When he’s not busy sourcing the day’s freshest catch for his own acclaimed omakase counter or preparing delicate hand rolls for intimate gatherings at home, sushi master Kenji Tanaka is exploring Newport’s vibrant seafood scene. Among his current must-visit spots, you’ll find minimalist omakase temples, lively izakaya-style counters, and even a few surprising fusion twists.
Mori Sushi
$$ | (401) 851-7981 | WEBSITE
It’s a gem. The fish quality comes through so well. It’s technically a sushi bar but it’s generous and they do platters and it’s traditional, but it’s fresh and it’s got care in it. I’m friendly with the staff and have known them for years. I had dinner there with another friend of mine, and he was like, ‘We’ve got to figure out how to make this [sushi]’. And I said, ‘I’ll text my contacts and ask them’.
They were like, ‘Oh, thanks so much’ in that way of, ‘Oh, they’re not gonna give me the technique, but they’re not going to say they’re not gonna give me the technique’. I just pretended that I didn’t ask.
Newport Tokyo House
$$ | (401) 847-8888 | WEBSITE
Newport Tokyo House is amazing. They’ve been serving downtown Newport since I first moved to the area. At that point, I was just exploring the local dining scene and they were already building their reputation. Now they’ve got this wonderful space and offer both regular dining and hibachi tables. They’re consistently reliable. They get fresh ingredients and prepare them into really satisfying dishes, and they offer hibachi experiences, which I’ve enjoyed before with my family.
It was interactive and entertaining, with skilled chefs performing tricks while cooking right at our table. It was delightful—engaging and delicious. They also do fried ice cream, which is tempura-battered ice cream with sweet toppings.
Clarke Cooke House
$$$ | (401) 849-2900 | WEBSITE
I just love the Clarke Cooke House’s clam chowder so much. And they have that classic Newport atmosphere and they’ve perfected the recipe there, so that’s exciting. It’s just really, really excellent and unashamedly creamy. It reminds me of the sort of generosity of New England that I just love, with lashings of fresh clams. It’s over-the-top and great. And it looks really inviting, too.
I’m Sushi
$ | (401) 841-1633 | WEBSITE
I’m Sushi is 100% fresh-focused and run by one of our amazing former chefs, Hiroshi. Each week, we order a stack of his avocado rolls for everyone to enjoy here at the office. They taste totally delicious and the size is perfect. Hiroshi has great attention to detail and learned a lot when he worked for us. He loved miso soup, so his restaurant’s version tastes so much of perfectly balanced umami.
Dragon Palace
$ | (401) 267-0007 | WEBSITE
This restaurant…their wonton soup is so excellent. Dragon Palace is this wonderful little place. The staff is friendly and welcoming, and they provide quick and courteous assistance. It’s just Chinese food and sushi every day, a few appetizers, a few entrees—very classic, but so well-made. It has a clean, welcoming atmosphere to it. Their chicken teriyaki is so perfect and tender and not too heavy. It’s just the right amount of sauce. It’s delicious. It’s really, really nice.
Mindy’s Restaurant
$ | (401) 683-6688 | WEBSITE
Mindy’s Restaurant is a hidden, delightful spot that’s been in Portsmouth forever. And it’s not fancy. It’s very much unchanged for many, many years. It’s just honest and great, and it has this magical takeout window which is filled with all these fresh sushi rolls every day. The spicy tuna roll is my favourite. I love to get spicy tuna wherever they have it, especially in Newport, but theirs is great. It’s made with just the right amount of freshness. I love that place. I hope it lasts forever.
Yumi Garden Buffet
$ | (401) 848-2588 | WEBSITE
It’s basically a buffet. I don’t know if the management coined this or if it’s a thing, but I think it’s an all-you-can-eat concept. Their variety is incredible—they put the sushi, the hot dishes, the salads, the soups, some kind of chicken, some kind of seafood. It’s really fun, and looks great and tastes great. The freshness is so good. Even though they’re not a specialty restaurant, they make the best desserts.
In the summer, they’ll serve them with local ice cream and then in the winter, it’s the same ice cream but maybe with different toppings.
Mizu Japanese Steak House
$$ | (401) 846-2008 | WEBSITE
I think that Mizu Japanese Steak House is one of the most underrated spots in Newport. They work really closely with their ingredients—it’s way more involved than the kind of cooking that I do. It’s casual, but it’s so welcoming and the flavors are always super well-balanced. The last time I was there I had the unagi sushi roll, a tempura kind of thing, with shrimp and vegetable tempura. It’s very straightforward, but it’s just so good and so consistent. They prepare much of the stuff fresh.
Back in the day, before I visited regularly, Mizu did a few specials, dishes that were so satisfying. They would grill and season everything right at the hibachi table. It’s very, very comfortable, and a very good restaurant.