20 places for fresh sushi and sashimi
Sushi and sashimi aren't for everyone, but for those who crave the smooth, cool delight of fresh raw fish, there's no substitute. Here are 20 destinations in the Valley to drop your line for great sushi.
PHOENIX
Hana Japanese Eatery
Don't worry, it's not fuzzy. The Caterpillar Roll is segments of crab, cooked eel, avocado and cucumber draped in avocado and eel sauce ($12).
Details: 5524 N. Seventh Ave., Phoenix. 602-973-1238, hanajapaneseeatery.com.
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Cherry Blossom Noodle Café
Get a variety with the Assorted Nigiri, a colorful eight-piece row of yellowtail, tuna, shrimp, unagi, salmon, spicy tuna, spicy salmon and a California roll ($14.50).
Details: 914 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix. 602-248-9090, cherryblossom-az.com.
Harumi Sushi
Stop by at lunch 11 a.m.-2 p.m. for a grab-and-go sushi combo that can include five California rolls or a six-piece nigiri of such fish as tuna, salmon and yellowtail ($10). Available only at lunch.
Details: 114 W. Adams St., Phoenix. 602-258-0131.
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Sushi Style
Have your sashimi as a salad. The Sashimi Salad is a bed of lettuce and spring mix topped with raw marinated tuna, salmon, white fish and yellowtail ($14).
Details: 401 E. Bell Road, Phoenix. 602-866-1505, letseat.at/sushistyle.
Nori Sushi Bar Asian Kitchen
Go seasonal with the Summer Salmon Roll — snow crab, cucumber, avocado and asparagus inside, and on top fresh salmon, wasabi citrus mayo and sliced red onions ($15).
Details: Desert Ridge Marketplace, Loop 101 and Tatum Boulevard in Phoenix. 480-515-9777. Also 10115 E. Bell Road, Scottsdale. 480-513-6488, noriaz.com.
WEST VALLEY
Tokyo Lobby
They say spicy foods cool us off, so try the Fiesta Salmon Roll made with spicy salmon and jalapeño on spicy crab, dubbed "extra spicy" ($11.95).
Details: 5795 W. Bell Road, Glendale. 602-942-4165, tokyolobbysushi.com.
Chef Ben Sushi & Asian Express
We love a good bento box, such as Number A with four spicy tuna rolls, four California rolls, four rainbow rolls and three pieces of nigiri sushi, with soup or salad ($9.99).
Details: 13824 W. McDowell Road, Goodyear. 623-935-3288, chefbensushiandasianexpress.com.
Sushi Doraku
Can't decide on Japanese or Mexican cuisine? Compromise with one of the fried rolls, the Chimichanga made with tuna, salmon, yellowtail, tilapia, cream cheese and a crab stick with spicy mayo on top and no rice ($8.50).
Details: 9940 W. Happy Valley Road, Peoria. 623-561-0023, sushidoraku.us.
Fresh Wasabi
Bring a friend and share the Special 1 for two people: two pieces each of tuna, salmon, red snapper and shrimp sushi; two pieces each of tuna, salmon and red snapper sashimi; eight pieces each of California rolls and spicy tuna rolls; six pieces of mixed tempura; two miso soups; and two salads ($40.95).
Details: 13732 W. Bell Road, Surprise. 623-584-4800, freshwasabisurprise.com.
Blu Sushi Lounge & Grill
Don't like cold fish? Support your team with the D-back Roll made with shrimp tempura, calamari tempura and crab tempura in eel sauce ($10).
Details: 118 N. Old Litchfield Road, Litchfield Park. 623-935-9730.
NORTHEAST VALLEY
SumoMaya
If you're feeling flush, splurge on the Billionaire Roll, made with Wagyu beef, real snow crab, asparagus, soy aioli and truffle-garlic butter with flakes of gold ($50). Of course, you don't have to be a billionaire to enjoy other sushi choices, such as the apple-salmon roll with salmon, jalapeño, apple and avocado in lime-chile sauce ($13).
Details: 6560 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. 480-397-9520, sumomaya.com.
Pure Sushi
How to train your appetite: Try the Fire Dragon Roll, which features shrimp tempura, spicy tuna and cucumber inside, and fresh tuna with cilantro and jalapeño on top, served with a spicy poke sauce ($15).
Details: 20567 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale. 480-355-0999, puresushibar.net.
Hiro Sushi
Be a hero and bring your friends in for such specialty rolls as the Vegetable Roll with greens, asparagus, avocado, cucumber, burdock root, pickled daikon radish and pickled squash ($5.95).
Details: 9393 N. 90th St., Scottsdale. 480-314-4215, hirosushiaz.com.
Geisha A Go Go
Pucker up for Geisha Lips, something from the Lighter Sushi Fare menu: a roll of spicy salmon, avocado, snow crab, cucumber and iceberg lettuce wrapped in soy paper and served with cilantro-cream sauce ($10.50).
Details: 7150 E. Sixth Ave., Scottsdale. 480-699-0055, geishaagogo.com.
Sushi Brokers
Lick the Lollipop roll made with an assortment of fish, shrimp, avocado and spicy artificial crab mix, rolled in cucumber and then spiked with masago fish roe, spicy Sriracha sauce and ponzu ($16.50).
Details: 17025 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. 480-515-5000. Also, 4419 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. 480-515-5000, sushibrokers.com.
SOUTHEAST VALLEY
Ra Sushi
Swivel your hips for the popular Viva Las Vegas Roll made with crab and cream cheese rolled in rice and seaweed and lightly tempura-battered, topped with spicy tuna, crab mix, and a slice of crunchy lotus root, and finished with a drizzle of sweet eel sauce and a sprinkling of spinach tempura bits ($13.60).
Details: 1652 S. Val Vista Drive, Mesa. 480-632-9500, other locations at rasushi.com.
SakeBomber Sushi & Grill
Is it naughty? Get down with the Spank Me signature roll, made with spicy salmon, panko-fried onions and marinated seared yellowtail in a sweet and spicy poke sauce ($11).
Details: 1705 E. Broadway Road, Tempe. 480-557-9416, sakebombersushi.com.
Sakana Sushi and Grill
At this Ahwatukee Foothills location, one of the favorite rolls is the Sake Sake Roll, made with spicy salmon inside and fresh salmon on top, spiked with ceviche and wasabi mayo on top ($12.99).
Details: 5061 E. Elliot Road, Phoenix. 480-598-0506, other locations at sakanasushiandgrill.com. (Menus vary.)
Mikado Sushi
It's quite pleasant to think of Alaska this time of year. Travel to the 49th state with the Alaska Roll, deep-fried tempera shrimp, salmon, cream cheese, avocado and masago roe in eel sauce and spicy sauce ($12.95).
Details: 3125 S. Alma School Road, Chandler. 480-726-0255, mikadoaz.com.
Orient Sushi & Grill
For something different, it's the Volcano, a roll baked with crab meat, scallops, red snapper, avocado and masago roe ($9.95).
Details: 1455 W. Elliot Road, Gilbert. 480-633-1174, orientsushi.com.