HAMADA OF JAPAN
365 Howard Hughes Center Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 733.3005

2000 South Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89014 (in the Stratosphere Hotel & Tower)
(702) 380.7766

221 N. Rampart Blvd. (Inside The Regent Hotel in Summerlin)
Las Vegas, NV 89128
(702) 869.7710

3745 Las Vegas Blvd. South (inside the Polo Towers- Sushi & Dining Room Only)
(702) 736.1984

3555 Las Vegas Blvd. South (inside the Flamingo Hilton)
(702) 733.3455
3900 Las Vegas Blvd. South - (inside the Luxor- Sushi & Dining Room only)
(702) 262.4548

Hamada of Japan is simply the best place for sushi in Las Vegas. As you can see, they have several convenient locations throughout many of the major hotels, but their original and main restaurant is a huge dimly-lit series of rooms with great exotic beauty. There’s a full Japanese menu, Tatami room and Teppan grill, and an enormous bar area, which is a very popular singles’ hangout during happy hour. The Chirashi is the pinnacle of happiness for the raw fish lover and the sashimi and tempura (fried shrimp and vegetables) combo is both generous and delectable. Try the Japanese parfait for dessert!

KUBO JAPANESE
2414 University Blvd. 2nd floor (Morningside Dr.) Houston, TX 77005
(713)528-7878

Everyone in the area knows exactly where this location is. Once you’ve been here, you won’t forget your way back. Kubo’s is one of the most beautiful and elegant Sushi Bars with ambiance perfect for a relaxing evening. The servers remember why they’re here and are on top of your every need. The Sushi is simply delectable. Favorite include the Sweet Shrimp Ama-Ebi and the Sea Bass Suzuki. There are daily specials on weekdays. Kubo’s has a flavorful desert menu with titles like Monkey’s Gone Mad, Wild Chocolate Dome, and Green Tea Rendezvous. They offer catering; so if you can’t make it in, call it out.

by Lottie Tagupa

GENKI SUSHI - WAIKELE
94-798 Lumiaina St
Honolulu , HI 96797
Telephone: 808-678-3180

One of several locations on the island, this sushi restaurant has made the most of “pay by the dish” sushi eateries. The Waikele location is always lively and busy, dressed in fresh cheerful colors and a crisp and clean setting. Parking is always ample and free. Once seated “trackside” the conveyor belt with help from the chefs in the kitchen behind the curtains will provide a never ending stream of fresh and flavorful selections on colorful dishes. Even though the restaurant provides a guide to everything they serve who really needs to know so many details when each selection looks so fresh and tempting.

by Thomas McCabe

ICHIBAN JAPANESE & KOREAN RESTAURANT
860-236-5599
530 Farmington Ave
Hartford, CT

The owners of Ichiban recently relocated to a bigger home to showcase their delicious menu of Korean and Japanese dishes. Now in the historic West-end of Hartford, visitors are sure to enjoy the excellent sushi, udon noodles, miso soup, dumplings, tempura and hot-pot dinners. Hot-pot dinners are a Korean specialty—generous cauldrons of soup filled with vegetables, seafood, tofu, pork and spicy kimchi (fermented cabbage). If you come specifically for sushi, you are sure to find something you like from their vast selection. The favorite choices here are the salmon skin maki roll and the eel and avocado maki roll. The assortment of sashimi is also excellent, in particular the yellowtail.

One of my favorite sushi bars in Orange County is at O Fine Japanese Cuisine.  In reviewing a sushi bar, there are three things that are very important to me.
1. Fresh Fish and Variety- The fish  has been consistently fresh and they always have lots of variety.�
2. Ambience-The decor is blue and it has a very modern, sleek feel.
3. Service- The service always has been friendly and responsive. The sushi chefs and servers are always there to make your experience enjoyable.

A few of my favorite dishes are the Spicy Tuna Cracker (without the heavy dressing) and the Poki Salad.

