Hands down the best quality sushi in Charleston. The staffs and chefs are always friendly, always explain each items as it comes out and check on you often. This is the only place I don't mind just asking them to give me the most fresh ones of the day because I trust them. It can be a little bit pricy but for the quality, I don't mind. Their appetizer items are great, they had a deal 3 for $15 so I've tried Sesame spinach, Daikon steak and Wasabi mashed potatoes and all were great. I've tried Chirashi, assorted sushi and Futomaki, everything was great and fresh. I've read the 2 stars review someone wrote complaining about the temperature of the sushi, well... the sashimi should be around 50 degrees and the sushi rice is the best when it's close to the body temperature. So if the sushi is actually Cold, that's not good sushi either. I don't think sushi is designed to make it to go unless we are talking about refrigerated boxed sushi from Publix. Anyway, my favorite sushi place in Charleston! read more

Sushi-Wa - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Let me begin by saying that the sushi here is just fine, but I had a less than stellar overall experience with this place. My TL;DR is that if you're gonna eat inside then I think you'll be fine, but they seem to prioritize inside people. This is an issue for a place that's part of a cafeteria concept. Admittedly this could be an isolated experience but I likely won't be back to check. I came to Workshop on a Sunday evening with a small party, none of whom enjoyed sushi, so I was excited to get to have sushi while the rest of my party could have what they wanted. I've spent quite a bit of time in and around Charleston since childhood, and I've never been blown away by sushi offerings. The reviews of this place were so promising, and I was excited! While the rest of my party went to order their items, I went into Sushi-Wa to grab my order. Apparently if you're not eating in the small dining area they provide, you have to order from a limited menu. Okay, fine, I'm sure there's a reason for that. I can't eat inside since none of the rest of the party eats sushi, so I order from the limited menu: a tuna roll and 5 nigiri. The guy who takes my order lets me know that it'll be about 35 minutes for my order. The inside area of the restaurant had about 8 people inside, but I assumed maybe more people outside ordered sushi as well. I was still excited to try it, so I said the wait was fine. And I waited. My party waited for their food as well. My party got their food and ate. I still waited. By this point, 35 minutes had come and gone, and another member of my party got frustrated and grabbed my buzzer to go check. When he entered, he asked for the status of my order and the front of house attendant (who was also waiting tables--probably not his fault, just seems like a weird communication failure) said it should be almost ready. Sure enough, he went back and remarked "oh here it is!" And handed it to him. Who knows how long it would have been until I was notified, or how long the food had already been ready. Admittedly, I should've gone to check earlier, but assumed maybe they just got busy. Like I said, the sushi was fine. Good fish, nice rice. Could stand to see some more exciting offerings, but maybe that's for the inside people. Definitely seems like the restaurant caters to the people who actually eat there, rather than the people who eat in the courtyard. And really, that's fine. But maybe the cafeteria style is not the way to go for this place. read more

Sushi-Wa - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

After posting my review I have been harassed by Sushi-Wa! They had two people stalk my reviews and try to intimidate me to take down what I wrote. So I'll add to my review, Go to Sushi 167 or O-Ku for much better sushi that isn't just wasabi with soy, wasabi with soy, wasabi with soy and no psychopaths that can't handle criticism. read more

Sushi-Wa Izakaya is a wonderful informal Japanese pub that focuses on quality sushi, chirashi, sake and small plates. What made it even better for us was discovering the owners were 2 sushi chefs we visited frequently before (elsewhere). Now they have their own place at the Workshop and it is worth visiting. With many seating options, we took our favorite spot at their sushi bar so we could watch and engage with them as they worked. It was hard to decide where to begin with their appetizers, but we enjoyed the sesame spinach, wasabi mashed potatoes, and the Japanese pickles. All three were different, yet gave us new experiences in flavors that were really fantastic. The sushi menu is also built with quality fish and selections not normally found in Charleston, so we went with their Chefs choice special on our first visit. We then watched them work up each piece and enjoyed sushi with differences in cuts not known before. Thanks to them we have reached new levels of sushi dining we did not know before. The 12 different sushi rolls on the menu again made it hard to decide, but my favorite was the triple fish roll. Our dinner was enjoyed with Snow Maiden unfiltered saki, lightly sweet and just right with the sushi. We loved coming here, and will be back. The quality of fish, and variety of choices is far beyond most other sushi places around. We appreciate the friendly service by both chefs and look forward to more visits. read more

