by Jim Phillips

SUSHI KING
118 Central Ave. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102
(505) 842-5099

Sushi King may be one of the newer sushi bars in Albuquerque, but it’s location in central downtown make it one of the hipper and more convenient as well.  But, in the end, it’s all about the quality of the sushi.  And Sushi King’s raw, cooked and vegetarian dishes are among the freshest and most beautifully prepared in the city.  Along with a wide variety of Japanese soups and noodle dishes as well as teriyaki chicken, everyone will find something to delight them at Sushi King.

by Jill O’Farrell

KOKO KITCHEN
702 S. 300 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
(801)-364-4888

Understated and simple, KoKo Kitchen is for the sushi connoisseur on a budget. While you are still able to sample delicious, fresh sushi, you can happily expect to pay reasonable prices. If you are dining with friends who are not so into sushi, KoKo Kitchen offers a variety of traditional Japanese favorites, so everyone leaves satisfied. KoKo Kitchen also boasts a wide assortment of vegan and vegetarian dishes. Be sure to check out the daily specials to find a wide variety of tempting combinations, and the knowledgeable staff can also point you in the right direction.

by Jill O’Farrell

TAKASHI
18 W Market St
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
(801) 519-9595

After leading the Shogun restaurant to acclaim, sushi chef Takashi Gibo has opened his own restaurant on the hip market street in downtown Salt Lake City. Takashi is a restaurant dedicated to the unique flavors and textures of sushi and sashimi. Using only the freshest fish, chef Takashi creates a tempting array of dishes that ranges with season. Often recommended are the Sunshine roll and Beatle’s homage’s the Strawberry Fields roll, and the Yellow Submarine roll. Come and enjoy what many are calling the best sushi in Utah in the cool modern setting of Takashi.

By Elizabeth Slomin

SUB ZERO VODKA BAR
308 North Euclid Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63011
(314) 367-1200

Sub Zero Vodka Bar is located on prime real estate in the Central West End. The bar specializes in vodka, offering 170 styles kept at 0 degree temperatures. While they’re known for their vodka, they’re also a hot spot for sushi. The menu includes nigiri as well as temaki, or hand rolled sushi. Tamaki varieties include California, salmon, tuna, and eel avocado. Combination plates are available, as well as rolls. The owners put their personal stamp on the menu by creating their own roll. The Lucas Roll contains eel, yellowtail, avocado, and cucumber. Beyond sushi, the Sub Zero menu includes appetizers, such as tempura shrimp and sashimi, fried rice, and for those uninterested in Asian fare, pizza.