us excited. But either we went to the wrong Sushi Circle, or we went on a (very) bad day. Nothing about our lunch at this place was 4- or 5-star worthy. We ordered simply--ramen and some simple sushi (some nigiri and a spicy tuna roll). Also a green tea. I suspected something was wrong when I saw the chef shaking up a packet of powdered ramen mix. My fears were confirmed when we got the ramen--the broth tasted like salty bullion powder and the noodles were nothing more special than you would find in any package of instant ramen (the noodles even had "the wave" pattern that is the hallmark of instant ramen). The ramen came with tempura shrimp. You might think the shrimp tempura and a smattering of fresh mushrooms would at least make up for the fact that they are selling instant ramen for $10...but the mushrooms were just generic (raw) mushrooms and the "tempura" was cold (and I don't mean not warm, I mean like it had been prefried a long time ago and pulled out of the fridge) . The nigiri sushi was better--the fish was well kept and decently sliced. However, the portions of fish were small. The roll was just okay too. Oh, and the tea was watery. So tl;dr the sushi is okay (not great) but the ramen was insultingly bad. Too bad. The place is very cute so we were prepared to meet Sushi Circle more than halfway. But, alas. For what ended up being a $70 lunch for two, one can do much (much) better in Nashville. read more

Sushi Circle feels like one of those secret places, and doesn't need to be kept so hidden. You'll drive right past it if you're not on the lookout as it sits back off Woodland across from Basement East. There's off street parking in front which is helpful in this area. They have a small dining area with sushi bar, just a few tables and a larger one in back. Very friendly sushi chef, I assumed he's the owner. He had symphony music playing in the background which gave a lovely calming ambience to the room. They don't have a liquor license so it's BYOB. We tried the seaweed salad and two rolls- the Rock' N Roll and the Big Roll and enjoyed them both. They weren't oversized as they can be for specialty rolls at some places, but we're both tasty. Not pretentious at all, just an intimate place for good sushi when you're in the area. read more

So good! We went in on a rainy Friday night and sat at the sushi bar. Cute, little hole in the wall place. Low key and no frills, which tbh is a nice change from most sushi places that put on airs. Great sushi! They're getting their liquor license still but it's also BYOB. Go check it out. Cute hidden Lil east Nash gem The man who runs it brought us free edamame. Such a sweetheart! read more

Sushi was not bad. Rice wasn't cooked the best and fish was a bit over cut. Very cute older man and his wife run the place. No alcohol, but BYOB. Went to grab a single drink at the meadery next door after and was informed not to be parked there because he is tow happy. The sushi restaurant was then closed and the owner was still calling tow trucks to tow cars out. He must get a kickback. Was about to tow us but we caught it. Fuck this business. read more

Best sushi in Nashville if you're looking for the real stuff like nigiri, handrolls, simple cut rolls, etc!!! High quality fish every time. I ask myself why I don't come more often every time I eat there. Thank you, Mr. Lee! read more

Sushi Circle - Sweet shrimp, scallop handroll, spicy tuna cut roll, salmon and yellowtail nigiri - Sushi Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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This is a great little sushi restaurant. The food was delicious-I had unagi. The eel was very tender and flavorful. Excellent friendly service. It was a quick lunch. Their recent health department score was 100! read more

FYI -- They are about to open up and start serving Korean food!!! Get ready folks!

It's tough to choose which one to weigh in more for the review - just the actual food itself or the experience as a whole. Experience wise, it's awesome. Its BYOB and Weiss liquor is right down the street. It's small, clean, cute and there is excellent and quick service. Now for the food, I was really hoping the ramen would be bomb.com but it was just ok. It had thick noodles, a clear broth, shrimp tempura, mushrooms, green onions and egg. I got medium spice and didn't detect any chili at all. I've had tons of ramen in a variety of cities and this was more like a simple noodle soup than the traditional pork or chicken ramen that is slowly cooked for hours. However the sushi is what matters here and it was pretty good. We got an eel roll, a chef's roll and the spicy tuna roll. Everything tasted fresh and I really liked their ginger. Three rolls and a ramen cost us $36 without tip, it's a good value compared to similar restaurants in the area. It should be 4.5 stars but I had such high hopes for the ramen. The search for my go to ramen spot in Nashville continues.. read more

Sushi Circle - Ramen - medium spice level - Sushi Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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Good little hole in the wall sushi. Not the best sushi in the entire world, but the owner welcomed us in, made our sushi quickly. Sushi was presentable and an experience was enjoyable. Plus, we expected a cash only spot for being a hole in the wall, but they accepted card no problem. Also is BYOB which is a plus with how expensive alcohol is any more. Again, not the most delicious sushi, but was presentable and enjoyable. Would come back for sure! See photo of food after my boyfriend dug in without waiting.... read more

