A Few of the Best Local Japanese Restaurants in Indianapolis, Indiana

When you're in the mood for Japanese food but want to stay away from the big-name chains, you can still find quality options in and around the Indianapolis area. In fact, some of the best local restaurants feature Japanese cuisine. We'll focus on Indianapolis Japanese restaurants that serve more than just sushi, but it just so happens that most of the great local Japanese restaurants also serve great sushi.

Sakura
7201 N Keystone Ave Indianapolis
317-259-4171
www.indysakura.com

Sakura is the most popular Japanese restaurant in Indianapolis, and rightfully so. For over twenty years, Sakura has offered fantastic Japanese cuisine at a moderate price. The walls are adorned with handwritten notes praising the food from famous patrons ranging from local TV personalities to national sports figures.

The "Sakura Specials" are an excellent way to sample the restaurant's complete menu. The boxes feature a wide variety of meats or fish teriyaki and include a california roll,shrimp tempura, miso soup, salad, steamed rice & ice cream. Sakura's teriyaki sauce is delicious and creates a distinct flavor for salmon, beef, or even chicken.

The tempura entrees are also excellent and are available as an appetizer. The shrimp and vegetables used in the tempura are large, healthy portions that will leave you full but not heavy after dinner. Sakura also features several udon noodle entrees which are also satisfying.

One of the main attractions at Sakura is the sushi bar. Sometimes you can see up to four sushi chefs working in this tight corner of the restaurant, attesting to just how popular Sakura's sushi is in Indianapolis. Sakura practically introduced sushi to Indianapolis, and it's still very good today. Those who enjoy spicy rolls will enjoy either the Arizona or Texas rolls. For those who don't like raw fish, the Sakura california roll is one of the best in Indianapolis.

The restaurant's looks can be deceiving. It's in a small, standalone building on North Keystone Avenue. Reservations are recommended as the building can fill up pretty fast on weekends. Also, due to the small, "intimate" setting, it can get pretty loud when it's busy. However, the food is definitely worth the minor trouble.

Ocean World
1206 W 86th St Indianapolis
317-848-8901
www.oceanworldsushi.com

It's almost cheating to include Ocean World, which is Sakura's sister restaurant on the northwest side. However, the two restaurants are far enough apart, both in terms of location and cuisine, to include both of them in this review.

Ocean World, as its name suggests, concentrates more heavily on seafood and sushi than Sakura does. A broad array of fresh fish is flown in several times a week. Ocean World's Chilean Sea Bass is excellent and is definitely one of the more popular dishes on the menu. The Sesame Soy Tuna is a flavorful take on the standard Japanese restaurant fare, featuring a charbroiled tuna steak covered in sesame seeds. There are several other non-traditional fish entrees such as Volcano Shrimp (shrimp wrapped in bacon and cooked in a spicy barbecue sauce).

Ocean World, of course, has excellent sushi, perhaps even better than its sister restaurant, Sakura. It might be because the chefs have more room to work, as the restaurant feels about twice as big as Sakura. Most of the rolls and nigiri offered at Ocean World is very similar to Sakura. The menu is diverse enough to fit about any sushi taste.

Mikado Japanese Restaurant
147 S Illinois St. Indianapolis (Downtown)
317-972-4180
www.mikadoindy.com

Mikado is the premiere Japanese restaurant in downtown Indianapolis. It used to be just steps away from the RCA Dome and was a popular stop after Colts games or the Final Four. It's now just another option on the growing list of restaurants in and around Circle Center Mall and the Wholesale District. Mikado still deserves its reputation as one of the top local restaurants in downtown Indianapolis.

Mikado's interior possesses a nice mixture of modern and traditional Asian decor and architecture. The dining room is quiet and surrounded with subtle wooden Asian accents. There are also private rooms with sliding doors for larger parties.

No matter where you sit, Mikado's food matches the upscale surroundings. The menu is wide-ranging. For multiple dinner guests, one of the best bets are the Nabemono dinner pots. Each comes with a selection of beef and vegetables which you get to cook, almost like Japanese fondue. The bento box dinner is also excellent, featuring beef, salmon, or chicken with miso, salad, and appetizer.

Mikado also offers the best sushi in downtown Indianapolis. For $28, the Mikado Special features 13 types of nigiri and rolls. This was so good I could eat the whole thing on my own, but there's definitely enough to share if you come to Mikado with a lighter appetite. The nigiri rolls are the specialty at Mikado, especially due to the freshness of the fish which is brought in regularly through the week.

All in all, there's no need to be embarrassed by the quality of Japanese cuisine in Indianapolis. Many local sushi restaurants complement the above "powerhouse" Japanese restaurants. Judging by how busy these restaurants are, Indianapolis appreciates having its own local Japanese restaurant scene.