Sushi, Texas and wine are not things that have historically been intertwined. But you wouldn’t know it at Aya Sushi in Bellaire, Texas—15 minutes outside Downtown Houston—where guests enjoy original and harder-to-find sushi dishes accompanied by a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence–winning wine program. Open since 2022, the restaurant represents a collaboration between Tokyo-trained head chef Yoshi Katsuyama and Houston-area restaurateurs Bruce Kish, Minette Corpuz and Pak Tsui.
Behind the sushi counter and often donning a bright pink apron, Katsuyama takes command like the captain of a ship. The food reflects his energy: It's creative and zesty, yet steeped in a reverence for tradition. The same could be said for Aya Sushi itself, with its cascading rails of ceiling lights that shine onto wood-paneled walls.
The heavy hitter on the menu is the omakase experience, which includes 19 pieces of sushi for $135, with some ingredients flown in from Japan (a $225, 23-piece premium option is also available). Other notable dishes include nama hotate (live scallop), ankimo (steamed monkfish liver), truffle hirame (olive flounder), buta kaku ni (soy-braised pork belly) and A5 Wagyu carpaccio.
The wine list features a range of Champagnes like Delamotte’s Brut Blanc de Blancs, which is available by the glass; sommelier Aaron D’Souza recommends it as a pairing for Katsuyama’s oyster topped with watermelon, cucumber and ponzu. Or, D’Souza says, look to the Pinot Noir–based Bollinger Brut PN TX17, which pairs nicely with some of Aya Sushi’s cooked menu items, like the citrusy chicken karaage. (Try this pairing as a spin on fried chicken and Champagne.)
The restaurant’s level of dedication to the beverage program is apparent beyond the 230-label wine program, and guests shouldn’t overlook the sake, Japanese whisky and cocktail selections. The cocktail program includes Japanese-inspired tipples like the opulent 401K, which features Hine’s Triomphe Cognac, Grand Marnier Revelation, yuzu juice and Sauternes, among other ingredients ("401" refers to the last three digits of the restaurant's zip code as well as the price of this luxurious cocktail).
If you’re traveling to the Houston area this year, be on the lookout for Aya Sushi’s wine dinners with local vintners and trade events with guest chefs, sommeliers and mixologists. The restaurant also hosts sushi education workshops.