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We sat at the sushi bar and had a wonderful dInner for two. Every piece of sushi placed in front of us was absolutely delicious! Chris and Mora took care of us the entire evening, as well as the rest of the staff. Everyone was very friendly and personable. We are traveling to Japan this year, and I cannot wait to compare our experiences. Bonus: they have lots of sake options, and all were very tasty. Also loved the strawberry mochi at the end of our meal! read more

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Highly recommend the nigiri omakase seating at Sushi-Wa! It is the best in Charleston from a quality and experiential standpoint. There was around 10 people seated in total the evening we went, so the ambiance was more intimate between us and the two owners/chefs. They served 16 individual pieces of assorted nigiri in the traditional omakase style. Each bite was melt in your mouth with perfect sticky rice. They took their time serving each piece for the groups seated, and some were even ahead of others but they kept a good pace. They also served us each a hand roll and pieces of another roll at the end, which honestly they didn't need to do. The nigiri selection was by far our favorite part and was plenty filling. I also think they specialize in nigiri and the quality of the fish is outstanding. I would like to see the meal focused on that solely. The roll at the end wasn't exciting and I felt bad not eating it because I was stuffed. For the experience and the food we received, the price was excellent. We also paired a nice bottle of endless summer sake that Chris recommended. It was a perfect date night, and most likely the only sushi restaurant we will eat at in Charleston in the future. Until then, I'll be dreaming of their nigiri! read more

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Being from the West Coast and having lived and worked in Asia and Japan over the last 35 years I was excited to have a Sushi place join the Workshop. I would characterize this a being traditional Sushi but they do over bowls also. The price is on the high side but that isn't such a distraction if the quality is present. I ordered the Assorted Nigiri and within 10 minutes it was ready. I got it in a to go container as I was eating with friends who ordered from another place and were in the main dinning area at the Workshop. The presentation was very good and I was excited to try it. The first bite kinda scared me as the fish was slightly warm and not cold like it should be. The fish did have a very fresh taste but the overall taste was not there. I am glad a tried them so I know but I will not be returning. read more

Sushi-Wa - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Fish. Rice. Wasabi. Repeat. Best experience in Charleston. Highly recommend. If you know good sushi, this is what you're looking for. If you're looking for a California roll, you won't appreciate it. My favorite place in Charleston read more

Best sushi experience in Charleston, no questions. We've been a dozen times and always look forward to our next visit. If you like experiencing amazingly fresh fish from all over the world, on perfectly cooked rice, then Sushi-Wa is for you. Chris and Kazu are incredibly knowledgeable and make you feel as if you came to their house for dinner. Can't wait to go back! read more

Now that we're quarantined and there's no FOMO about friends hanging at EO instead, I decided to get takeout from this spot at Workshop. I got a nice mix of maki and nigiri and it was INCREDIBLE. The price is totally appropriate for the quality and everything was perfect. Really nice folks on the phone too! I won't eat sushi anywhere else in CHS now - this place is my new go-to. read more

Sushi-Wa was our first Omakase experience and it surpassed our expectations by far! Incredible food, every bite better than the last. Great service, chefs were friendly and masters of their craft. Overall one of our favorite experiences in Charleston. We can only hope we'll get lucky enough to secure another reservation in the future! read more

Sushi-Wa - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

One of the best meals I've ever eaten. The chefs were attentive and fun to chat with...not to mention incredibly knowledgeable and willing to educate on all things sushi and sake. I can't wait to go back! read more

