13 Louisiana Sushi Bars That Locals Say Are Worth Every Roll And Every Penny
Louisiana might be famous for crawfish boils and gumbo pots, but locals know the state also hides some seriously good sushi bars.
Talented chefs across New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and beyond are slicing pristine fish, rolling creative maki, and building menus that mix Japanese tradition with Gulf Coast personality.
I have spent years chasing the best plates of nigiri and specialty rolls from the Marigny to Lake Charles, and these thirteen spots consistently deliver quality, flavor, and value that make every bite feel like a small celebration.
1. Royal Sushi & Bar – Faubourg Marigny, New Orleans
On Royal Street in the Marigny, this warmly lit storefront glows with wall art and a buzzing bar.
Royal Sushi & Bar leans into creative special rolls like the Geisha Kiss and King Cake roll, alongside a full lineup of ramen, appetizers and lunch specials that keep regulars coming back.
Locals love it because you can treat it as a casual neighborhood hangout or a date night spot, and the prices stay friendly for the amount of fish on the plate.
2. Nobu New Orleans, Caesars New Orleans – New Orleans
Tucked inside Caesars New Orleans, Nobu feels more like a sleek big city hideout than a casino restaurant.
The menu mixes classic Japanese techniques with Peruvian flair, so you can follow pristine nigiri with yellowtail jalapeño or one of Nobu’s famous signature rolls.
It is open nightly for dinner, which makes it a favorite splurge spot before or after a show, and reservations are strongly encouraged if you do not want to test your luck at the host stand.
3. Geisha Sushi Bistro – Warehouse District, New Orleans
Geisha sits just off the riverfront in the Warehouse District, the kind of place where office workers slide in for lunch and hotel guests wander in later for late-night rolls.
The menu reads like a greatest hits of modern Japanese American fare, from snow crab sashimi to mango coconut shrimp rolls, with plenty of vegetarian and cooked options for cautious diners.
It stays open into the night most days, which makes it a reliable pre-concert or post-convention stop when you want a table full of colorful rolls and cold drinks.
4. Rock n Sake Bar & Sushi – Warehouse District, New Orleans
On Fulton Street, Rock n Sake feels like a party with really good sushi instead of the other way around.
Music and energetic vibes set the tone, while the sushi bar sends out big, photogenic rolls loaded with tempura crunch, spicy sauces and Gulf seafood.
This is the place friends choose when they want dinner to slide into a night out, and the New Orleans location anchors a small Louisiana-born group that also serves Baton Rouge and Lafayette.
5. Tsunami Sushi at the Shaw Center – Baton Rouge
Perched on the rooftop of the Shaw Center for the Arts in downtown Baton Rouge, Tsunami feels almost unreal the first time you step out and see the Mississippi River rolling by beneath you.
Inside, the long windows frame that same view while you work your way through rolls like the Hung Lo and Ragin Cajun, plus sashimi and small plates that mix Japanese flavors with South Louisiana personality.
Locals treat it as a go-to spot for anniversaries, big nights out and sunset moments, because the combination of view and sushi is hard to beat for the price.
6. Ichiban Sushi Bar & Grill – Baton Rouge
Down on Essen Lane, Ichiban looks like a relaxed neighborhood restaurant, but the sushi bar and hibachi grills make it a destination for families and date nights across the city.
The kitchen turns out carefully plated sashimi, classic nigiri and an entire book of rolls, balanced by hibachi steak, chicken and seafood for anyone who wants a sizzling show.
I brought my parents here last spring, and watching my dad try his first spicy tuna roll while my mom ordered teriyaki chicken made me realize why this place works for everyone.
With both a full menu of specials and generous portions, it is the place where locals know they can bring a group and everyone will find something worth ordering twice.
7. Sushi Masa – Essen Lane, Baton Rouge
Sushi Masa in Baton Rouge is where the phrase worth every penny usually refers to the all-you-can-eat option.
For a set price, you can order made-to-order rolls, appetizers and kitchen dishes as many times as you dare, with a soft drink included, so locals come hungry and settle in for a slow, rolling feast.
Regulars swear by the generous boats of sushi and sashimi and the fact that even off the value menu, the fish stays surprisingly fresh for the cost.
8. Yakuza House – Metairie
In Metairie, Yakuza House feels like a tiny Tokyo-inspired jewel box tucked into a strip of Severn Avenue, focused on hand rolls, nigiri and dressed bites that look like art.
The team runs a tight reservation book and a focused menu, which means the fish selection changes with what is best and plates like uni, fatty tuna and dressed nigiri are handled with real care.
Locals chase seats at the counter for omakase-like experiences that still cost less than big-city tasting menus, and many say this is the metro New Orleans area spot that made them fall in love with serious sushi.
9. Shinto Japanese Restaurant Sushi Bar & Hibachi Grill – Lafayette
Shinto sits along Ambassador Caffery Parkway in Lafayette and covers a lot of ground, from a busy sushi bar to a full hibachi grill lineup.
The sushi side offers an affordable range of rolls and sashimi, some with Cajun twists that nod to Acadiana tastes, while hibachi tables keep families entertained with flying shrimp and onion volcanoes.
For many Lafayette diners, it is the default answer to where should we go for sushi because it manages to feel both special and comfortable at the same time.
10. Sushi Masa – Ambassador Caffery Parkway, Lafayette
Lafayette’s Sushi Masa brings the same all-you-can-eat concept down I-10 and fills its dining room with groups trading bites of different rolls.
The Ambassador Caffery location runs lunch and dinner service daily, letting you build your own procession of classic rolls, specialty creations and kitchen dishes for one flat price, or order a la carte if you are just in the mood for a quick fix.
Because the portions are generous and the quality is solid for the cost, locals recommend it as the spot where you go when you want to try everything without emptying your wallet.
11. Rock n Sake Bar & Sushi – Lafayette
In Lafayette, Rock n Sake keeps the brand’s lively vibe going with a dining room that turns into more of a hangout as the evening goes on.
The menu leans big and bold, with specialty rolls piled high and a full menu that explains why so many sushi trays end up on game night tables and parties.
Locals like that it feels like a night out and a good meal in one stop, which makes the price of a table full of rolls feel like a fair trade.
12. Sushi Gen – Shreveport and Bossier City
Sushi Gen has quietly built a loyal following in Shreveport and Bossier City since opening in 2010, thanks to consistently fresh fish and a cozy atmosphere.
The Shreveport location on Line Avenue is the one most travelers stumble into, finding a polished dining room, a long sushi bar and a menu that balances approachable rolls with more adventurous sashimi platters.
With daily lunch and dinner hours and a reputation for good service, it has become the spot many locals name first when someone asks where to get sushi in the northwest corner of the state.
13. Wasabi Japanese Sushi & Grill – Lake Charles
On Ryan Street in Lake Charles, Wasabi Japanese Sushi & Grill stands out in a town better known for gumbo and po-boys than maki.
The dining room is relaxed and family-friendly, but the sushi menu reads like a serious roll call, from tuna towers and squid salad to house specials like the Dancing roll and Hot Chicken roll.
Longtime customers praise it as the place that reliably scratches the sushi itch in southwest Louisiana, with hours that cover both lunch and dinner almost every day of the week.