Best Sushi Knife Reviews in 2023

If you want to get serious or commit a little more to upping your sushi game, you need the best sushi knife for your needs. It’s not good enough to simply pick the best rated or most expensive knife – but rather about getting the one that’s perfect for you. We’ve brought together 7 knives that can meet your needs.

From a couple of budget-friendly and beginner-friendly sushi knives to premium and high-performing knives; there should be something for you. We’ll guide you through choosing the best sushi knife that’s right for you, getting you well-informed and ready to make the best decision possible. Let’s go!

Top 7 Best Sushi Knife Reviews in 2023

We believe that value is essential when you’re looking for a new knife. Tons of knives don’t live up to the claims they make. We’ve taken the time to go through this ocean of options and have brought you the 7 knives we think to strike the right balance between performance, price, durability, usability, and functionality.

Some of the knives lean a little more toward one of these aspects; but overall, all these knives are exceptionally well-balanced and offer something unique. We’ll also cover what we did and didn’t like about each knife to give you a more objective view – and ultimately make a better choice. Let’s dive into our best sushi knife review!

PAUDIN Nonstick Sushi Knife

Let’s start with one of the best value for money professional sushi and chef knife. If you’re working on your skills as a sushi chef and want an affordable and reliable knife, consider this one. Not only will it be excellent at cutting sushi with its extremely sharp edge, but you’ll also be able to use it for vegetables, meats, and more.

This multi-functional best sushi knife is a great all-rounder to boost your skills and work on your knife technique. You’ll learn about all the different grips and how to best approach different meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, etc. You’re getting a 2mm-thick blade that sharpens to an incredible razor’s edge. Cutting isn’t straining on your hands or wrists and can be used both right and left-handed.

The double-beveled blade can be sharpened quickly and cleaning/maintaining the knife isn’t time-intensive. The knife is visually stunning and the wood handle is well-treated for sanitary excellence and is one of the most ergonomic handles on a chef and sushi knife in this price range. You’ll get a sleek black storage case that helps keep the knife rust and corrosion-free when it’s being stored.

HIROSHI Sushi & Sashimi Chef’s Knives

Here’s a fantastic 4-piece knife set to cover you from preparing sushi to chopping herbs and slicing meat. You’re getting incredible value for money with these knives and they’re perfect if you’re looking to take your kitchen work more seriously. The knives are crafted in traditional Japanese 40-steps processes and hand-assembled to ensure attention to detail. While these aren’t going to be premium top-shelf knives, you’re getting more than you pay for.

Their stainless steel blades are resistant to rusting and corrosion and aren’t as brittle as low-carbon steel blades. You’re not going to get the same ultra-sharp edge as non-stainless steel blades, but their performance is fantastic. You’ll be able to do all your kitchen work (except for cutting thick meat) done without straining your hands.

The Beachwood handles are lightweight and comfortable to hold. They won’t slip and slide when your hands are wet or slightly oily. The thin profile of the blades ensures that your sushi doesn’t stick to them, and gives you fine control over the accuracy of your cuts. Overall, it’s a top pick for the best sushi knife set and offers incredible value and functionality.

Happy Sales Japanese Sashimi Sushi Knife

This is a fantastic knife if you’re looking for dedicated sushi or sashimi knives. The long slender profile of the blade and the single-beveled edge makes quick work of sushi. Single-beveled blades are superior when it comes to sashimi and sushi knives. It stops the fish or sushi from sticking to the blade and breaking up. This might seems like a minor issue when you’re just getting started, but it quickly becomes incredibly annoying and time-consuming.

You’re not getting stainless steel, as they can’t be sharpened to the same edge that sashimi knives need. Working on fish – especially expensive fish – needs an exquisitely sharp blade. It’s relatively rust-resistant; though you need to make sure you keep it clean and dry. We loved the long and slender 21cm blade.

It’s incredibly versatile and while staying lightweight and balanced. You’ll find no trouble getting quick intricate and accurate cuts with this knife. Overall, it’s one of our favorite picks for best knife for sushi and fish – and it’s very light on your wallet.

Culina Nonstick Sushi Knife

With a razor-sharp edge and a capable 8” blade, this is the best sushi knife that’ll fit quickly into any kitchen. Not only is it a fantastic knife for sushi and fish, but it’s also a handy chef’s knife with great cutting power and a balanced feel. There are a series of dimples set into the blade just above the edge to stop foods from sticking to it. Many knives struggle with this when they’re used to work on fish and sushi, so it’s a great addition.

You’re also getting a high-quality protective sheath that doesn’t add to much weight to the overall profile of the knife. It helps keep it rust and corrosion-free – so long as you keep it dry. In terms of usability, it’s a very well-balanced knife. The handle has been designed to fit the shape of your hands and suits ambidextrous use.

We loved the non-slip texture that helps you get a more reliable grip and boosts the accuracy you can cut with. The blade has also coated in a non-stick material to help protect the steel and slow down the wearing process. Overall, if you want a knife that’s affordable and easy to use for general kitchen work and sushi – this might be the best sushi knife for you.

Aya Sushi Making Kit

Along with an excellent quality sushi knife, you’re getting an entire dedicated sushi making kit. If you’re focused on improving the quality of your sushi or simply looking to kit yourself out – this is the way to go. You’ll get access to exclusive step-by-step instructional online videos to help you learn to best use and handle the tools.