The only real sushi in Charleston. It is the real deal. Just like Japan. Started going there before it was well known. Now, however, people know it is really authentic sushi, you have to plan ahead for a reservation. read more

Came and visited the workshop on our way out of Charleston bc it looked like a cool thing to do and got the chow down on some awesome comfort foods before we hit the road. One of the lucky winners for us was Sushi-Wa. We only enjoyed one sushi roll from here bc we tried to get something at every place. The roll we chose was good but was lacking the extra flavors and freshness that makes you crave more. Granted I could still eat my body weight in sushi here, I've just had better. Presentation was lacking as well as our roll came out rather smooshed in areas and ingredients weren't uniform throughout. Don't let this steer you clear of them tho as it could've been a bad afternoon, I would eat it again. I would be interested in trying some other offerings, since everything looks pretty good form here! read more

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I was unexpectedly surprised about just how great the sushi here is! Don't go here expecting to find the typical rolls you find on almost every menu. You will be dazzled with new combinations, extremely fresh ingredients and pleasant prices. The space is clean, open and the floor to ceiling windows allow for good people watching next door. If you like sushi, do yourself a favor and make the drive to upper King and I promise you won't be disappointed! read more

Great sushi place in Charleston. The sushi was prepared with care and it tasted wonderful. The Premium Chirashi and the rolls were great. I would defiantly recommend a stop. Table service needs improvement since it is very unresponsive and uninterested in making sure you have a good time. The sushi chef seemed genuinely nice and interested in making sure that you had a good visit and offered us a special nigiri when we finished our meal. read more

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Can't believe it, but I'm actually rating this place five stars. That's rare... After trying countless restaurants who have sushi/sashimi on their menu, either as it's main feature or even as it's side attraction- this place is the only one that brings me relief. I'm almost reluctant to write this review because I want to keep it a hidden gem, but I also want SushiWa to be around forever. So here goes- for Charleston- this is the best sushi for miles around. It does not serve your stereotypical fusion American style rolls packed with so much cream cheese it resembles a bagel schmear, but bc of the fake crab meat they have the audacity to call it "sushi". If you want that, pass this place to a friend who loves the real stuff and scoot along. Still reading? Good. If you appreciate real sushi- pure, simple, unadulterated fresh fish- this is a lovely spot. They have a variety- not just the typical tuna, salmon, yellowtail... but actually names where the fish was sourced- globally and locally, changes daily/weekly. What's served here is more of a purist Japanese style. We've tried a variety of menu items- omakase, chirashi, rolls, and small plates. Each is very nice. Presentation is typical - I appreciate the LACK of glow sticks and strobing beads some restaurants try to throw in to distract from where the food is lacking... but I digress... Some sashimi / sushi are served "as is" in it's best form- plain and tasty, some are seared, some with slight brushes of nikiri. What I love about this, is each addition is mindful in highlighting the fish itself, never overpowering. Have not had a bad experience, in dish or bite. And from the meticulous care taken, I do not foresee that at all here. So grateful there's real sushi in Charleston. read more

I just drove here for 30 minutes, because you list that you are open right now on yelp. You're entirely closed. What a disappointment, you should probably update the details online. read more

This is a fantastic casual Japanese pub. They offer quality Sake, Sushi, Rolls, Small Plates, and Bowls. When you are ready to ascend beyond the local chain sushi joint experience, this place is a must. I recommend ordering Sushi Omakase, the Chefs choice of the freshest Nigiri which took us on a journey to New Zealand, Mexico, Japan, Canada, and John's Island. Thank you Mura and Chris. read more

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This is the best sushi restaurant I've found in Charleston. My sushi partner, Paul, and I agree that the sushi was the freshest we have had among all the places we have tried locally. Paul started with the baked scallops and they were perfect as an appetizer. I got sunomono with tako. The serving was much bigger than I expected but I'm not complaining. The octopus was sweet and tender, a great accompaniment for the cucumber, seaweed and radish. We both ordered the sushi omakase. Chef Kazuyuki delivered the arrangement of fresh nigiri and described each of his choices. From the first bite of fish to the last, it was clear that Chef had served us his best. The prices at Sushi-Wa are on the high side but I knew that going in. Having fresh sushi prepared by experienced chefs is worth it. I'll be going back. I hope to try some uni and sweet shrimp. read more

