by Loretta Chilcoat Jergensen

 NEW NO DA JI
2501-2503 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 410-235-4846

You normally wouldn’t think the mark of a good sushi restaurant would be its all-you-can-eat buffet, but it’s the big draw at New No Da Ji. Popular with neighboring Johns Hopkins students and the Baltimore Museum of Art crowd, its buffets (lunch - $9.95 and dinner - $15.95) combine the best of nigiri, sashimi and maki with other Korean, Chinese and Japanese selections. Popular sashimi fishes are rock fish and red snapper. And since you’re in the land of the crab, try their special Old Bay roll, with lump crab meat sprinkled generously with the homegrown Maryland spice. The décor isn’t too snazzy, but who cares? With prices like these, and the freshness you’d expect from upscale sushi bars, you just cannot go wrong here.

by Cynthia Atoji & Dana Braga

TAKESHIMA RESTAURANT
308 Harvard St. Brookline, MA 02446

In the mood for good, old-fashioned sushi? Then head to Coolidge Corner and stop in at Takeshima, where these sushi wizards here have been making sushi for 12 years. There is nothing fancy about the food here but it is serious sushi and sashimi (raw fish by itself). It is stylishly decorated with an eye towards classic Japanese tastes. All the raw offerings have a clean and pure taste. Stick with the basics here like the California roll or the nigiri with tuna and you can’t go wrong.

By Rodney Smiley

HARRY AND SON’S
N. Highland Ave NE
Atlanta, GA 30306-4507
(404) 873-2009

A Virginia Highlands mainstay, Harry and Son’s is often packed tight with newbie-yuppies, their cell phones and their admirers. Run by the same people as neighboring Surin’s, Harry and Son’s imports the Thai standards and reasonable prices offered across the street, but adds a notable sushi bar. Everything here is fresh and well prepared, though usually not cutting-edge, with special attention to the presentation of both the sushi and let the good-times-roll crowd.

Estimated Price: $10-20

by Elenora Boryeko
HAMA SUSHI
213 Windward Ave. (near Main St), Venice, CA 90291
(310) 396-8783

Not only does Venice’s most acclaimed sushi restaurant offer the ocean’s breeze, but also a chance “to inhale” Japanese delights, arranged by the expert chef. Akinori Yokoyama has long perfected his “craft” of preparing sushi/sashimi an addition to the special kitchen menu that changes everyday. No need to study it carefully - each dish is exquisite. Be hungry and ready for something new to taste as the selection is extensive. Just to whet your appetite, order steamed asari clam with sake garlic butter or fresh asparagus with spicy mayonnaise. To complete your dinning experience, ask for an empowering dessert like banana fritters with chocolate sauce. After dinner, take a walk on the famous Venice boardwalk to see the sun slowly fall into the darkening sky.

by Barbara Kasser

Heart Rock Sushi
1970 E. Sunrise Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
(954) 779-2735

Located in the quirky Gateway Shopping Center, this Fort Lauderdale favorite packs in the crowds day after day. At first glance, it’s easy to see why. The owners have hit on the perfect formula for a sushi restaurant: soft lighting, comfortable seating, and, of course, fresh fish served in generous portions. Sushi and sashimi can be ordered by the piece or in platters. Mix it up a bit and order a combo platter; you won’t be disappointed with the results! Sake, plum wine or Japanese beer provides a great accompaniment to the menu selections. Check out the dessert section of the Heart Rock menu, a course not taken seriously at most other sushi restaurants. The banana fried in a spring roll skin and served with honey and chocolate or caramel sauce is a sweet way to end a great sushi meal.

by Regine Zamore

MEGU
62 Thomas St.
New York, NY 10013
212-964-7777
Megu isn’t just another sushi joint. It’s about presence and deliciously innovative Japanese cuisine. The restaurant, which doubles as a lounge provides customers with an array of choices spanning from Caesar salad to the immaculate Kobe beef with sesame and grated ginger in soy butter. With the gourmet prices, and made to share portions, Megu’s culinary contributions are to be savored. Ambiance is the other side of enjoying Megu. Each lounge is decorated with simple style that boasts artistic design. A decorated plate, sexy environment, and knowledgeable staff makes Megu one of the staples in New York’s Japanese dining scene.

by by Jim Phillips & Caren Calvin
ICHIBAN
10701 Coors Rd. NW, Albuquerque, NM 87114
(505) 899-0095

The only sushi restaurant on the west side, Ichiban can be found at the portal to Corrales. It’s ideal for a change of pace after an outing in the countryside, and the prices are reasonable too. Ichiban, which means number one, has 7 Japanese fish and shrimp sushi selections and another 7 of the Korean variety, and 4 types of California roll, all served with miso soup and salad. So, forgo another platter of enchiladas and beans, and refresh your palate with a taste of Asian cuisine.

by Lynn Marshall

CHIRO
3250 Freemont Ave. N
Seattle, WA (206) 632 3430

Tai Chi Kitamura’s Chiro in Seattle’s Freemont neighborhood is modern and sleek – the interior features concrete walls and exposed duct work. The menu seems endless; there are twelve different types of Saki to try. The friendly staff is very helpful, and if you sit at the bar, the sushi chefs will be glad to give you suggestions.
Chiro offers vegetarian rolls, and many different combination plates. Try one of the Chirasi platters – sashimi served on a bed of sushi rice. You won’t be disappointed. The tempura is also a treat here and the lunch menu really is a bargain.
The estimated cost per diner, for dinner is $15-$45.

by Elizabeth Slonim Macanufo

MISO ON MERAMEC
16 North Meramec Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63105
(314) 863-7888
Located in the heart of downtown Clayton, Miso on Meramec’s chef Hayes Green used Pacific Rim influence to create his menu. Catering to the Clayton business crowd and socially mobile twenty-somethings, Miso’s lounge atmosphere includes regular seating, cocktail tables, and plush sofas. In addition to sushi, Miso’s seasonal menu includes Thai, Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese-inspired dishes. Nigiri and maki sushi are available. Those who are wanting to try several varieties can try one of the many combo suggestions, including a sushi and sashimi offering. Complimenting the dinner menu are diverse drink choices consisting of sake and exotic cocktails. Diners may wish to stay to hear soulful house music or music themed nights with a live dj.

by Magda Nakassis

Kotobuki
4822 MacArthur Boulevard NW, 2nd Floor, Washington, DC 20007
(202) 625-9080

When feasting on raw fish, I don’t think rock bottom prices are necessarily a draw. Neither is being located in a barebones, shoebox of a room above another Japanese restaurant. (And the fact that this other restaurant, Makoto, is exclusive and highly regarded doesn’t help either.) And neither is playing the Beatles on a continuous loop, for that matter. And yet Kotobuki remains a destination for high-quality sushi, bringing lovers of fine fish to the Palisades. The menu is simple enough, and well suited to those on a budget. There are 14 varieties of nigiri at $1 a pop—and if you feel like going wild, you can splurge on another four types at $2 per piece. When it comes to maki rolls, you can choose from 13 different kinds at $2.80 each, or an additional six gourmet treats at a whopping $3.25 for six pieces. Add in the chef’s special handmade soy sauce, specifically designed for sushi and sashimi, and you’ve got yourself a winner. Cheapskates, take note.