Looking for your next sushi fix? Try these popular spots in the Pensacola area

Sushi is a beloved dish that can be a little polarizing due to the fact that its most basic ingredients boil down to rice, raw fish and seaweed.

But sushi doesn't have to be just that, and it doesn't even have to be raw fish or seafood. Good sushi can be creative and involve a variety of flavors, meats and more.

While we may not be in Japan to taste it in its most authentic form, we're neighbors with the Gulf, which means we have access to fresh local fish and seafood. And we're even more lucky in that we have plenty of quality sushi chefs in the area to put it all to good use.

Best tacos in America?: El Asador ranks high in Yelp's Top 100 Taco Spots list

Sandwich hot spots: Where are the best places to grab a sandwich in Pensacola? Try one of these 8 places

Keep reading to discover some of the best spots in Pensacola where you can grab some seriously good sushi.

Tony’s Asian Market

3039 E. Olive Road

Tony’s Asian Market isn’t technically a restaurant, but like most grocery stores, it has a wide selection of foods you can grab to-go, including sushi, sashimi and nigiri. The market sits inside a 4,000-square-foot building on Olive Road and also offers a lot of Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Taiwanese and Korean groceries options, plus cooking equipment such as woks.

On the menu, there are about 20 types of sushi rolls. They’ve got everything from California and Tiger Eye rolls to BBQ eel maki and Black Dragon rolls. Everything is made fresh to order and pretty reasonably priced with rolls starting at about $4.99 and going up from there.

Dharma Blue

300 S. Alcaniz St.

We’ve previously written about what an excellent spot Dharma Blue is for date night, but it’s not a place that screams sushi. Everyone who has had the pleasure of having Dharma Blue’s rolls know that it’s the real deal.

Dharma Blue is already known for its fresh seafood and that extends to its sushi bar. Each roll is extremely fresh, handcrafted with care and served with good presentation.

There are over 30 rolls to choose from on the menu. Sushi apps, sashimi and nigiri are also available. On Monday nights, you can grab $2 off sushi rolls for dine-in only.

Ichiban / Kalbi Ichiban

5555 N. Davis Highway and 600 W. Garden St. 

Kalbi Ichiban Korean barbecue: Kalbi Ichiban Korean barbecue restaurant to open on West Garden Street in 2020

Ichiban has been a longtime Japanese sushi and grill restaurant in Pensacola, and it’s always a safe bet when it comes to consistent flavors. The restaurant feels authentic as soon as you walk in with modest quarters and traditional tatami seating.

The creations that come out of the sushi bar look like works of art made of some of the freshest local seafood and fish. The menu itself is way too big to list and is probably one of the largest in Pensacola. In addition to just ordering rolls, you can grab the ahi tuna tower and plenty of platters that offer rolls with sashimi plates.

As a bonus, head over to Ichiban's sister restaurant, Kalbi Ichiban, in downtown Pensacola for some Korean barbecue to go along with your rolls.

Sake Cafe

4880 N. Ninth Ave.

Vietnamese restaurants in Pensacola: Where to go for authentic Vietnamese flavors

Sake Cafe is another local favorite sushi spot located on North Ninth Avenue. This place serves up a great balance of price and quality. The sushi menu is extensive and even has a create your own roll special that lets you choose what goes inside the sushi roll and what it’s topped with. There are house specials and nigiri and sashimi.

Khon’s

34 S. Palafox St.

Khon’s is located in the heart of downtown Pensacola and offers a slightly more upscale dining aesthetic. Bar seating is available the overlooks Palafox Street, which is a pretty nice addition. The sushi menu is more selective than other options given the size of the restaurant, but it’s got all the favorites plus house specials and sashimi and nigiri. For those looking to imbibe, there’s a great sake cocktail menu, too.

Sushi Masa

4731 Bayou Blvd.

Sushia Masa is a relatively newer sushi place that has managed to successfully settle itself into a building that was once a rotating home to several previous restaurants. It’s part of a small family of other Sushi Masa restaurants located in Texas and Louisiana that has become known for its fantastic all-you-can-eat special. At lunch time, you can grab AYCE sushi for about $20. For dinner the price jumps up to about $30 a person. This includes the sushi bar and a soft drink or tea with free refills. Take-home plates are subject to regular price.

More Korean barbecue: Lee's BBQ & Hot Pot in Pensacola brings all-you-can-eat Korean cooking right to your table

Nippon Sushi

5100 North Ninth Ave., inside Cordova Mall

Nippon Sushi offers great sushi in a pretty unlikely place — Cordova Mall. The authentic Japanese restaurant offers a unique dining experience. Seating inside the restaurant is lit up by traditional-looking hanging lanterns with booth, table and bar seating available. There's additional seating in a gated area in the middle of the mall, too. The menu is nothing to sneeze at, given the size of the restaurant. You'll find all the fan favorites, but locals really enjoy how crunchy the crab rolls are, and the tuna takati.

Local favorites just outside Pensacola

Slippery Mermaid

8779 Navarre Parkway

The Slippery Mermaid is a hidden gem of a sushi bar located just about a half mile east of the Navarre Beach Grill, and it’s the only sushi bar in the area that offers a waterfront view with outdoor seating. Despite being a bit of a drive, this restaurant is still commonly recommended to Pensacolians for sushi options. Some of the local favorites are the California roll and the spicy tuna roll. For beginners, the restaurant recommends the Tropical Mermaid, Sassy Mermaid and Land and Sea rolls. It’s a great spot to take your non-sushi-loving friends, too, as they offer rolls with grilled chicken and seared steak. There are vegetarian and gluten-free options as well.

Shan Kishi

804 Gulf Breeze Parkway

Shan Kishi has been a Gulf Breeze favorite for sushi for a while now. It’s known for its modern interpretations of classic dishes and uses quality ingredients in all its meals. The menu has 49 chef special rolls, not even counting the sushi entrees, appetizers and its Roll and Hand menu options.

The best time to visit is lunch. Between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., the lunch roll includes your pick of either two or three rolls served with miso soup and salad. Be sure to check the menu to see which options are available.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Best Pensacola sushi spots: Check out our 9 favorite sushi restaurants