Sandfish Sushi and Whiskey

Great atmosphere! The sushi is delicious and fresh. Plenty of drink options - the saki was so good. We went here on a date night and drove from QC and it didn’t disappoint!

Visited for the first time last night and had a phenomenal experience. The food was fantastic - and I mean every single thing we ordered was stunningly presented and absolutely delicious. Our server Jillian was wonderful!! I have no idea how this place isn't packed every single night!

This place was so amazing! First the food: every dish we ordered had such remarkable flavors and the attention to detail was unreal. We ordered the chicken gyoza (the chili garlic sauce is out of this world). We also ordered the shishito peppers and they were so good and had a great teriyaki drizzle on them. The Umami (albacore) signature roll was the best roll we have ever had (aguachile was a punch of taste). The short rib entree was such a great interactive experience at dinner and THE FLAVORS WERE AMAZINGGGGGG!!! The broccolini was such an unexpected RICH great dish and I would order it over and over again. We also ordered the Sandfish Nigiri Plate and the taste of each one with the detailed herb/spice was undescribable. The food is one thing but the atmosphere and service was top notch. The bar manager Josh was great and showed such great hospitality and took his time explaining the dishes to us. Chef Eddy was the best chef I have ever met, the attention to detail, the care in the food, and the interaction with the guests were truly so special, as if we were the most important guests in the restaurant. To say I will be back is an understatement, I can't wait to experience all of this again! Thank you!!

Fusion Asian food. Fresh seafood creative spiced. Small team operate the place, super friendly and accommodating vibe.

They add a special touch of class with the way they present their drinks to their signature dishes. Even though they have caviar on their menu, their prices are perfect for the quality of their service and menu. Thanks for a special anniversary dinner.

We are obsessed with Sandfish! We visited its original location in Palm Springs and couldn't wait to come to the Phoenix location. It did not disappoint. The service was friendly, and the timing of everything was great. We got a Mocktail, the Nordic breeze, and a cocktail, City of temples. Both were delicious. We started with the spicy tuna tostadas. This is incredible! Everybody should start their meal with these tostadas. The flavor of this dish is incredible. A little bit of sweet, little bit spicy, a little bit of savory, it's amazing. We always get the Koko roll because it's our favorite. This time we tried the Scandinavian roll and the Sandfish roll. All of them are so different and so delicious. You can't go wrong. It was hot so we ate inside. I think next time we will wait until it will be cooler so we can enjoy the back patio. Inside is really crowded. We were sandwiched between two other tables, and it felt like we were all together at the same table. I could hear their conversations as clearly as our own. It won't stop us from going back though!

Nestled in the vibrant Melrose neighborhood at 7th Avenue and Indian School Road, Sandfish Sushi and Whiskey beckons with an enticing array of dishes starting at just $6, alongside daily happy hour delights from 4:30 to 6:30. Our journey commenced with an exploration of their Old Fashioned offerings, featuring the classic, the house original, and the Nagano—all expertly balanced and impeccably presented. For sustenance, we indulged in the Makimono Salmon and Albacore, Salmon Tartare, culminating in the show-stopping Venue Roll. Comprising spicy tuna, salmon, and tobiko, this masterpiece—featuring spicy tuna, cucumber, gobo, topped with seared salmon, spicy aioli, teriyaki sauce, microgreens, and tobiko—unveiled flavors that harmonized like a symphony. While the wait for the Venue Roll took awhile, its arrival underscored the adage that good things come to those who wait—a sentiment that perfectly encapsulates Sandfish's commitment to delivering an exceptional sushi and whiskey experience. Without a doubt, Sandfish Sushi and Whiskey stands as a solid choice for aficionados seeking a memorable culinary excursion.

Great experience, Alexandria was a great server and provided awesome suggestions without being pushy. Other than not having the matcha creme puffs, everything was perfect. We will definitely be back.

Great sushi and whiskey. Perfect for date night.

Great sushi spot in the Melrose with fantastic cocktails and an extensive whiskey selection. We shared a few apps, plates and rolls and were satisfied. We did the venue roll, pork belly bao buns, and the Kabocha tempura which is squash.

We celebrated my girlfriend’s 31st birthday here and I am so thankful we did. We were surprised to find out that Wednesdays are all day happy hour. We got a few things from that menu and more from the full menu. My mezcal cocktail was perfect. Every dish was delicious. We could not believe how tasty every single thing we ordered was! The restaurant itself is very small and intimate. I don’t think we could pick a favorite dish. Everything was so good. The mussels in the miso broth might have been the star of the show though. And you can’t go wrong with the crudos! You’re not allowed to leave the restaurant until you’ve ended your meal with their ube oil cake.