Located at Workshop. There are about six bar seats and I highly recommend sitting there. Watch the magic happen and interact with the chefs. There's also seating inside and outside in the public, dog friendly area. Fantastic sushi with exceptionally fresh seafood, including local goodies from Tarvin Seafood on Shem Creek. Easily the best tuna tartare I've had in Charleston. Fresh wasabi, unfiltered sake, Japanese whiskey. Great things happening here in a Charleston casual environment. Ample parking in the Workshop lot. read more

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I will keep working on obtaining a reservation to experience Sushi Wa omakase, but I picked up the Chef's Platter this evening and it was hand's down the best sushi I've ever had. The seafood tasted fresh and flavorful, the rice was perfect, the presentation was just right and everyone who shared the platter with me agreed. We will absolutely be coming back for more. Keep up the great work Chris and Kazu! read more

This is the best sushi I have ever had. Every piece was made with the most tender, melt-in-your mouth fish. Even sushi types that are sometimes chewy (I.e. scallop, shrimp) were outstanding and not chewy at all here. The rice was also made fresh, and all the nigiris just had simple accouterments that enhanced the flavor but didn't take away (pickled wasabi on the toro, delightful!). It is pricey, but I think it is actually not much more expensive then any other place that you would order the same amount of nigiris. So with that in mind, it is well-priced for both the quality and quantity. This is a great experience! And definitely pay extra to get the waygu! read more

Unreal experience! These best in Charleston hands down. They have a great vibe and the sake pairing is even better thanks to Chris.

I went for lunch and the menu is so minimal. I'm a sushi snob, so in my opinion there should be a few more options. The sushi wasn't good, I didn't even want to take the rest home. It definitely wasn't fresh. Their bowls are good, but it's pricey for lunch and I'm sure even more for dinner. Cool spot though. I just won't go back unless dinner looks or sounds a little better. There's nothing really included in any dish either. There's plenty of other spots in town that I'd go to before this. read more

In a town that serves Chinese food from a place called "Tokyo Express" and Japanese food from "Great Wall Hibachi" (if you don't get the joke go look at a map; Chinese and Japanese aren't all of Asia nor are they the same); this place has legit sashimi and nigiri. Real deal stuff is supposed to almost melt in your mouth like Iberico jamon or Waygu beef and this place has it. Try the toro, uni and sweet shrimp. I am excited my hometown of Charleston has this place and we will frequent it often read more

Had a wonderful experience here. Went recently with my boyfriend. While the restaurant is small and it was a Saturday night, we were not able to get a table and were seated at the sushi bar, which we did not mind. The sushi was incredible. And very reasonably priced. Lots of fish I had not heard of, and I consider myself to be a bit of a sushi guru. I had the Ora King Salmon which was wonderful. My boyfriend ordered the Aji. Only to find out they were out. :( but the sushi chef, Chris, was so accommodating! He recommended 3 other fish and when my boyfriend couldn't decide he gave him a bit of each! We even met the manager, who was very kind. Overall great time. Will be back next time I'm in town. read more

My boyfriend brought me here for an early birthday dinner Saturday. We had the omakase, and not only was the food delicious, it was such an incredible, memorable experience. Both of the sushi chefs were very knowledgeable, and even made a suggestion for what Sake would be best to drink with the meal. Each piece of sushi was so carefully crafted, with unique flavors like miso butter to complement the different fish. We will certainly be back! read more