Sushi Circle - Sushi Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

I've been looking for a good local sushi place since I moved to Nashville a little under a year ago and I finally found it! Sushi Circle is tucked away in a little alcove directly across from the Basement East. We were greeted by the owner/sushi chef at the door and took a seat at the bar (there are also 3 small tables as well as an area in the back for larger groups). We ordered several pieces of nigiri sushi as well as a caterpillar roll. We were still hungry so we asked the chef to make 2 hand rolls for us (salmon avocado). All were reasonably priced. The fish was fresh and tasted great. Also BYOB!! We brought a bottle of wine and just asked for a few glasses and they were very accommodating. I can definitely see this place as my new go-to sushi spot! The only reason I gave 4 stars is because I think their rice could use a little seasoning, but I still think their sushi is the best in the area! I will warn you there is no ambience here. This is NOT a date night kind of spot. It's a very casual, no frills kind of place. There wasn't even music playing in the background or anything! They do takeout orders as well! read more

Sushi Circle - Behind the counter! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Wow where to start...the sushi was fast and the couple that own the place? seemed really sweet but the sushi was just bad. I gave the extra star for the couple and the quickness but the food deserved one star. I had the shrimp tempura roll, a cali roll and a miso soup. BASIC order and not what I would usually have but trying not to eat raw fish and seemed like something hard to mess up- WRONG! For starters the rice in the rolls tasted like it had no vinegar added and the rolls were weirdly mushy. The cali roll had an off-putting taste and the shrimp tempura was tiny and WAY overpriced for $12. As for the miso soup, no tofu, no seaweed-just mushrooms? at $3 I don't even understand what I was paying for. My order came to $22 and I ended up throwing half of it away. Maybe it was just an off night but I wont be back to find out. read more

This place is great. Fish is fresh, the couple that runs it are amazing. This guy knows his sushi. We had several nigiri and a couple rolls and not only is the fresh and flavorful but the rice is spot-on delicious. I've had better sushi on the coast, but this is certainly the best I've had in Nashville and it stands among many places I've been to in CA. There are a few negative reviews on here, and I honestly feel like they went to a different place. If you're craving sushi, go here. Also, it's BYOB so grab your sake from the store beforehand! read more

DO NOT GO HERE! My boyfriend and I are from New York. We are here visiting for my birthday. So of course, I wanted sushi. I went on trusty YELP and searched for sushi. And this place comes up. It was local, food looked good so we went! We get there and there was not ONE other person in the place. We sat in the car and contemplated for a few minutes asking each other if we should eat here or not because it was that SKETCHY! After about 10 minutes I said let's just go in. WORST MISTAKE EVER. We enter and there's only 2 people, the "chef" and the waitress. She let us pick out of the THREE tables where we wanted to sit. She hands up a piece of paper with the rolls and prices on it so we can mark what we wanted (not a big deal, I've been to other restaurants that do this), and a menu. We place our order and it took FOREVER. Mind you we only ordered 4 rolls, SIMPLE rolls too. California roll, salmon roll, etc. with no rice btw....well, when this plate of food came out I was SHOCKED. I couldn't believe that they would even serve what they served us. The rolls fell apart, the nori was WET. I don't know about you but sushi rolls shouldn't be wet. I took a piece of the salmon roll and immediately told my boyfriend not to eat it. It WAS NOT FRESH. It was grey in color and not an orange/pink vibrant color like it should be. We looked at each other like "what the hell do we do now?" I called the waitress over and told her that the food was not good and the fish was not fresh. The chef came over, grabbed our plate and yelled at us to "just leave" and continued to yell "don't play with me". He had the nerve to ask me if i even eat sushi! I said yes, about twice a week, I know my sushi and this is just terrible! I said this is why you have no customers. He yelled the whole time we were leaving. I would not recommend this place to anyone. I don't even know how they are still open! BTW ... I made this account JUST to write this review! That's how bad it was! DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME! read more

Sushi Circle - Sushi Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Very good sushi and friendly service tucked away in East Nashville. It's easy to miss since the storefront is set back from the street between a couple of buildings that are right up on the sidewalk. And their parking lot is pretty tight. But once you get inside, it's definitely worth the effort. Our sushi chef took good care of us with a constant smile. The sushi was beautiful and delicious. Prices were average for the area. Will definitely return soon. read more

Loved everything we ordered! They have some interesting specialty rolls I'd recommend (e.g., Nashville roll, which has seared salmon). Nice fresh fish. Super friendly people. We'll definitely be returning. read more

