12 Best Restaurants in Mexico

It might look like a hole-in-the-wall, but this small Japanese restaurant has some of Cancún's best sushi. Expect sashimi, nigiri, and every type of roll imaginable; house specialties include the Copán roll (deep-fried shrimp wrapped in cucumber) and the Cancún roll (stuffed with eel and scallops). There is a sushi bar on the ground floor and an intimate dining area with a few tables upstairs. Granted, you may not hear crashing waves, but you'll have an authentic Japanese experience for a fraction of what you might pay down the road. Note that the sushi menu is in Spanish and Japanese, but not English.

Savor deftly crafted modern Japanese fare—yakitori skewers, oden and ramen bowls, tempura, udon noodle, raw shellfish, and sushi and sashimi—in this inviting, contemporary space with a variety of seating options, including private tatami rooms. The menu stand-outs are many, including a serrano-wagyu beef roll and shrimp mapo tofu. There's an impressive selection of cocktails, wines, and artisan beers to match the food.

An immediate success since it opened on a quiet side street in Colonia Cuauhtémoc, tiny Rokai is perhaps the most authentic Japanese restaurant in a city where cream cheese, chipotle mayo, and bottled hot sauce adorn many a sushi roll. Japanese chefs Hiroshi Kawahito and Daisuke Maeda use immaculately fresh fish brought in daily from Mexico's various coasts, primarily Baja California and Oaxaca, and turn it into sushi and sashimi, as well as cooked dishes. There's also a ramen restaurant next door, bearing the same name and ownership.

A modern but tranquil sound track pervades this small, funky, and nonatmospheric sushi joint, which is just the ticket for travelers weary of Mexican food and pricey restaurants that are long on atmosphere but short on yum. For an inexpensive and healthful bento box, choose three, four, or five of the day's salads from the deli case, or have the sushi chef–owner, from Osaka, whip up a spicy tiger or a beautiful rainbow or spider roll. A large table outside in the pedestrian-only street seats larger groups or individuals willing to share their space.

Come early for the best selection of made-fresh-daily deli items.

This tiny restaurant fills a void in island cuisine with the day's catch transformed into the sushi roll of your choice. Local favorites include the Holbox Rainbow made with shrimp, salmon, tuna, and sea bass. Nearly every roll is stuffed with cream cheese, an ingredient that makes the sushi far from authentic yet memorably tasty. Placing a sweet spin on the menu is the Banana Roll with shrimp, avocado, and cream cheese topped with fried banana and eel sauce. The restaurant also serves Thai dishes and has a full cocktail menu—the ginger margarita packs a punch.

Don't be put off by the shopping mall location or shared entrance with the Macao casino, because this modern Japanese restaurant serves truly fresh sashimi and sushi with unique toppings such as miso foie grass, black truffles, or lemon caviar. The excellently trained servers guide you through the extensive menu and offer cocktail suggestions to complement the myriad of main courses and roll choices—from uramaki to futomaki. Make a reservation for the speakeasy, Shinkai, which is hidden behind the sushi bar and only open on Friday and Saturday nights.

Japanese chef Makoto Okuwa brings his energizing point of view to Mexico's rich culinary heritage. The dishes are beautifully presented; main dishes like the black cod miso and short rib maki offer a complex blend of flavors. From the upstairs terrace, diners can look out over the leafy surrounding neighborhood.

Strategically positioned a few blocks west of the U.S. embassy and close to the Japanese embassy, this spot is notable for its varied sushi and teppanyaki options. A fine Japanese chef and a cheerful mix of Japanese embassy workers and young Mexicans also make Mikado a real treat.

Cabo San Lucas's original sushi restaurant, Nicksan has remained a go-to date night and celebration location for over 30 years. Owner Angel Carbajal is an artist behind the sushi counter (he also owns fishing boats that collect fish each day), having been mentored by Masayuki Niikura (one of the first-ever Japanese chefs to prepare spicy tuna), and his creative Japanese-Mexican fusion dishes, nicknamed “Nicksan style,” expertly balance the culinary traditions of Japan with the unique flavors of Mexico. Reservations are recommended, especially on weekend nights and during high season. Otherwise, be prepared for a wait.

For fresh, inventive sushi, there's no question that the Nicksan franchise corners the market, and this outpost in The Shoppes at Palmilla shopping mall wins the prize. Pair wine or sake with each of your selections, perhaps the lobster roll (with cilantro, mango, mustard, and curry oil), lobster sambal (marinated in sake with soy, ginger, and garlic), or tuna tostadas served on rice crackers with avocado.

The oldest Japanese restaurant in Cancún serves the best sushi and sashimi in El Centro with a menu of traditional Japanese dishes like chicken teriyaki and tempura for those who prefer their food cooked. Large groups can order combination platters of sushi, sashimi, kushikatsu, and gyoza. The dining room is tranquil, with Japanese art and bamboo accents, but you can also call to have food delivered to your hotel room.