O Fine Japanese Cuisine
30872 S Coast Hwy
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
(949) 715-5551
http://www.ofinejapanesecuisine.com

EDAMAME SUSHI
31632 A John R. Rd.
Madison Heights MI 48071
248-597-4500
http://www.edamamesushi.net/

Avid sushi lovers enjoy watching their chefs create almost as much as eating. Such is the case at Edamame (the name is a popable soy bean) where the bar showcases Chef Noel’s talents. Others will prefer the earthy colors, dim lighting and privacy of the dining room. Whichever you choose, you will be treated to sushi, sashimi, nigiri and rolls that are truly unique. You can even design your own with 2 - 5 ingredients listed on their menu. For non-sushi fans, Chef Eddie’s nu-Asian kitchen offers dumplings, tempura, soup and noodle stir fries. Fried rice bowls come with beef teriyaki, barbecue pork, chicken Filipino sausage or spam, each topped with 2 fried eggs. Bento Boxes and ready-to-go sushi are for those in a hurry. Best of all, everything is super affordable including their new lunch specials.

As Bill Murray said  in the film “Lost in Translation,”  “It’s Suntory Time,” but this time it’s Restaurant Suntory (the same company) in Waikiki.  Tucked away on the 3rd floor of the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center is Restaurant Suntory which has  high end Tepanyaki and Sushi.  One of the best deals on the island is the lunch specials.  You can eat at either the Tepanyaki or Sushi bar.  I chose to eat at the Sushi Bar and I felt like I was transported to Japan.  Taka was my Sushi Chef and he sliced up the Tokujyo Sushi lunch which is the chef’s selection of assorted Sushi and also includes Miso Soup and Green Tea.  Lots of exotic fish including Toro, Japanese Mackarel,  Uni and Squid with Ginger. The Tokujyo Sushi set lunch price is $28 and the Sushi Moriawase which is also assorted sushi but less exotic is $20.  I highly recommend Restaurant Suntory for lunch or dinner but for the best bargain in town try the lunch.

Restaurant Suntory
2233 Kalakaua Avenue #307  Honolulu, HI 96815
808-922-5511

by Erin M. Blakemore

SUSHI SASA
2401 15th St., Denver, CO 80202
(303) 433-7272

Veteran foodster Wayne Conwell has brought sushi to East Highland, and he’s done so with style. Specializing in meticulously cut and plated sushi, Sushi Sasa is a sushi lover’s retreat, complete with minimalist ambience, state-of-the-art sushi chefs and a to-die for mix of flavor and flair. If you’re feeling adventurous, settle down at the sushi bar for a surprising - and ever-changing omakase tasting dinner selected by your chef and sure to present you with new textures and flavors. If you’re in the mood for something tamer, the spider roll or smoky unagi (freshwater eel) is sure to satisfy. Those with slender wallets might want to bypass dinner and opt instead for the makani (chef’s rations) at lunchtime; the selection changes daily but is sure to be filling and memorable.

by Christine Irvin

SushiKo Japanese Restaurant
122 Hutchinson Avenue
Columbus, OH 43235
(614) 985-6441
http://www.sushi-ko.net

SushiKo Japanese Restaurant bills itself as “the best Sushi Restaurant in Columbus!” They’ve been around for over 15 years which may explain their claim to fame. Their quality menu selections include more than 100 varieties of Sushi, Sashimi and Rolls, which as they say, covers the spectrum “from the traditional to the unique and unexpected.” Their featured rolls are: Samurai – “shrimp tempura, avocado, cucumber, eel, cream cheese, spicy crab topped with tuna”; Volcano – “spicy tuna, cucumber, topped with avocado, spicy crab salad, crunchy and special sauce”; and Fantastic 4 – “avocado, cucumber, tuna, salmon, red snapper, yellowtail, masago, spicy mayo”. Their menu also includes a selection of Kushi Yaki (grilled skewers – chicken, beef, salmon, or seafood), as well as soups and salads.

by Diane Bobis

CHENS CHINESE, SUSHI AND SAKE LOUNGE

3506 N. Clark St., Chicago IL 60657,

773-549-9100

Sleek, simple and totally hip, this Wrigleyville favorite never fails to surprise. Right off the bat, Chef Bin Zhou’s menu offers an exotic array of Chinese specialties (Lemon Chicken, Glazed Orange Beef), as well as premium Japanese sushi, sashimi and hot plates. All are prepared with unexpected twists, especially the Black Mushroom Duck, a Shanghai-style delicacy slow roasted in soy sauce, sugar, wine and ginger. The drink list is just as eclectic, with an unabridged selection of sake, wine, single malt scotch, beer, and classic or fruity martinis. Can’t choose? Go with the Frozen Banana martini (vodka, triple sec, banana liqueur and fresh banana). The best surprise at Chens arrives with the bill. You’ll be amazed that a place so sophisticated and upscale could offer such reasonable prices.