by Genevieve Wheeler

POD
3636 Sansom Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 387-1803
Step into a vision of the future eat at Pod! Sidle up to the hi-tech sushi bar, where a conveyor belt carries delectable, Pod-exclusive morsels such as U-Love Salmon and BBQ Eel Wrap from the kitchen. Sip great sake as Japanese animation flashes across six screens. Snuggle up with some good pals in one of the restaurant’s signature seating pods. Once inside, choose from nine switches of different colored lights to match your mood. Pod was designed by the Rockwell Group, which designed Nobu in New York. Chef Naoki Uchiyama, who once worked with the great Wolfgang Puck, thrills the taste buds with sushi creations while people lounge on a giant foam sculpture that seats around 50.

by Regine Zamor

INAGIKU
111 East 49th Street (Between Lexington and Park Aves.)
212-355-0440
What becomes a legend most? When you’re at the Waldorf Astoria, it’s your very own elegant sushi restaurant adorning your façade like a jewel — recently renovated with a redesign by the renowned Adam Tihany. Inagiku Chef Haruo Ohbu serves up what he calls “new style Japanese cuisine” — which means Tuna Sashimi Three Ways (tartar with avocado, seared over daikon, minced with asparagus) and what is called a sashimi extravaganza — the freshest and most rare, served in a manner to make you wish you’d brought a camera. Sushi and sashimi of all kinds are also available a la carte. Other non-sushi signature dishes of the house include Eel Hakata — napoleons of barbecued eel layered with shitake and spinach, and Waygu beef served either as sushi, shabu shabue or as a steak. The drink of choice at Inagiku is a classic Bloody Mary with wasabi, but there’s also an extensive wine and sake list. Another wonderful Inagiku feature is the private tatami rooms — each classically styled dining room - for two, for four, for six or more, has a low table with a well underneath so that diners of any age may sit at upright at their meal while enjoying traditional Japanese service.

by Lisa Brecht

KIKUGAWA AT RIVERPLACE
43 Main Street SE
Mpls, MN 55414
612.378.3006

A really beautiful establishment located in Riverplace along the Mississippi River. A ten minute drive from downtown Minneapolis, Kikugawa is elegance combined with a traditional Japanese atmosphere. Founder and owner John Omori came to America in 1954 with dreams of restaurant ownership. Kikugawa’s chef Ben Todorki has worked within the confines of Japanese cuisine for more than 30 years. Together, they have perfected this form of Japanese artistry. Kikugawa’s commitment to excellence shows in their service and perfect food presentation. In addition to a wide menu to choose from, Kikugawa offers nearly 30 choices of sushi. For sushi starters, opt for the chef’s choice that may include Tuna, Yellow Tail, Halibut, Snapper or Salmon just to name a few.

by Jake Kulju

NAMI
251 1st Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN
612.333.1999
Nami puts brings good sushi to Minnesota——a place where people are inherently suspicious of the stuff. A courteous and friendly atmosphere make it an unimposing place for beginner sushi eaters to see a broad spectrum of sushi varieties at a reasonable price. With preparations of tuna, shrimp and spring rolls and salads seasoned with giner, rice vinegar and sesame oil, Nami makes a name for itself by providing traditional fare in a simply delicious manner.

by Amanda Knoles

TOKYO WAKO
310 S. Pine Avenue
Long Beach, CA
(562) 435-7600
This glitzy Japanese restaurant near the Pike Pier offers cocktail service with specialty drinks like the Samurai and Geisha, plus more than 50 wines, including 20 by the glass. There’s a waterfront patio with a killer view, and the swanky indoor dining room features a sushi bar and teppan room. A crowd favorite is the beef roll, thin slices of filet mignon rolled around slices of cucumber, gobo and radish sprouts, then grilled in butter. More traditional sushi choices include the Firecracker roll, a spicy scallop and albacore mix in a garlic citrus sauce, and Dragon roll, a variation of the California roll with eel. Other popular entrees include salmon-wrapped scallops, crisp fried chicken panko and yakisoba.

by Erin Auerbach

SUMO JAPANESE RESTAURANT
2861 N. Green Valley Parkway, Henderson, NV 89014
(702) 451.7866
Sumo is a good place to go if you have both sushi enthusiasts and sushi skeptics in the same dinner party. There are plenty of other Japanese dishes to choose from including sushi platters for newcomers (they recommend the sashimi, which is very mild in flavor, but excellent for getting used to the texture), and rolls and sushi/sashimi combos for the most worldly of raw fish experts. They offer cooked fishes such as salmon, sea bass, and cod, too. The salmon and cream cheese rolls are worth a try, and if you’re really feeling daring, taste the spicy yellowtail or grilled eel.

 by Erin Auerbach 

DRAGON SUSHI
4115 Spring Mountain Rd., Las Vegas, NV 89102
(702) 368.4336
Consider it Sushi 101. This is a great place for the sushi novice because the dishes are simple and don’t require too big a risk, and it just goes to show that basic can be blissful. The entrees are simple and allow you to try the essentials: California roll (crab, avocado, cucumber, and rice), Kappa Maki (cucumber and rice), and Tekka Maki (tuna and rice). Sushi tends to be quite expensive, especially if you crave a variety of tastes for your meal, but Dragon offers reasonable prices and good lunch specials.

by Katharine Branham

TOKYOHANA GRILL & SUSHI BAR
15155 North Freeway, Houston, TX 77090
(281) 87-Sushi
3239 Southwest Freeway, Houston, TX 77027
Tokyohana has been able to blend Sushi and Hibachi dishes in such that you’ll be astonished. The crowd goes wild with the DJ playing and the chefs flipping food high into the air. It’s a blast for any party or group. A popular item to order is the Vampire roll. Casual attire is fine, and you might want to wear shoes to dance. All the great food and happy people will put you in the mood. They have banquet rooms for large parties. The word mundane has no place here.

by Katharine Branham

THE FISH
309 Gray Street, Houston, TX 77019
(713) 526-5294
The locals call it Fish in Midtown. The tables are all covered in black table cloths and red lights provide a unique ambience. There are plenty of booths to add a cozy feel. The service is excellent at the bar and table. Most favored Sushi is what ever is in season. The Sushi is flavorful. You can’t go wrong with anything here. The finger foods are excellent. Some favorites include spicy scallops, cucumber rolls, and fresh water eel. They have a great bar with lots of fun people. An oversized fish aquarium is the focal point. This is a Hollywood style Sushi stop that adds a classy touch to the already beautiful Midtown.

by Lottie Tagupa

HANAKI RESTAURANT
2752 Woodlawn Dr. Suite 102
Honolulu , HI 96822
Telephone: 808-988-1551
Located just minutes from Waikiki in wonderfully lush, cool and quiet Manoa Valley , this family restaurant has been a favorite of Honolulu ’s residents for many years. The restaurant is located in Manoa Marketplace and offers lots of free parking. The restaurant features a fabulous buffet and wonderful sushi and other enticing selections that make return visits enjoyable. The sushi here is creative and always inventive. The newest types include a pizza roll, deep-fried-siu-mai-and-egg roll and a Vietnamese roll sushi. This is a popular place for family celebrations and gatherings. Anyone celebrating a birthday can dine free with another paying guest.