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Start a Top 5 for JapaneseEditor’s picks
Press picks, until locals rank their own Top 5s. Sourced from the local food press. As seen in Eater Philly. Updated August 2026.
Royal Sushi & Izakaya · Queen Village
Jesse Ito runs two experiences under one roof: a lively izakaya for skewers and small plates, and an intimate sushi counter reached through the back. Eater highlights the focused omakase, while the front room makes Royal equally useful for a casual late meal.
Zama · Rittenhouse
Chef Hiroyuki Tanaka's Rittenhouse restaurant pairs traditional nigiri and sashimi with inventive rolls and cooked plates. The compact room works for both a full sushi dinner and a quick stop at the bar, with careful fish preparation anchoring an approachable neighborhood format.
Double Knot · Midtown Village
Below a daytime coffee counter, Double Knot opens into a dim subterranean dining room serving robatayaki, sushi, and Japanese small plates. Eater notes the breadth of the menu, which lets a table build dinner from grilled skewers, hand rolls, sashimi, and larger shared dishes.
Tuna Bar · Old City
Tuna Bar brings a polished, modern sushi room to Old City, with sashimi, specialty rolls, and cooked seafood sharing the menu. The broad selection suits mixed groups without treating sushi as an afterthought, and the airy dining room makes it a reliable sit down option.