Tucson's best: sushi | Metromix Tucson

Tucson's best: sushi

Our picks for 5 fab sushi joints

By Andi Berlin

Special to Metromix
May 26, 2009

Tucson's best: sushi
Yukari's soft-shell crab rolls (Credit: Tucson Citizen)

Sushi’s just about the strangest food making waves right now. It’s popular—even cool—to publicly consume the ovaries of a salmon. But so much as mention an anchovy, and you’re in deep trouble. 

With this popularity and freedom, Japanese chefs and restaurateurs have gotten creative. Instead of listening to a traditional sushi chef tell you about the catch of the day, now you can make check marks on your sushi sheet and listen to Lil Wayne or trance music while you do it. You don’t eat have to eat crab if you prefer spider, and you can taste a little bit of Las Vegas without even gambling.

Sushi in Tucson is as diverse as it is delicious. And since it is also expensive, we offer our recommendations so you can seek the best. 

Sushi On Oracle

pick Sushi On Oracle

6449 N. Oracle Road - Tucson
520-297-3615

Sushi on Oracle is just about the only place in town where you can get monkfish liver pate, but that’s probably a good thing. Otherwise you’d get tired of this unique and utterly delicious concoction. If that doesn’t interest you, try one of their enormous Las Vegas rolls or a buttery slab of salmon sashimi. The North Side eatery also serves terrific green tea and red bean mochi ice cream, wrapped in delicate layers of dough-like sticky rice, for dessert.

Sushi Yukari

pick Sushi Yukari

5655 E. River Road, Suite 151 - Tucson
520-232-1393

This sushi place on the Northeast Side has the freshest, softest sashimi in Tucson. If you’re on Atkins, skip the rice altogether and opt for one of the sashimi plates. If you’re not a fish eater, you can always try the pig-a-boo (grilled sliced pork with ginger sauce) or the angry chicken (grilled chicken with spicy sauce). Sushi Yukari is also home to what every yummy roll in town strives to be: a heaping mound of soft salmon, cream cheese, crab, shrimp tempura, avocado, cucumber, tangy masago and lettuce.

Yoshimatsu Healthy Japanese Eatery

pick Yoshimatsu Healthy Japanese Eatery

2660 N. Campbell Ave. - Tucson
520-320-1574

It’s always tough to take a pass on the best beef curry udon this side of Tokyo, but that’s what you have to do if you want the Sushi Matsu sushi experience. This hip sushi joint, located inside the popular Japanese restaurant and store Yoshimatsu, makes a light but substantial snow crab roll you’ll be yearning for hours later. The squid salad is also amazing.

Shogun Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar

pick Shogun Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar

5036 N. Oracle Road - Tucson
520-888-6646

This hidden little sushi deal is tucked behind a Denny’s on Oracle and River, and its prices are just as unassuming as its atmosphere. Every weekday, choose from five different rolls for half their regular price—all night long. The rolls range from standard (California, $2) to creative (sex on the beach, Yaqui). On last visit, their specials sign revealed a tempura-battered Chilean sea bass roll for $8.50 and fresh oyster shooters for $4. Just don’t try the kosher roll with smoked salmon, because it tastes like lox on seaweed.

Sushi Garden

Sushi Garden

15 N. Alvernon Way - Tucson
520-326-4700

Their service may not be dynamite, but their dynamite definitely is. Sushi Garden (with a second location at Foothills Mall) serves the entree for $8.50, and it's an explosion of baked scallops, mushrooms and creamy sauce. It’s astounding, much like the myriad rolls and nigiri. If you’re cheap, go for lunch on weekdays and take advantage of the $8.95 sushi buffet with all-you-can-eat Las Vegas and tuna rolls.

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