The sushi knife has small rounded cutouts to make sure the sushi doesn’t stick to the blade and keeps it lightweight. It’s easy to hold and get accurate cuts with. We were happy the blade is coated and treated to make sure it stays corrosion and rust-free. This is an excellent choice, especially for a knife geared towards beginners.

Many best sushi knife users struggle with rusting as most sushi blades don’t use stainless steel. You’re getting the best of both worlds here, with excellent sharpness and decent resistance; it’s a great knife and making set to build your skills up with. You’ll also get good quality bamboo mats, chopsticks, rice spreader, and more. It offers you great value for money and a fantastic experience.

Nego Sashimi Sushi Knife

Here is a gorgeous sashimi sushi knife that excels for filleting fish and preparing sushi. It has a gleaming and gorgeous Damascus-style blade finish that immediately grabs your attention and screams class. While the blade is a little thicker, it’s still extremely sharp – more than enough to cut through sushi without pressing it down or breaking its structure.

We loved the slightly tapered handle that guides your hand into a better gripping position. You’ll find it’s very easy to hold and is well-balanced, despite having a longer and slightly heavier blade. While this isn’t a knife designed for use in a professional kitchen, it’s perfect for the enthusiast to keep at home. You’re not going to need to sell a kidney to buy this knife, so that’s a big plus.

The knife comes with a deep black hard storage case to keep it rust-free and in tip-top shape. You’ll find the provided sharpener to be extremely effective and easy to sharpen the blade with. Overall, you’re getting one of the most beautiful and stunning sushi sashimi knife options in this price range.

FAMCÜTE Professional Japanese Chef Knife

With 9CR18MOV steel, this knife is made from some of the best mass-produced Japanese steel. It’s got an HRC rating of plus or minus 60, which means it holds its edge for longer and can be made exquisitely sharp. On the other hand, this makes the blade a little brittle, so you’ll need to take good care of it and keep it out of dishwashers.

While it’s a little more expensive than most of the knives in this review, you’ll get what you pay for. It has premium performance and a durable long-lasting lifespan. It’s an extremely versatile knife that can handle most light kitchen tasks while not losing its ability to cut super-thin slices of fish and cut through sushi without breaking it.

The African Rosewood handle is made from premium quality wood that’s well-treated and visually stunning. It’s comfortable to hold and guides your hand into a pinch grip where the knife is best balanced. This is a top-rated sushi knife and chef’s knife mix that quickly earns its keep and is a valuable addition to an enthusiast kitchen.

How to Find the Perfect Sushi Knife for You!

When it comes to sushi knives – quality matters! If you’re going to skimp on the budget, you aren’t going to get a knife that lives up to your expectations. While high-quality sushi knives are expensive, you’ll get value for your money – both in terms of performance and longevity.

By following our pointers below, you can get a knife that’s perfect for your needs, style, and budget. Let’s get started on what you should be paying attention to.

Knife Type

There are 3 main types of sushi knives you need to know about: Deba, Usuba, Yanagi Ba. The Deba closely resembles a western chef knife and has a slightly curved blade. They’re great for heavier duty cutting and working with bones. You can also use this knife as a substitute for a meat cleaver and it’s very well-balanced.

Usuba knives look like small meat cleavers. They’re excellent at chopping and peeling thanks to their balanced boxed shape. They’re made for right-handed use, so if you’re left-handed you’ll need to ask for a left-handed version. Yanagi-Ba knives are longer and thinner than the other two types. They’re excellent for slicing and have minimal blade friction – great for working on delicate food and fish.

Steel Hardness and Sharpness

The knife you use should have an HRC rating of around 60. Japanese steel is harder and more brittle than western knives, so you’ll need to handle them with care. Harder steel offers a sharper cutting edge and better retention. The steel also needs a high-carbon content to avoid rusting and corrosion.

Handle

Bear in mind that most Japanese knives have a single-sided cutting edge. This means they aren’t good for left-handed use. You need a handle that balances the knife and offers a non-slip, durable, and ergonomic aspect to handling the knife. This is even more important for traditional Japanese knives and heavier-duty cutting.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What Is There to Know About Caring for a Japanese Knife?

A: Never put a genuine Japanese knife in a dishwasher. This is the fastest way to chip and scuff the delicate cutting edge. Japanese knives use harder steel that can chip more easily – so always work on composite, high-quality cutting boards and avoid rocking-motion dicing.

Q: Are Sushi Knives Sharper Than Normal Western Knives?

A: Yes, and this is mostly due to the single-beveled cutting edge and harder steel. They can handle a sharper edge for longer. This makes them great for working on fish and other delicate food that needs a high degree of accuracy. It also means they’re not great for working on thick cuts of meat that have bones, or on tough-shelled vegetables.

Q: What Is Different About Sharpening a Sushi Knife?

A: Make sure you’re using a high-quality sharpening stone and great technique. Beyond this, you need to match the sharpening angle of your knife (which is quite shallow compared to western knives – around 10-14°). You also need to learn about how to use and care for your knife properly, and this will make sharpening it more straightforward.

Final Thoughts

Well done for taking the time to get informed and prepared. You should have a clear idea of what you’re looking for and exactly what you’ll need. We’ve looked at 7 of the best balanced and value for money sushi, sashimi, and chef’s knives on the market. You’ll find knives that are dedicated to sushi and filleting, and some knives that can also handle general kitchen work (with a little style).

All that’s left is for you to choose your next knife. Keep your needs in mind and feel free to go back over any knives that interested you. Getting your hands on the best sushi knife that’s right for you is the first step to becoming the Itamae you want to be!