M Sushi — Restaurant in Durham

For a sushi restaurant that’s landlocked, the sushi quality is incredible. We wondered if they caught the fish minutes prior to serving - it was THAT fresh and succulent.

Pro-tips I HIGHLY recommend Make your reservation a week in advance or discreetly tip the maitre $50 (no joke, this place is WAY too popular to just walk in unless you get REALLY lucky...don't be a Karen and expect to be seated walking in) If you can’t get a reservation, ask to be put on the waiting list, have a drink at Alley around the corner, and pray you get slipped in. When making your reservation, ask to book the 2hr Omakase for the full experience... not only will you get to delight in these incredible chefs' talents, but the sushi is so good that you want to take your time and savoring every single morsel. TRUST ME, this is how sushi is meant to be experienced. this is the place to go if you want to try sushi for the first time. We brought a Midwestern meat and potatoes "I'll never eat raw fish" person with us and they were hooked...yep. This is not a budget sushi bar, be generous and I promise it will come back to you threefold. These are really talented professionals and they deserve every extra $ - they'll remember you and the service you get is a reflection of how courteous you are as a patron. Don't be a jerk, you'll find yourself being asked to leave - we watched an entitled couple escorted out and everyone cheered.

I read great reviews but they didn't do this restaurant justice given my experience there....

fantastic first-time experience here! i've heard so many good things about M sushi and they definitely didn't disappoint.

i went around 1pm on a friday and there wasn't a wait time. i actually accidentally went to M kokko, just around the corner, the first time and found M sushi soon after.

the atmosphere is impeccable with dim lighting and i love how they have the bar set up. it's clean, slick, and just visibly appealing.

i got the sushi combo deluxe, which ran about $24. if i can remember correctly, the difference between the deluxe and the regular is that the deluxe comes with 2 extra nigiri and the tamago. both come with miso (which i didn't take a photo of). first off, i gotta say that i'm picky when it comes to sushi. i pay special attention to rice, how it tastes, and how they prepare it with nigiri. i have to say that their sushi is absolutely delicious. all you need is a bit of wasabi, if you'd like, and you really don't even need soy sauce. the chefs lightly brush a soy sauce mixture beneath the fish, so it's salty and flavorful enough. they handled the rice nicely and didn't pack it too much. it was fluffy and just melted in your mouth.

the service fell very slightly short. my server forgot the miso soup until i mentioned it, but i prefer it with my sushi anyway, as opposed to prior to eating sushi. other than that, it was a pleasant experience.

i'll...

Honestly, best sushi anywhere.

I love sushi and have eaten it everywhere from Kyoto, Tokyo, Miami, NYC, LA and London.

Sounds crazy I know, but this dimly lit minimalist basement restaurant in Durham, NC brings it.

Fresh best ingredients under the rising sun.

Cuisine: Specializes in high-quality, fresh sushi and Japanese cuisine, with a focus on seasonal seafood.

Atmosphere: Dimly lit, industrial-chic space. It's described as minimalist and designed to create a Zen-like dining experience.

M Sushi in Durham is owned and operated by Chef Michael Lee and his wife, Yeonju (Kim) Lee.

Michael is the chef and owner of M Sushi, along with other Durham restaurants such as M Kokko, M Tempura, and M Pocha.

Has received recognition for culinary talent and an innovative approach to Japanese cuisine.

Opened M Sushi in 2016 to provide high-quality, traditional sushi in a minimalist setting..

Describes the food as "food we like to eat when we get drunk," drawing inspiration from Korean heritage.

Early Passion: Michael Lee's passion for Japanese cuisine ignited at a young age.

Extensive Experience: He started his culinary journey with an apprenticeship at a Japanese restaurant in 1996.

Chef Lee is constantly experimenting with new flavors and dishes, as evidenced by his diverse restaurant concepts and the M...