I've been waiting for months for this place! My husband and I were driving by, saw it open, and dashed in to check it out. We started with an old fashioned and svalbard sling. Both were really good, but the old fashioned is top notch! So good, my husband ordered another! The svalbard sling reminded me of an elevated wisconsin old fashioned. My second drink was odin's gift - a gin drink that's light and refreshing, while being booze forward. For dinner, we ordered two rolls and the waygu beef carpaccio. The truffle zest really sets it apart frok others we have tried. We opted for the Baby Langoustine and The Experiement. They had enough bite for my husband, but weren't so spicy that I couldn't taste the beautiful flavors. (My husband likes things spicy, but I have a delicate palate when it comes to heat!) The staff is great, you can tell they are excited about the menu and happy to share their favorites with you and make recommendations. We can't wait to go back!

This place is a great date night restaurant. It's a little pricey if you bring your appetite but the rolls that we tried were some of the best out there and my personal favorite of course was the Wagyu Steak Signature Roll.

I was fortunate enough to attend a soft-open event at Sandfish and I could not have been more pleased with the experience. The food, drinks, service, and ambience were all top notch. This is a special place that I will definitely be visiting again for a special occasion!

Ventured out to try something new - sushi!! Having never eaten at a sushi place before, I didn’t know what to expect. WOW!! Was I blown away! I can’t wait to go back. Just thinking about the food we had is making my mouth water. I tried my first sushi roll and absolutely loved it! The chicken and beef Gyozas, with the chili onion crunch on top was soo good. The pork belly and cauliflower bao buns were a treat as well. Give Sandfish a shot - you’ll be happy you did. You can tell they care about the quality of food and service they provide, both are top notch. Shout out to Steph who took great care of us! See you soon Sandfish :)

sandfishsushiwhiskeyphx, by Chef Engin Onural will have its grand opening on November 30, 2022, in the Melrose District. Chef Enguin’s story is especially unique, considering he has earned a sushi certification from the Japanese government, is one of the top 30 sushi chefs in the world, and has been added to the ‘Best Chefs of America Index.’ Chef knew he wanted to be in hospitality since he was a boy, and began his professional life at Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Business Information Management. Soon after graduation, he moved to Los Angeles to train at Andy Matsuda’s Sushi Chef Institute. Chef Matsuda’s philosophy of appreciation and gratitude for nature, people and family is very palpable at Engin’s sushi concepts. His sushi restaurants in Palm Springs have received numerous accolades such as “Best Sushi in Palm Springs.” Ambiance: Modern Japanese-Scandinavian design. Wood paneled floors and ceilings, subdued earth tones and lighting, vintage photographs of Japanese fisherman, The cuisine and concept:: Gorgeously executed sushi rolls such as the Baby Langoustine roll with crab meat/avocado/tempura-style baby langoustine/spicy aioli/teriyaki sauce/microgreens and The Experiment with snow crab/mango/yuzu aioli. Chef recommends the spicy tuna tostadas of crispy thin tostadas piled with spicy tuna, spicy mayo, mixed greens and feta. Must try’s: scallops served in a shell with walnuts/yuzu/sea beans albacore tataki/fennel/house-made lime koshu from Norway/taro chips/seaweed salt. Japanese Pork Belly bao buns/Gojuchang Honey Glaze/Cucumber Black Radish Sunomono/Sesame Seeds Cocktails such as the Freydis w/pau maui vokda/lychee puree/passion fruit liquer/joto yuzu sake or Ragnar’s Revenge with Laphroaig/green chartreuse/lime/mint/simple syrup

Beautiful back patio. Amazing food and courteous staff. The Experiment Roll was probably our favorite. We'll definitely be going back because there were so many intriguing items on the menu that we didn't get to try.

Had an incredible dinner sitting at the bar. Delicious craft cocktails by Nick. First time having uni, what an experience, thank you Jay. Loved the design inside too! Will be back to sit on the outdoor patio with the cool fire.

Sandfish Sushi was amazing. Fresh fish, great service, craft cocktails. I love the ambiance of the restaurant. Perfect for a date night. I will definitely be coming back! Zucchini blossoms and hamachi collar were the highlights for me.

Haters gonna hate, but this is the best place for a date. Phenomenal food. Got it to go for corn hole across the street. I’ll be back to enjoy the experience. Best sushi around

The food was superb! Fresh sashimi that basically melts in your mouth. Everything we had was fresh & delicious. Service was great. Will be back again, and again!

My husband and I had a great meal here. The fish was very fresh and the rolls were really inventive. Definitely a must try for higher end sushi in Phoenix.

