**** (4 stars)
This is a friendly neighborhood sushi place. The fish seemed pretty fresh, but the various sushi we tried, while fine, never transcended ordinary, and considering we were almost alone it seemed rather slow. If I was in the area and wanted sushi I would return.
Aoba Japanese Restaurant
2588 Maguire Rd
Ocoee, FL 34761
(407) 654-6776
http://www.yelp.com/biz/aoba-japanese-restaurant-ocoee
***** (5 stars)
Excellent sashimi, generously served. $21 for a platter at lunch that serves two. Attentive service and an upbeat urban ambiance.
Urban Hibachi
3120 S Kirkman Rd
Orlando, FL 32835
(407) 295-7777
http://www.yelp.com/biz/urban-hibachi-orlando-2
***** (5 stars)
I’ve had sushi all over the world, and this is as good as it gets. The omakase is the way to go. At dinner it was $84. The sashimi was a particular standout, combining extraordinary freshness and garnishes that added wonderful textural and flavor complexity. Friendly service that provided just a bit of guidance as to what not to put soy sauce on, without the didactic pushiness of the other high end sushi places in LA. Definitely a favorite.
Kiriko
11301 W Olympic Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90064
(310) 478-7769
http://www.yelp.com/biz/kiriko-los-angeles
**** (4 stars)
The all you can eat sushi special here allows you to get exactly what you want, and it’s darn good sushi. If you’re really craving sushi and you’re hungry, this is the place to go. For better quality, Kansaku is a better choice, and for cheap, Sashimi Sashimi is your best bet. But for a lot of good sushi in a nice environment, this is a great choice. Also, there is a teppan grill, so it’s a good place for larger parties and for kids.
Todoroki Hibachi and Sushi
526 Davis St
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 750-6565
http://www.yelp.com/biz/todoroki-hibachi-and-sushi-evanston
*** (3 stars)
Okay, this place is not the best sushi restaurant in Chicago, but it’s counter service sushi and sashimi, and you can get anything you want, made fresh, and lunch is about ten bucks. That’s really impressive. If I want a quick, good sushi fix, this is where I go.
Sashimi Sashimi
640 Church St
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 475-7274
http://www.yelp.com/biz/sashimi-sashimi-evanston
**** (4 stars)
This place makes some very inventive rolls, and the fish seems fresher than the other places in town. It is pretty pricey, though. I love to sit outside on the sidewalk late on a summer evening when the traffic dies down.
Kansaku
1514 Sherman Ave
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 864-4386
http://www.yelp.com/biz/kansaku-evanston
*** (3 stars)
Much better than some other outlets in this chain. The trick here is to order appetizers, such as the tuna sashimi with crispy garlic chips, or yellowtail and spicy tuna on crispy rice, not conventional sushi and rolls, which are just so-so.
Sushi Roku
3500 Las Vegas Blvd S, Ste T18
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 733-7373
http://www.yelp.com/biz/sushi-roku-las-vegas
*** (3 stars)
I’ve never cared for places that try to do both Chinese and Japanese cuisines, because they tend to do neither all that well, and Koi is no exception. On a nice summer day it’s pleasant to sit in the front room with the floor to ceiling windows open, but don’t expect to get life changing sushi here. For the price I expect more.
Koi Fine Asian Cuisine and Lounge
624 Davis St
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 866-6969
http://www.yelp.com/biz/koi-fine-asian-cuisine-and-lounge-evanston
**** (4 stars)
We used to go to Rangetsu on International Drive every week, and were sad when it closed. Now, years later, this loosely affiliated version has opened in Maitland. It’s much trendier than the old one, but sadly the food isn’t quite as good. If you like sitting at a sushi bar, this isn’t the place to go, because the sushi bar is small and a wall of plywood blocks your view of the chefs’ work. But if you want sushi at your table, or like the idea that the place turns into a dance club late at night, then it’s a good bet. One of my favorite sushi rolls was the old Rangetsu’s mayo and wasabi laced dynamite roll, and happily they have that at this new location. Note that parking is mostly by valet, even at off hours.
RanGetsu
901 S Orlando Ave
Maitland, FL 32751
(407) 345-0044
http://www.yelp.com/biz/rangetsu-maitland
**** (4 stars)
This place has been around for ages under one name or another, and it must be pretty good, because it’s almost impossible to find! It’s way at the back of the corridor of shops (and closed storefronts) that separates two section of the Dr. Phillips Marketplace. The lunch combos are a great deal here.
Nagoya Sushi
7600 Dr Phillips Blvd
Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 248-8558
http://www.yelp.com/biz/nagoya-sushi-orlando