The Sushi Restaurant Near UCF That Started It All
· By the Sus Hi Team
Let's get the obvious out of the way: we're kind of biased about this one. The UCF Dojo is the original. August 29, 2011. Right across the street from campus. Everything Sus Hi is today started in that little spot off University.
So when somebody searches for a sushi restaurant near University of Central Florida, yeah — we take that personally.
Why Knights Keep Coming Back (Sometimes at 1:47AM)
Here's the thing about college schedules. They're chaos. You've got a lab that runs late, a group project that somehow starts at 9pm, and a 2am craving that doesn't care what's open.
That's why select Dojos stay open until 2AM. Check the hours before you roll up, but I've personally watched a study group walk in near closing, order six bowls, and eat them in the parking lot like it was a holiday. Honestly? Respect.
Build it however you want. That's the whole point.
We were one of the first fast-casual build-your-own sushi spots in the country, and that hasn't changed. You walk the line, you call your shots, our Ninjas make it happen. Rice or no rice. Flame-torched protein. House sauces stacked however you like.
And the bowls? The bowls are the sleeper hit. Robert and Teresa thought rolls would be the top seller when they opened. Nope. Bowls and burritos took over immediately and never gave the crown back.
What to Order Your First Time at the UCF Dojo
- Party in My Mouth Bowl — genuinely underrated. Spicy, loaded, never boring.
- Steak Mac & Cheese Crunch Burrito — mac and cheese inside a sushi burrito. If you haven't had one, what are you even doing with your life?
- Boom Boom Shrimp Bowl — the sauce does a lot of heavy lifting here and I'm fine with it.
- Hi-Ya! Waska Bowl — vegan, and it actually slaps. Not a pity option.
- Krab Rangoons — order them. Just do it. Buffalo Goons if you want heat.
Want something cold and lighter after a gym session at the RWC? The Chilled Noodle Bowls are the move. Teriyaki Steak version, specifically.
Where we actually are
The UCF Dojo sits right by campus, walkable from a ton of the student apartments in the 32817/32826 stretch. If you're out in Oviedo or Waterford Lakes, we're a quick drive. And if you're somewhere else in town, we've got Dojos at Chickasaw, Colonial, Lake Nona, Millenia, and Altamonte Springs — plus one up in Tampa near USF for the Bulls.
A Few Pro Moves
Order ahead online so you skip the line entirely — most of our orders come through digital now. And get the rewards app (iOS and Android). Free points on food you were already buying is just math.
Also: don't sleep on the beignets. Or the Ube Cheesecake. Dessert at a sushi spot sounds weird until it isn't.
Fourteen years in this neighborhood and we still see the same faces — freshmen who became seniors who became alumni who still swing by when they're in town. That's not marketing. That's just what happens when a sushi restaurant near University of Central Florida actually becomes part of the campus.
Come see us at the UCF Dojo. Build something ridiculous. Tag us in it. #SusHi #NinjaSushi #BuildYourOwn