Sonobana Japanese Restaurant and Grocery: Your Premier Destination for Authentic Sushi in Nashville

A decent option for sushi in Nashville. Pretty extensive sushi menu but kind of some strange combos. The spicy salmon and crunchy shrimp were my favorites (although the spicy salmon weirdly came with asparagus?). The broiled salmon skin was probably my least favorite. Service was great though and it's still a good option when craving sushi in Nashville!

The food was excellent! However, we were particularly impressed by the service at Sononana! We were traveling through on our way to North Carolina and were tired and road weary! The hostess got us in in 15 minutes, despite a projected 40 minute wait. The server quickly helped us to get our food order in, brought us our beverages right away, with food soon to follow. Everyone seems happy that works here and the staff all worked together to provide a sunny atmosphere with caring and compassionate service! Thank you for a great dinner!

Always delicious at great prices. The soba is unmatched and the udon is always amazing!

I've had so much sushi in Nashville, this is BY FAR the best. Anytime I eat somewhere else with friends for convenience ect I wish it was here. It's also really fair priced. The quality you are getting for the price truly is unmatched. This place is a GEM. And everyone who works here is so freaking genuine and kind! Me and my man are both dedicated. We order together once a week and he'll order for himself sometimes and likewise. They know the James order when it's just for him and when it's for us. Sashimi is our main game. I forget we are landlocked when that fish goes into my mouth. It cute inside but not much for atmosphere. But if you want sweet service and the best sushi in town who cares. Love y'all!!!

Food was just right, service was good, and the restaurant was clean and not too loud.

For take out sushi, this place is very solid. Ginger salad and teriyaki chicken were both eh. I do love their sushi menu though. There are lots to choose from and they separate the raw from the cooked which is really helpful because I don't eat cooked sushi.

Food: 3/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 5/5 They have a big menu of both traditional sushi and fusion/americanized items. What brings the food to a 3/5 is that it is inconsistent. Sometimes it's super fresh and sometimes it is fishy as heck. I need to stop ordering their Uni, as it is one item that has been consistently not good here. Service has always been great, they have really friendly staff! If you're a newbie to Japanese food or sushi, they'll talk you through everything. I love the ambiance because it's a bit outdated but it's just cozy OG Japanese setup. Overall it's a good, solid Japanese restaurant.

What a yummy spot! I came with a group of 8 on a Saturday night so we called ahead to make sure we could get in. The server was attentive, the sushi came out in a decent amount of time, and it was tasty. There was a private room in the back that you can rent out id you have a large group, and there is plenty of seating doe regular dine in guests. I would definitely come back to eat here.

As I've gone to Sonobana habitually over the years, I've learned that there is quite honestly nothing I wouldn't try on the menu. I think visitors have to remember that this is an establishment which still does many things in a retro fashion: they have a landline, and they often use it. Waits can range from 5 minutes on a slow weekday to over 30 minutes in peak dining hours. I can attest to the insane lines on weekend evenings: we once parked, saw the line and considered waiting in it (it was out the door), and walked right back out to consider dining elsewhere. Just be mindful of when you go, and your party should be fine. You can always call ahead, but know that the line may be busy. I just ordered the futo maki roll, salmon roll, and tuna roll yesterday evening for pickup. There was a 30 minute wait, but the rolls always come out exactly as they should: balanced portions of rice, fish, and nori. The rice is seasoned well but not enough to make the rice mushy, and the fish is always fresh. There's a reason Sonobana always has a line out the door, and it's because they do simple rolls (and also complex ones) really well. You can taste the hard work and craftsmanship sometimes, I swear. Ambiance feels like retro family dining to be honest. As an AAPI person who calls Nashville home, it can sometimes feel othering when a customer at another table is unabashedly staring at you. This is no fault of the restaurant of course: just something to be mindful of when you dine. We have often stopped by the small market during our waits if it isn't closed. It's quaint and actually sells fresh seafood. If you're expecting Mitsuwa though, honey, this ain't it. Think more mom and pop bodega, and you'll feel much better. Plenty of parking in the Trader Joe's strip mall area. Highly recommend (and always kicking myself for recommending a local favorite).