Sushi Circle - Sushi Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Excellent sushi that is meticulously prepared. Byob which is a win as well. Small inside but it adds to the cozy vibe. I am picky with fish quality and the nigiri was as good as any in town. read more

I was SO PSYCHED for Sushi Circle to open. I ate there last night (10/5/17) with a group of three. I'm sorry to say that it did not impress, though I hope if I come back in a month or two it will be better. Every new place has kinks, right? Sushi Circle is tucked behind Hosse & Hosse locksmith and has its own parking lot - MAJOR PLUS. You can't see it from Woodland Street. The first thing I noticed upon entering Sushi Circle was the strong smell of fish. If you eat a lot of sushi, you know this is typically not a good sign. (Spoiler alert: the fish was good.) The space is small, brightly lit, and dated, but clean. The menu is simple, with a couple of cooked appetizers (gyoza, edamame, etc.) and the rest is sushi. Standard nigiri options, basic rolls, and specialty rolls. The specialty roll options were very similar to each other, and heavy on the brown sauce/spicy mayo. During my visit there were only two staff - the sushi chef and a woman (his wife?) doing all FOH work - taking orders, bussing tables, register duty, etc. It took a very long time both to place our order and to get our food but it's a small place and I didn't mind the wait at all. Sushi Circle doesn't sell alcohol yet and we brought our own wine. Our server was very friendly and brought us out complimentary edamame along with the menus, a touch I very much appreciated. You order on a pad. All sushi is made at the sushi bar right in the middle of the small space, so you can see everything as it's being made. We ordered a few nigiri and some rolls. For nigiri we ordered mackerel, tomago, salmon, and inari, and all were good, though I've certainly had better. Spicy tuna roll was also good (not great). Here's the main problem: the specialty rolls we got were good but didn't come out as described on the menu. Rolls included ingredients not listed on the menu (a roll that wasn't supposed to have cream cheese had cream cheese) and were missing listed ingredients. A roll called "Crunch Munch" was missing crunchies, and another roll that was supposed to be topped with tuna and spicy mayo had neither. The $12.95 roll missing tuna was especially disappointing. It took so long to get the rolls and they were so swamped that I didn't send the rolls back. Everything we had tasted good, and our "simpler" orders of nigiri came out correctly. I definitely thought the prices were high compared to the quality ($4.95 fish nigiri, $12.95 specialty rolls in our case). I'm glad Sushi Circle has joined us in the neighborhood, and I really hope they work out these difficulties and hang around a long time. I'd like to see rolls come out as described on the menu and I'd love to see some more creative specialty rolls once they get in their groove. read more

Tonight was my first time eating at sushi circle. The sushi was fresh and so delicious. The two people working there, an older man and woman, were so kind. They chatted with us about the weather and how long they had been open. This is more of a hole in the wall restaurant versus super fancy sushi restaurant. I would highly recommend and will be going back! I will say- it is kind of tricky to find. It is directly across Woodland Street from Basement East, set back from the road a bit. read more

Excellent. One of the best sushi experiences that I have had in a long time. Please don't overlook this restaurant by its size or location because the food was truly impressive. The owner/chef has been making sushi for over 30 years and his craftsmanship showed. The restaurant is well deserving of 5 stars and I would recommend this as a must for anyone looking for great sushi. read more

Honestly the worst sushi I've had in Nashville. My husband and I got ill afterwards. The staff was also super rude. Never again.

I cannot explain how cute and good this place is. Best BiBimBop in town guaranteed. Only 2 people work here and they put their heart into this place! read more

On top of the owners being the sweetest, most kind people, the food was also delicious!! We got 3 regular rolls and the ramen. The fish was all super fresh and the ramen was soo gooood! Took the leftover broth home because I couldn't stand to part ways with it! Definitely will be back frequently! read more

Sushi Circle - Get the Ramen. The broth is a party in your mouth! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Such a Great Spot! Super cute and kind couple who own/run the restaurant. I wish it had more advertising so people would see it from the street! It's very hidden but mamazing food, prices and great service! Will definitely be back. read more

This is a small little restaurant tucked away on a back street with one man making the sushi, waiting on tables, and manning the cash register. So, it's nothing fancy. But, more importantly, the sushi is fresh and delicious. I am in town with my son for a tournament and he was hungry! I ordered take out and meant to take a photo to post, alas, he was too hungry and the food was too delicious. The rice to fish ratio is excellent. The flavor is fantastic. I highly recommend Sushi Circle. read more

