by Barrett Brown

Kampai Sushi & Grill
4995 Addison Circle
Addison, Texas 75248
972-490-8888

Catering mostly to hip North Dallas professionals, Kampai seems to stake its success on the sheer improbability of its signature dishes, as well as the more subtle variances on everything else. Moderately unusual items like the paisley roll and crab meat-based volcano roll are made more exotic by virtue of being served not only with wasabi, but also jicama slaw, and the grand slam of gastronomic surprises comes in the form of the “Crawfish Dynamite,” a jambalaya-type dish that melds the culinary contributions of the Japanese and Cajuns. Meanwhile, a retinue of daily specials ensure further levels of intrigue.

by Barrett Brown

SIMON’S SUSHI
810 N. Central Expressway
Plano, Texas 75074
972-881-0818
Although the name might throw off some purists, Simon’s Sushi is indeed run by an Asian chef (and although the oddly-monikered Simon Chuang is Taiwanese, not Japanese, his training is as orthodox as it comes). Simon’s deals in “new style” sushi, combining traditional Japanese offerings with the accumulated nuances of American sushi sensibility, and the menu is similarly haphazard, acting more as a basic guideline of what’s generally available than a full account; the waiter (often Chuang’s wife) is likely to suggest experimental dishes based on whatever fresh food fodder the kitchen has managed to acquire that day.

by Barrett Brown

FUJI STEAKHOUSE AND SUSHI BAR
12817 Preston Road #112
Dallas, Texas 75230
972-661-5662
Fuji is perhaps best known in Dallas for its exuberant chefs, who show off not only with the stylish maneuvering of cutlery and fish parts but also with occasional bad joke as well. Though the resident sushi offerings are quite well-regarded and include hard-to-find items like toro tuna, the art of the raw fish often takes second place to other Japanese dinners, serving simply as exquisite appetizers; the main thrust of the menu revolves around heavier fare like Kobe beef, grilled hibachi dinners, and preparations of lobster.