I skipped lunch and ordered way too much for an early dinner at Sandfish. Everything was so delicious that I ate it all. Thank you! Dozens of thumbs up. 11/10 stars.

I have walked past this place for two years and just never had the right time to walk in. Tonight I had a friend visiting from Seattle and I guess it was time. As a sushi and whiskey, lover, I had high expectations. And I have to say for a small restaurant, local, and various small staffed. I did not have the highest expectations. However, my expectations were much exceeded. Apparently, we came on a night that was busier than they were expecting. They let us know that at the door. They took a walk in which some restaurants in the neighborhood do not do, and made us feel good about coming. The food was great. Hostess and the waitress were both accommodating. And I love seeing that the chefs were even jumping in to help manage everything. My only regret about this place is waiting two years to go inside. Maybe that’s why they’re getting busier than they expect on a Tuesday night. I highly recommend that you give this place a try.

My husband and I celebrated our anniversary here the other day. We both couldn’t stop commenting how good every bite was. The layers of flavors were amazing. Hands down our favorite thing was the sandfish roll but the spicy tuna tostadas were a close contender. We also got the shredded duck bao buns, melrose roll and A5 Tokyo beef crunch roll with wagyu which didn’t disappoint! They were out of the dragonfruit sorbet I was excited to try but I was not sad while eating their blood orange sorbet. They accidentally brought us a mango sorbet as well and we gobbled that up too. I can’t decide which was my favorite and my husband couldn’t get over how good his matcha blueberry cheesecake with Oreo crust was. We can’t wait to go back and try the rest of the menu. Staff and atmosphere were awesome. An absolute perfect meal from start to finish.

Popped in as a friend recommended it to us. We were in for quite the surprise. Genuinely this was the best sushi I have ever had in Phoenix, their maki rolls were incredible and their tuna tacos were a showstopper. Drink menu was great as well and they make a mean old fashioned. Highly recommend to anyone! 10/10

There are a lot of sushi spots out there, this one is my favorite. Love many of the menu items. Service is always good, love the happy hour. It's a little more pricy than other sushi restaurants but worth it.

Very enjoyable by the fireplace on the back patio. Very interesting rolls. While I'm not a big fan of "stunt sushi" (too many components, sauces, etc), I really enjoyed even the complex rolls we shared. All very well-balanced.

I found this restaurant online show casing it as a new place to try. We started with the crudos or the salmon ice cream cone (I forget its exact name) and it was quite unique and tasty however a very small bite. I chose the full sized plate even though it was happy hour. Next was the blue crab zushi. This one was cool because the rice was a light blue as it was made with butterfly pea flowers. It was a firm crispy air fried texture with a hearty load of blue crab on each one. The herb oil under this was so tasty we saved the plate and was dipping other things in it. Both of these were pretty pricey, and despite the prices we were still hungry and got some more. We also got the duck bao bun - we did not get a photo of this and the roll - was light and tasty. The venue roll we and our friends got and was a very nice combo of fish, spice and fun toppings. I really came for the ube cake and as good as it was I was bummed to see the piece was much smaller and less fluffy than pictured in the video that brought me to this restaurant. We sat outside which felt like a homey back yard however it was incredibly dark once the sun went down and we were only using the small table lights pictured. There were lights above us that they did not want to turn on because they were apparently really bright. For the price we paid we did not leave feeling full, however overall this was a great experience. Quite pricey for small portions and next time around I would choose to sit inside. The bathroom wallpaper was super cute and the place definitely has well established chefs with technique and care for their food.

Went here for AZ restaurant week. The sushi was great and whiskey menu had lots Of options, but our server left much to be desired. She never smiled or really engaged our table, while servers were the opposite, smiling, making suggestions & welcoming to their tables. Having poor service always leaves a bitter taste in my mouth because it’s all about the experience. I can get sushi a lot of places. It’s the service that makes you go back. We sat inside and the decor is nice , but it is quite loud. On the fence about returning.

I enjoyed my overall experience at Sandfish! I did think service was a bit slow/awkward to start and drinks/food did take a while to come out at times, but that every dish was enjoyable. Started off with one of their mezcal cocktails which was fantastic and came in a very appealing glass! We decided to order off the happy hour menu, however I’m not sure if it saved any money. We ordered 3 crudos for $8-10 each however each crudo was only 3 pieces of fish in total. So 9 pieces of fish was $30 which I think was overpriced, so I would not necessarily gravitate to the happy hour menu again! The crisp fish and sauce however was my favorite thing we ordered and absolutely delicious. The blue crab zhushi was really good! Great texture and flavor to it. We also ordered the octopus, which was good flavor but very small amount for the price in my opinion, but the flavor was good and I thought it was cooked perfectly. So it had nice texture and not chewy! We ordered the venue sushi roll and another one titled umi-something and I would say both were very solid sushi rolls but nothing crazy from a flavor perspective. I would say it’s predictable and typical sushi flavors! The restaurant itself is beautifully decorated and great for small pairs! For larger groups I can imagine a reservation would be ideal as it’s on the smaller side. There are very few parking spots outside so something to consider as far as getting there. I would definitely go back and try more items on the menu!

