Atlanta's restaurant scene brims with schools of sushi joints, from the high end to casual grabs. You don't have to cast your net far to find one near you.

VININGS

Orient Express

The name says it all as guests waltz into an old train car cum dining room. The Chinese portion of the restaurant is at one end, and a homage to the Japanese hibachi genre lives at the other. Its sushi bar sort of breaks up the two. Chefs create a wide range of artful delicacies in front of a bamboo stalk backdrop. Try the Godzilla roll, which roars to life with thin slabs of salmon cozying up to eel slices. Like your sushi with a crunch? The House Special finds a roll of yellowtail tuna, crab, scallions and rice taking a dip in the deep fryer. Determined diners can opt for meal-size sushi combinations, many boasting rolls and nigiri.

2921 Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta. 770-438-9090, www.atlantaorientexpress.com.

BUCKHEAD

MF Buckhead

Owners Chris and Alex Kinjo keep a watchful eye over the Buckhead location of the popular sushi emporium (the original is in Midtown). It's an experience where walnut floors, imported stoneware and silk panels combine Japanese tradition with Buckhead chic. A robata grill ranks high among its bells and whistles, but the sushi bar remains MF's centerpiece. Fish gets flown in daily from Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo. Try the snow crab and asparagus with its smoked salmon wrapper or pristine yellowtail dolled up with lemon and cilantro. If you can't decide, put your faith in maestro Fuyuhiko Ito, and he'll concoct something special you won't find on the menu. Keep in mind your wallet needs to be as big as your appetite. On Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays, MF Buckhead offers a seven-course meal with sake pairings for $100 per person ($75 without sake). For a thriftier option, lunch specials are available for less than $20 that include miso soup and ginger salad.

3280 Peachtree Road, Suite 110, inside the Terminus Building, Atlanta. 404-841-1192, www.mfbuckhead.com.

DOWNTOWN

Thrive

The stylish eatery's menu runs the gamut from bulging burgers to grilled grouper. And sushi plays a significant role. General manager and partner A.D. Allushi has a favorite roll of his own design: The Vesuvius has a tuna and cucumber interior, with spicy tuna, mango, avocado and spicy teriyaki sauce on top. Other options include Dragon roll, a flash-fried conglomeration of white tuna, avocado, cucumber and cream cheese. Bigger appetites can opt for combo plates (Kyoto and Tokyo) proclaiming spectrums of color and taste.

101 Marietta St., Atlanta. 404-389-1000, www.thriveatl.com.

SNELLVILLE

Sri Thai Kitchen & Sushi Bar

If you come for lunch, the sushi, sashimi, tempura combo is just about the perfect thing to order. A California roll, sashimi of salmon, white and pink tuna, miso soup or salad with that unmistakable homemade ginger dressing is served with a mound of vegetable and shrimp tempura. Presented in a Bento box, it's a little bit of everything good.

2218 Main St. U.S. 78, Snellville, 770-985-8078

DULUTH

Haru Ichiban

There is nothing sexy about the look of this Japanese restaurant in the back of an insignificant Duluth mall. The staff isn't particularly warm, and the kitchen isn't out to impress. But ex-pats who long for the true tastes of Japan treat Haru Ichiban as destination dining. The sushi bar is one of the metro area's star performers, with an evident commitment to variety and freshness. If you love sashimi, splurge on a chef's-choice assortment, which will arrive looking like a fantasy landscape fashioned of raw fish.

3646 Satellite Blvd. Duluth, 770- 622-4060