If you’re hard-pressed to find excellent dining to complement your karaoke skills, Genji is a one-stop shop. Visited by everyone from culinary Houston scenesters to businessmen, Genji serves up yakitori, ramen, teba gyoza (stuffed chicken wings), sushi rolls, teriyaki, tempura, omurice (Japanese stir fry with a fried egg) and udon with a number of mix-ins. Chow down while enjoying (or wincing) through serenades of local restaurant patrons fueled by the low cost sakes, beers and cocktails. 

Chinatown’s renowned restauranteur Mike Tran does it again with his recently opened dim and sexy izakaya, Toukei. Located in an unsuspecting strip center, Toukei offers rich, hearty bowls of ramen, as well as Japanese bar bites like slow-cooked scallion chicken, glazed wings, and wasabi-marinated octopus. There’s also a multitude of marinated and grilled skewers of juicy beef, pork, chicken or veggies, and several raw and cooked seafood options. Be sure to imbibe in the extensive selection of Japanese booze, specifically Japanese scotches and whiskies swirled together with soda water to create a simple and refreshing highball. 

Roughly translated to “the art of eating”, Kuu embodies its mantra with artsy inspired plating and dishes created by acclaimed Chef Adison Lee of Nobu London fame. Chef Lee combines rich textures and flavor palettes in pairings like uni-crusted King crab made with uni custard and key lime or crispy duck with a wasabi beet reduction. Well priced and in a beautiful wood paneled serene setting, Kuu has proven itself to be a Japanese cuisine treasure in Houston. 

A neighborhood joint so good it had to open another location, Miyako Japanese Restaurant serves sushi and other Japanese cuisine in a familial, warm space. The bento boxes are the ideal lunch options starring Chilean miso sea bass or Miyako beef roll, as are other dishes like the chicken teriyaki dinner, rock sugar salmon, fiery noodle or rice bowls and pan-fried gyozo bites. 

Serving as Houston’s premier robata steakhouse and sushi restaurant since 2009, Roka Akor provides stellar customer experiences by maintaining high standards of quality and showcasing stunning presentations of Japanese cuisine. Opt for a bite from a selection of robata grill selections like Korean spiced lamb chops, Snake River Farm Wagyu flat iron or Japanese Grade A5 Kobe beef. Seafood lovers, sushi enthusiasts, and meat eaters will inevitably exist peacefully with a luxurious meal here.

Self-proclaimed “second generation” Japanese restaurant, Shun Japanese Kitchen chef and owner Naoki Yoshida originally learned to cook at his family’s restaurant, Nippon Restaurant in Montrose. Today, Chef Yoshida carefully curates one-of-a-kind meals of his own including the likes of Anko wings (made with red bean sauce, mint, fried garlic, and honey pecans), pozole duck ramen (duck confit, pozole verde, charred corn, and egg) and a 40 day-aged pork chop with miso and sweet potato puree.

The Japanese version of a tapas bar, “izakayas” traditionally serve bite-sized nibbles and drinks in a more relaxed environment. Houston’s own Izakaya Wa doesn’t stray from tradition, serving up shareable small plates, skewers, sushi, and drinks in a non-pretentious spot at prices that won’t break the bank. Nosh on takoyaki (deep fried octopus balls), hiyayakko (traditional Japanese cold tofu with ginger and onion), or a delightfully savory bowl of udon in a laidback setting. 

A Japanese institution in Montrose, Nippon has been offering its patrons consistently delicious meals for years. The overflowing restaurant (be advised, the space is small and visitors many) intricately weaves a tapestry of Japanese techniques and flavors in each bite of dishes such as katsu curry (served only on Wednesdays and Thursdays), traditional ramen made with pork belly, boiled egg, seaweed and Katsu Ju, a panko-breaded pork cutlet with a sweet soy sauce.