Sushi is cultural and artistic and can be wonderfully addictive. The Japanese dish begins with bite-sized cakes of cold boiled rice flavored with rice vinegar. The cakes are rolled in seaweed with, or topped with, raw fish, vegetables or egg. Sushi does not always mean raw fish. But raw fish—sashimi in Japanese—is the most popular ingredient in sushi.
What makes sushi great is the simplicity of the food and the complexity of the flavor. Serious sushi chefs study for decades to master these tasty bites. The ingredients for makizushi (sushi rolls) are chosen so that taste, texture and even colors complement each other. The rolls are served sliced into disks so diners can see the artistic work inside.
At traditional omakase-style places, you can usually order a set of sushi with a fixed price. Or you can order your favorite sushi pieces as you eat your meal. Sushi connoisseurs recommend that nigiri, a slice of fish atop a strip of rice, is best enjoyed by turning it upside down to place the fish side on the tongue.
Ready to tantalize your taste buds with delectable Japanese delicacies? Here’s a list of sushi spots in the South Sound.
LACEY
Koibito
730 Sleater Kinney Rd SE
sushiolympia.com
OLYMPIA
Aya Sushi
1540 Cooper Point Rd SW
Osaka
7265 Martin Way East
osakajapanese.com
Red Wind Casino—Seafood Restaurant
12819 Yelm Hwy SE
redwindcasino.com/dining/seafood-restaurant
PUYALLUP
Forever Sushi
4301 South Meridian
fspuyallup.com
Sushi & Wok
5610 176th St East
Sushi Ari
206 39th Ave SW
sushiari.com
GIG HARBOR
Domo Sushi
4901 Point Fosdick Dr NW
domosushi.co
Mizu Steakhouse
3116 Judson St
mizusteakhouse.com
TACOMA
Gari of Sushi
1209 South 38th St
gariofsushi.net
Mio Sushi
5051 Main St
miosushi.com
Sushi Tama
3919 6th Ave
sushitamarestaurant.com
Sushido
1620 South Mildred St
sushidowa.com
The Koi
1552 Commerce St
thekoitacoma.com
LAKEWOOD
Hanilkwan Sushi & Grill
3615 Steilacoom Blvd SW
Jin Sushi
8904 South Tacoma Way
jinsushi.multiscreensite.com
UNIVERSITY PLACE
Sapporo Steakhouse
3810 Bridgeport Way West
sapporosteakhouse.com
KELLY LENIHAN