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The owners are so nice and friendly. Please be aware that they do not serve hot saki, only cold. The ceramic sake set that serves hot sake is available, but they will not serve hot sake. We both had the tasting menu. When we have a tasting menu which we do often, our taste buds usually explode. Recently we ate at Wild Commons, and with each dish that came out, that is exactly what happened, for example. It is usually something we would have never ordered and will in the future. I felt that at Sushi-Wa that it was more just an unknown fish to me that perhaps I wouldn't have ordered at a Sushi restaurant. No artistic display, nor were there any sauces. We were full when we left but not wowed for sure. For what it is worth, we have been going to sushi restaurants once a week for years. read more

Immaculate quality sashimi that gives you a little taste of everything. Chris is very knowledgeable and basically a sushi and Sake Samurai.

This is a true omakase nigiri experience. Similar to many I have had in Japan. The sushi rice is perfectly seasoned and a light hand seasons the fish only to accentuate the umami. Temperatures are also perfect. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone who understands omakase. Kampai!! read more

I wish I could give more than 5 stars because this place deserve it. My fiancé and I love to explore dining options in Charleston, but nothing excites us more than a Sushi-Wa reservation. To start off, it is hands down the best sushi in town. Nothing comes close. In fact, it might be the best omakase in terms of quality we have had in the entire Southeast. The food is fresh and they do not short you on the portions. It almost ruins nights when we have to get sushi elsewhere. Not only is the food great but the staff is incredibly friendly and the atmosphere makes you feel like a VIP for the night. I love (and hate because it is hard to get in) just how small a seating it is. I think keeping the groups smaller makes it more enjoyable. Lastly, I cannot say enough about their willingness to accommodate. We had friends come to town and had to make a last minute change and they went above and beyond for us. read more

Finally, a return of excellent quality sushi to the area. I'm a fan of traditional nigiri, with otoro being my favorite. It had been years since I had otoro that satisfied my taste buds, until trying the otoro here last night. A little on the pricey side, but worth every penny. read more

Sushi-Wa - Local snapper, otoro, and unagi. All delicious, but I would buy as much otoro as I could eat if I had a little less self-control. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

This is a hard no...my boyfriend and I stopped in here for an amazing Sushi experience. While they have some cuts I wouldn't normally get anywhere else my boyfriend and I walked out of there 5 sushi bites deep and $165 later. Despite the cut creativity it most definitely wasn't worth it. Thank you Park Pizza for fixing our hunger. Sushi-Wa we will not be back! read more

Really, this place is the one and only authentic Japanese sushi/omakase in South Carolina. Really fresh and good fish, and more than fairly priced. $60 for 14 piece omakase is really a steal. They may raise their 14 piece price to $80 in the future, but 80 is still more than fair. The only thing that I could think of improving is the quality of the sushi rice and wasabi. Sushi rice is a bit too wet and sticky, and wasabi is packaged and processed product instead of fresh wasabi roots. read more

Favorite sushi in Charleston! It is the most fresh and delicious we have found! Great service and incredible quality. So glad we found it and will keep going there and only there for our sushi! read more

This is hands down THE best sushi and sashimi around. Everything is very fresh, beautifully prepared, and so delicious. The service is good, and the location, perfect! Chris & Moro are truly great sushi chefs. read more

Wonderful meal! Typically skip over sushi was when at the workshop, but we're with a group that had some allergies and this was the only option that would work. Boy we're we glad we did! Everything was spectacular and prepared with great care! Small thing, but Miso soup was also awesome. read more

We've been 3 times to Sushi-Wa and cant wait to go back!! Incredible sake options and spectacular nigiri!!! The Daikon steak is worth the trip! Thank you for bringing amazing sushi to Charleston!! read more

The best quality sushi I have had not only in Charleston, but in recent memory. If you appreciate true omakase sushi- this is the place to go. Chef Murakami is an artist, and truly values his craft. Chef Chris also made a unique miso cod special dish- so tender and buttery, it makes all other cod inferior. Try the otsumami section of the menu as well. You will feel things for spinach you never thought possible. Server was very friendly Charleston native, she made us feel right at home. read more