My wife and I just relocated to Nashville fro LA a couple months ago and needless to say have had some very unmemorable sushi encounters in town. Outside of uber expensive (overpriced) sushi dinners in town, Sushi Circle is the best we've had had. We had 2 rolls and 5 orders of Nigiri sushi and each was delicious and fresh. Sushi Circle is no frills, but very clean and the service was great. BYOB is a huge plus as well. Look forward to more visits. read more

After moving back to Nashville from NYC, I've desperately been seeking great sushi in our landlocked town. My wife and I heard that Sushi Circle has opened nearby on Woodland and we hooped to try it. Just finished lunch there and while it's certainly not the best sushi I've ever had, I had a nice experience. First points for very friendly owners - welcoming from the moment we walked in. Attentive to us the whole time. Additional points for an simple menu and seemingly fresh sushi. My only wish is for them to warm up the environment a bit, but otherwise a happy customer! Will be back. Want these guys to succeed! read more

I've tried a lot of really good expensive AF toro in my life and this is the best I've ever had. Also the sushi chef is very good at his rice to roll ratio, I've never seen it so perfect. Will be back over and over!! read more

What a hidden gem... Mr and Mrs Lee are wonderful hosts and serve up some of the best sushi in town! It's BYOB with a $5 corkage fee. The ambiance is cute and there is free parking. You should go if you like to support local and have an original Nashville experience! #Isushicircle read more

So happy to have a good sushi place in East Nashville finally! This place is better than Virago and Samurai! Very clean, hole in the wall, simple sushi restaurant. The sushi is very good and the service was fast. Will definitely be coming back! read more

Sushi Circle - Delicious sushi! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Absolutely amazing sushi! The two people who run the place are great hosts. Made to order sushi. The Big Roll is my favorite

I really love this sushi place! It is affordable, amazingly fresh sushi, and such a sweet family owned business! We have been eating here ever since we moved and it has been great every time! We've tried other sushi spots in Nashville and have found them to be over priced for not so great quality. This place is a gem! Ordering more as I type this review! read more

The man that works here is delightful. The food is fresh and good. Prices are as expected for sushi. The place is small and quaint, and eating there is a peaceful experience. read more

Tired to support a local spot and super disappointed. We did a call in order asked for 4 rolls. They are not what we asked for when we when back in to speak to the owner he said this is what we asked for. Looks nothing like the pictures super small, not spicy or the fish we ordered. Asked for some spicy Mayo and said it would be extra money would not make the rolls we ordered. He did not even try to make it right was not helpful. Super bummed out and out 35 bucks. read more

Sushi Circle - Rainbow roll, spicy tuna crunch roll, yellowtail roll is what we asked for. They got part of a Rainbow Roll down.... super disappointing - Sushi Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

I've tried about every sushi spot in Nashville and this might be my favorite. The fish was very fresh and rolls were the perfect size. The couple that runs the place is very nice and got the food out quickly. Also, It's BYOB which is great. I will definitely be recommending this spot to everyone. read more

Great little hidden gem in East. Owners are very friendly, and the fish is super fresh. Plus, free parking! Pretty reasonable pricing for the area and quality of the food. I definitely prefer it over Maru! read more

Overall, great well priced sushi. Had three rolls: one fried and two specials. All were great. Service was excellent and the owner was the chef. Two of the three tables were in use, but I noticed there are more tables in the back. We also had the seaweed salad which was pretty standard. Definitely recommend checking this place out, especially if you live in East. Kind of takes work to spot, it's across from Basement East and next to a dry cleaner. Wonderful couple that runs the place. Not sure if they were working out the kinks when they just opened per the previous reviews, but seems to be running smoothly now. Will be back. read more

Sushi Circle - Sushi Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

The food is great! And I the experience of this place. It's tucked back from the street so it feels like a secret spot. Sushi Circle is family owned and run by a husband and wife who are sweet and charming. You won't find that just anywhere! Very cute little dive with great food and a great vibe. read more

Traditional Japanese sushi restaurant. BYOB. Good sushi, not overpriced. Will be back again

This is a small dive with no ambiance. The actual sushi looks nothing like the professional photos posted on yelp. The crab lover roll is for those who love fake crab which is nobody. Lastly, there was one employee who was the sushi chef, hostess, waiter, and cook. This left service much to be desired. read more

Been searching for a great sushi place in Nashville and this is it! Rolls are wonderful! Don't be deceived by the outside appearance. True beauty is found within! The rolls are beautiful and the flavors are phenomenal! The eating area is small and raw or I would have rated it higher read more

Sushi Circle - 8 sushi rolls: the Alaska, the California, the LA crunchy, the Futomaki, the Titan, the double dragon and Nashville! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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