Solid sushi

When I eat sushi, I think about quality, not quantity. If I’m going to eat a piece of raw fish, I’d like to know that it’s the freshest around, no soy or wasabi necessary. A few friends of mine in the restaurant industry recommended Kyoto to me, and I trust their words when it comes to fresh fish.

When I walked inside, I was comforted by the traditional Japanese-style decorations and music. It was quiet, respectable and clean—the type of place I’d bring my mom to. My friend Paige and I were seated immediately and offered prompt but not pushy service. As I read the menu, I noticed Kyoto has much more than just sushi. It’d be a great place to go for a party that differs in opinion on raw fish—who doesn’t like Teriyaki?

We ordered all of our courses at the same time, and they came out quickly, one at a time. First we ate our appetizers, the spicy green mussels (four pieces, $4.95) and the tempura fried soft-shell crab ($6.95). The mussels came out first, and they looked delicious covered in spicy mayonnaise and flashed under the broiler until golden brown. They were nice and tender with a good flavor, kind of sweet and salty. After the mussels came the soft-shell crab, which has always been one of my favorite foods. The delicate crab was lightly battered in tempura and fried. The light soy dipping sauce that accompanied it was perfect because it didn’t overpower the subtle flavor of the crab.

Next, I ordered the sashimi combination ($12.75), and Paige ordered the Sushi Happy Hour, $1 per piece. My sashimi combo came with yellowtail, ahi tuna and shredded daikon radish. I loved every bite of it, even though it was a bit smaller than I pictured. I was no less impressed by the quality of the fish; it smelled and tasted like the ocean, no soy or wasabi necessary here. The small pillow of shredded daikon radish was a nice touch, adding a sweet and spicy bite to the fish. Paige’s happy hour choices were the salmon, tuna and yellowtail. I tried the salmon, and it was unbelievable. The fish literally melted once it hit my tongue.

We also ordered the chahan (plain fried rice, $3) and broccoli itame ($6.95). The chahan was simple, yet full of flavor. The broccoli itame was huge; it looked like a full pound of vegetables. It was cooked just right, tender but not mushy, with a tasty, simple flavor.

We were beginning to feel full but wanted to end the dinner on a sweet note, so we ordered the ginger ice cream and the green tea ice cream ($3.50 each). They were great, a perfect way to end a meal with a sweet flavor in your mouth.

Kyoto is a good place to go if you’re not looking for all-you-can-eat sushi. People who don’t even like sushi have many different options to choose from and would enjoy the restaurant. It’s a solid Japanese restaurant. I can see why it’s been here for 20 years.