Day 78 of eating at 100 Asian restaurants in Maryland, and this one’s a full-circle moment for me. I first fell for Sushi Sono as a college student, back when my professor at Peabody brought me here, and I’ve been coming back ever since. Years later, I still gravitate back to this Columbia lakefront spot every chance I get.
There are plenty of yum sushi places in HoCo, but Sushi Sono’s the one I keep choosing for date nights, birthdays, or a solo lunch when I want to treat myself. Minje and I split their sashimi boat on this visit and it was sublime, easily the move if you’re deciding what to order. Perched right on Lake Kittamaqundi in downtown Columbia, MD, it’s the kind of place that works for a solo lunch just as much as a special occasion. Let me put you on, Nomsters.
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What Makes Sushi Sono a Standout Sushi Spot
Sushi Sono’s been a Howard County institution for over two decades, the kind of spot that’s been racking up local recognition since the early 2000s. What sets it apart isn’t just longevity though. A lot of their fish gets flown in from Japan, and they run rotating specials on the regular, so there’s almost always something fresh worth asking your server about.
Then there’s the setting: right on Lake Kittamaqundi, with a view of the water that makes it feel more special-occasion than your average strip-mall sushi bar. HoCo’s got no shortage of great options (if you’re comparing, I’m also a big fan of Takumi in Columbia), but Sushi Sono’s mix of quality, view, and consistency is why it stays in my rotation.
What to Order at Sushi Sono
The Sashimi Boat ($70 for 25 pieces)
This is the move, Nomsters. Minje and I went with Option B, 25 pieces for $70, and it came piled high with the day’s chef’s-choice sashimi, usually salmon, tuna, yellowtail, and a white fish, though it shifts depending on what’s freshest. It also comes with salad and soup, and it was genuinely a lot of food for the two of us to share. The whole boat was sublime.
Two things to know before you go: the sashimi boat’s dine-in only, and there are three sizes, Option A (20 pieces, $56) and Option C (30 pieces, $85), so you can scale it to your group. If you’re a sashimi person, order this and thank me later.
Spicy Salmon Tartare ($19)
Their team generously comped us this one to try, and it was such a nice surprise. So nice and delish, it’s the kind of starter I’d happily pay for and order again. A great pick if you want something beyond the boat.
The Rotating Specials
Sushi Sono runs specials on the regular, and with a chunk of their fish coming in from Japan, this is where you find the good stuff. It’s worth asking your server what’s fresh before you commit to your order.
Beyond that, a few things worth knowing if you’re building an order:
- Chef’s special rolls like the Dragon Roll and Royal Crab Roll if you’d rather have rolls than raw slices.
- Yasai-Maki and the vegetarian boxes for anyone at the table who doesn’t do fish.
- Lunch specials Monday through Saturday if you want the experience for a little less.
The Vibe and Experience
The lakefront setting is the whole vibe here. You’re looking out over Lake Kittamaqundi while you eat, which already makes it feel a notch more special than your average sushi run. It works for date night, a birthday dinner, or a quiet solo meal, which is exactly why I keep landing here for the occasions that matter. The hospitality’s a big part of it too, the team showed amazing hospitality and even sent out that tartare on the house. If you want another Columbia spot with that same special-occasion energy, Old Line Kitchen‘s a great date-night call.
Good to Know
- Location: 📍 10215 Wincopin Cir, Columbia, MD 21044, right on Lake Kittamaqundi in downtown Columbia.
- Hours: Monday through Saturday 11:30AM to 3PM and 5 to 10PM, Sunday 12 to 9PM.
- Price range: moderate, though the sashimi boats ($56 to $85) make it more of a treat than an everyday stop.
- Parking: there’s a free lot plus the Wincopin garage right behind the building, so parking’s easy.
- Reservations: recommended for Friday and Saturday dinner. They book by phone or email only, no online system, so call ahead at least a day out.
- Ordering: dine-in, takeout through their website, and delivery via Grubhub. Just remember the sashimi boat is dine-in only.
- Good for vegetarians: yes, with veggie rolls, boxes, and edamame on the menu.
Is Sushi Sono Worth A Visit?
Yes, especially when you want sushi to feel like an event. It’s not an everyday, grab-a-quick-roll kind of spot (the sashimi boats are a splurge), but for date night, a celebration, or treating yourself, it’s one of my favorite sushi spots in all of Maryland, and it earned a place in my roundup of the best sushi restaurants in Maryland. If you’re a sashimi lover in HoCo, you gotta get here.
So there it is, Nomsters, my full-circle sushi spot and still the one I trust for the big occasions. Have you guys been to Sushi Sono yet? Let me know what you order in the comments, and if you’ve got a HoCo sushi favorite I need to try, put me on. Save this one for your next date night.