Readers' Choice Dining Guide: Sushi
The top 10 sushi spots as voted by our readers
MetromixNovember 11, 2009
Teak Thai Cuisine and Sushi Bar
1051 St. Gregory St. -
Cincinnati
Located atop Mt. Adams, Teak is packed for dinner practically all year long, so you can usually expect a wait, but the restaurant has a relaxing bar area for patient patrons to grab a drink or two before being seated. The restaurant has a comfortable indoor dining area as well as a spacious outdoor patio that has plenty of feng shui. Teak's huge menu offers a number of traditional Thai noodle, rice and curry dishes made with chicken, beef, pork, tofu or seafood items like shrimp and scallops. Teak has spice levels one (for those who like just a hint of spice) through ten (for those who have taste buds of steel). If youre in the mood for a small bite to eat, or if you are a sushi enthusiast, Teak's sushi is a Cincinnati favorite. (As further evidence: Teak is our only winner in two categories.)
Dancing Wasabi
1018 Delta Ave. - CincinnatiA night of drinking and dancing at one (or two, or three) of Mount Lookouts lively bars can work up a ferocious appetite. If youre tired of the usual late-night, greasy slice of pizza, dance on over to Dancing Wasabi, one of Cincinnatis most beloved sushi spots. Offering a full menu until 4 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, weekend partiers flock here to quell their appetites with sizzling Korean and Japanese entrees and an array of fresh and unique sushi. Most popular is the Sunday Morning roll (salmon and cream cheese, deep-fried). Though worshiped for its late-night dining, Dancing Wasabi is a hit at any hour.
Wild Ginger
3655 Edwards Rd. - CincinnatiThis Asian food lover’s paradise in Hyde Park is a great source for a fresh scene and fresh cuisine. Enjoy sushi, Japanese soup, seafood or hibachi-grilled meats while the chefs put on a show. Just make sure to make a reservation - the few hibachi tables are very popular.
Beluga
3520 Edwards Road - CincinnatiBeluga is sushi bar, nightclub and sophisticated restaurant all wrapped in one. Dress to impress and enjoy a sit-down sushi meal while sipping on cocktails in the modern, sleek enviroment. At night, chill in the lounge to the sounds and talents of the DJ.
Kyoto
12082 Montgomery Road - CincinnatiNamed after the former imperial city of Japan, Kyoto specializes in sushi and other Japanese dishes that have won awards at Taste of Cincinnati and Taste of Blue Ash. Shipments of fresh fish arrive several times weekly, and the happy hour roll, made with shrimp tempura and spicy tuna, is a customer favorite. The menu also includes teriyaki chicken, fish dishes and more. Don't know your sushi from your sashimi? Check out Kyoto's user-friendly Web site: Its interactive menu includes photos of each dish and a dictionary of Japanese food terms. Kyoto is small, but it also offers carryout service to compensate for the limited seating.
Green Papaya
2942 Wasson Road - CincinnatiWith its green exterior and striped awnings, Green Papaya is hard to miss -- and it's not to be missed. From a first glance at the freshly tiled dining room, it's obvious the owners invested a lot of time remodeling the place. Now complete with a fountain and a small sushi bar, the green-hued room has a soothing, distinctly Asian feel. The huge menu features curries, noodle dishes and other specialty sauces as well as more unusual options, such as Som-Tum, a salad made with freshly sliced papaya. Popular are "lunch boxes," which are traditional Thai cuisine (curries, rice dishes and noodles) or sushi served with miso soup, salad, appetizer, fruit and either vegetable fried rice or vegetable pad Thai ($9.95). Lunch box meals are dine-in only.
AOI Japanese Cuisine
1 Levee Way - NewportAOI is a great cultural presence at the Levee. The traditional decor gives it a classy romantic vibe. The extensive menu offers many exotic options like grilled eel, salmon teriyaki and plenty of spicy rolls, including the Fenway-inspired (we think) "Green Monster."
Apsara Restaurant
4785 Lake Forest Drive - Blue AshPanAsian cuisine at its finest, Apsara offers everything from sushi to Cambodian to Thai foods. A menu favorite is the Playboy roll which has spicy tuna, shrimp tempura, mango, eel sauce, and others wrapped in foil and barbecued at the table for your delight. Try one of the fantastic selections of import and domestic draft beers or sip one of the Asian-inspired martinis, like the Lychee-Sake Martini (Bombay Sapphire, Sake, exotic lychee fruit) or the Sake Twist (Sake, mango puree, champagne). Stop in for lunch or make a reservation for dinner online.
Fuji's House Japanese Restaurant
3836 Paxton Ave. -
Cincinnati
Fuji's House is a great place for friends to gather for drinks with names like the Scorpion and enjoy the flair and fun of eating at a hibachi grill. The skilled chefs cook up shrimp, scallops, filet mignon, chicken and more right in front of you with a dash of entertainment added in. Plus, the full sushi bar and lengthy menu that includes tempura and teriyaki dinners, bento boxes and even tempura ice cream will keep everyone satisfied.
Matsuya Japanese Restaurant & Market
7149 Manderlay Drive - FlorenceMatsuya is celebrating its twelfth anniversary in 2009. Owner Hideaki Matsushita is inviting new guests to experience the sushi chef preparing meals from a seat at the bar. The bar, stocked with a selection of sake and beer, is accented with overhead shadowbox lighting. The seating at this restaurant, located in a small roadside shopping center, is casual, with tables for two along the walls and booths in the back. Matsuya sells "all Japanese items" in its market. The market stocks a diversity of Japanese food, cookies to vegetables. It's the only Japanese market in Northern Kentucky.
