Best Sushi in Penang

It’s rather peculiar to pick a vegetarian restaurant to savour delicious platter of sushi. Which astutely makes this humble restaurant stands out from your regular fare. Without any artificial, seasonings, preservations and MSG, the quintessential blend of organic and fresh ingredients are admirable. Labelled with catchy names such as Global Warning, Golden Age, Happiness Couple, Mixed 7 Spices and Sesames and The Bachelors, each sushi is well-executed with vibrant colours and flavours. Say goodbye to regular salmons, the sushi is crowned with sliced sweet mango, G-ken (fried mushroom floss) or even durian, aforementioned it’s not your regular sushi spot.  

Walking into this authentic Japanese restaurant definitely imprints into your memory, shrouded by lush greenery and dim lighting soaks you into a cozy atmosphere. The dining space is enhanced with a collection of rustic decorations, giant tapestries and chefs meticulously preparing sushi behind the sushi bar. Over 300 dishes to choose from, however, sushi tops the chart here. Patrons never miss their Grilled Salmon Maki and Grilled Tuna Maki which exudes all qualities of enrobing a perfect roll, the freshness of the seafood, the balance of the sticky rice and the texture of the seaweed.  

Be it word of mouths or online reviews, this well-known restaurant at Island Plaza has always been hailed for diverse and delicious Japanese cuisine. You’ll habitually see patrons making a beeline at the façade of the restaurant and it would be close to crime not joining them. The interior is spacious with sophisticated touches here and there. Sushi is a firm favourite, where lip-smacking combinations of flavours are artistically presented to evoke your appetite. The Dragon Roll just churns out from the kitchen, sushi rolled with vegetables, crab meat, topped with Unagi and cheese which is mildly torched on top, giving it a cheesy chew. If salmon is your take, their Shake Tataki Maki, which has similar ingredients but capped with fresh salmon. Apart from sushi, their soft shell crab with roasted sesame sauce is a winner too. 

With 7 outlets at Kuala Lumpur, Sushi Zanmai finally touched down in Penang 3 years back, and since then it’s been the best bet for reasonable and scrumptious Japanese cuisine. The high ceiling and wooden-themed interior plus attentive service coat you in a highbrow experience. You can either perch at the sushi bar facing a conveyer-belt where you can go autopilot, pick and devour freshly prepared sushi, or grab a separate dining table. Their Soft Shell Crab Maki which has a mashup of chunks of soft shell crab, wrapped with sticky rice and fish roe, whereas the Spicy Unagi Roll has roasted eel sushi topped with fried crab meat, shrimp roe and a drizzle of spicy mayonnaise. 

Dining Japanese food indeed brings in excitement yet at Miraku Japanese Restaurant; it’s all about a cultural and culinary experience like never before.  Housed at one of the most elegant hotels in Penang, G Hotel, clienteles are transported to Japan upon stepping into this restaurant with Tatami mats seating, traditional utensils and decorations. With the finest and freshest ingredients, choices of sushi just knock your socks off. Among the most ordered are Dragon Roll, deep-fried prawn wrapped with thinly sliced avocado and fish roe and spread with rich mayonnaise. The creaminess of the avocado converges well with the seafood for an impeccable bite. Another crowd-puller is their Unagi Bou Sushi, which has thick Unagi slice, glazed with sweet kabayaki sauce and sprinkle of sesame. Each dish at Miraku definitely matches its fine dining atmosphere.

Tucked at Precinct 10, this restaurant is widely renowned for its boastful array of Japanese cuisines in a sophisticated and spacious dining space. Going through the extensive menu and looking at regulars chomping down piping hot food, gets your stomach growling at once. Each dish emphasizes on freshness and quality of the ingredients, which is why their sushi is rave-worthy. You can place yourself close to the Kaiser Belt where a sumptuous spread of sushi are laid and the prices are measured according to plate colours, somewhat reminds you of lok-lok. Their octopus and clam sushi are astounding, yet the salmon is out-of-the-world as it’s made with fish of optimal quality. The portions are above average, quality over quantity all day!