I wanted to stop at this place for a while now. I’m happy I got a chance to slip in and try it out. The beef gyoza was amazing. So packed with flavor and the crunch on it still rings. The duck bao buns were very nice, the duck was prepared perfectly. I just wish it one more layer of flavor that shot me to the moon and back. I got the 72 hour short rib nigiri. For the price for just one. Not worth it, in my opinion. I would say around $9-$10 for one piece. Nah. Get some tuna or salmon instead. And at last a basic Cali roll. It was excellent. Prepared fresh and you can taste it. Wouldn’t mind getting that again. All in all, I think I spent around $80 just for myself on these 4 dishes and one cocktail. Worth it?… No. It was a nice experience and the food was really good however I’d rather spend that money somewhere else.

For a celebration night, this place hidden gem. I recommend the Scandinavian and the Venue Roll...both were excellent. The Pork Belly Bao Buns are...well it's pork belly...so obviously it's delicious. The scallops were paired with walnuts which seemed to overpower the delicate taste of scallops. The Lollipop roll was our final dish and the coolness in temperature made it almost feel like a welcome desert. Try a signature drink, order only 2 dishes at a time in order to pace yourself, and lastly, don't be in a hurry. It's a great place. We'll be back.

Really enjoyed our date night here. Good sushi (quality fish) and excellent cocktails. (Odins gift was my fav). The ambience is very cool outback, it’s scandanvian meets rustic? Felt cozy and warm - especially bc this place is essentially in a little strip mall, they did a great job with the decor. The service was good, not excellent, but good enough. I know we will go back bc it’s some of the best sushi we’ve found in Phoenix.

Overall really good food, unique dishes and good atmosphere. The place is relatively small so you’ll be sitting somewhat close to others. We had the following: - Beef gyoza - Yellowtail sashimi - Koko Signature Rill - Waygu Signature Roll - Salmon Avocado Maki Roll - Freya House Original Cocktail - Nagano Old Fashioned Original Cocktail Everything was delicious, our favorite was the Gyoza because the sauce was incredible. That said, bill came out to around $200 for two (after tip), just not sure it’s a place worth that much, if I’m going to spend min $100/person I’m going to Nobu, but other than that, everything was great & service was really friendly & attentive!

Good restaurant to grab a quick bite, the atmosphere was great, a little bit overprice for the sushi rolls, but in the good site have a good selection of whiskey

This was the first time me and my bestie went here and upon arrival we absolutely loved the atmosphere and vibe of the restaurant. When the appetizers came out sadly the Gyoza was cold. We then received our main entree and the portion sizes did not match the price of the items on the menu. Although we did not rectify with our server the issue of the gyoza due having a planned evening and couldn’t wait for the correction to be fixed, this restaurant had a great atmosphere to go for a drink and chat surrounded in a calming ambience. If you are looking for more of a meal with bigger portions and appropriate prices please take your business elsewhere.

Honestly, for what I paid, the food should have been a lot better. The sushi rolls had the tiniest pieces of fish and were mostly rice. Towards the end I did not even feel inclined to finish my sushi and I was still hungry, because the flavor was just not inviting. Very disappointed. Also ~100 for 3 little rolls is insane.

Working a delivery driver, this is definitely one of the least friendly places I’ve picked up from. Arrived 20 minutes after food had been ordered, and arrived at the restaurant to pick up. After about 7 minutes of waiting and being directly ignored by the staff, one server asked me what I was there for, and assured me the food would be ready in 5 minutes. From then, I watched as they JUST began to make the order, leaving me waiting for another 20 minutes wherein I received no communication or help. The store seems both understaffed and poorly managed. The culture of “not me, not my problem” is apparent in the attitude of almost everyone there. I hope the food is better than the service

The food was bombdotcom, the tacos melt in your mouth, the cocktails scratch an itch and quench a thirst, but then I checked for wasabi under the nigiri and there’s a real long hair. The server seemed really annoyed to have helped us and it was even my birthday. Kinda sucked that I made my friends go here I feel like I dragged them to their own doom.