the best sushi in reno and now raman too!. i have been to sakana many times, and every experience has been superb with the best fish and special service from the experienced chefs. do sit at the bar for the best service and just tell the chef what you want, even if it's not listed on the menu. i like to visit on the non peak hours, that way i usually get the head chef all to myself!
this last time i was treated to a couple of new items on the menu. normally i get all my fave nigiri pieces, but this time i was treated by the gracious chef to amaebi or sweet shrimp. this is not your ordinary shrimp that is served cooked and you can see in the sushi fish display in front of you, but a large cold water species best served raw. when i saw the shrimp being rinsed, at first i thought that were crawfish they were so big. the heads tails and legs were all still attached. i watched as the chef expertly separated the raw tail meat from the shell and sent the remaining head and body to the kitchen to be deep fried. i was presented with a lovely plate of four big shrimp and four heads! it was so gorgeous, i just had to get a picture to post! the raw tail meat was presented nigiri style with a ball of sushi rice underneath. the meat looked moist and was just sitting there on the plate glistening. as i lifted that scrumptious looking morsel into my mouth and on to my tongue, i got the most exquisite experience of the creamy texture of the shrimp melding with the rice and then finishing off with a lovely sweet taste on my tongue. i wish all the things i've stuck in my mouth were such a pleasurable experience! so, now on to the deep fried heads! well, i've never done this before, but i guess you just eat the whole thing innards, shell and all! wow, that was interesting ...... in a good way though! the crispy shell and remaining legs were a fun crunchy experience. i didn't know what to expect really, but there were no weird or bad tastes from the "innards" like i was ready for. ok, i did leave the snout and little eyeballs on the plate ..... i'll only go so far! i will for sure ask for this dish again! i was told it's not on the menu and is a special, so you just have to ask if they have it when you come here.
in other big news at sakana, they are now serving raman. this japanese noodle and meat dish is far removed from what many americans have experienced "raman" as those little instant heat and eat packages of dried noodles and salty broth packet ..... yeah, you know what i'm talkin about. there seems to be a passion and want here in reno for raman and not enough reliable places to get it. i know sakana is a bit of a drive from the center of town, but i do think it's worth it, especially if you live near here in the somersett area.
without even asking, after casual conversation with the chef about raman, i was presented with a huge bowl of raman. my bowl was fill with the most perfectly cooked raman noodles ( not mushy and not too "al dente") sitting in a rich and flavorful broth, and then topped with two generous slices of pork belly (all the rage these days in the foodie world), and a halved soft boiled egg. also a nice clumping of seaweed and all flavored with a dash of sesame seed oil. the broth, i say, is the gauge of quality and is the base for a great raman experience. this one did not disappoint. it was a perfect balance of meat flavors and a feel of richness that i love. too many times, the broth turns out too thin and watery. it might be just my taste, but i prefer this thicker richer type of broth. won ton soup broth, this was not! as i mentioned previously, the raman noodles were quite generous and perfectly prepared. the pork belly was so tender and flavorful soaking in the broth. the egg was nice, maybe that was traditional, i don't know. i'll have to say, this was the best raman experience i've ever had. no, i have not been to japan and don't tout myself as any expert on raman, but i do know what tastes good in my mouth, and this raman here at sakana is the best my mouth has ever tasted!
i've normally only come here to sakana just for the best sushi in town, but now i'll need to make it a point to come for the raman too! i hear other japanese items may be making their way onto the menu here in the future. give this place a try for the sushi and maybe try some new things you never had before!
-----11 sep, 2014-----
dynamite roll. as far a roll options here at sakana, this is my most fave roll. its a basic, but expertly prepared california roll covered in a mixture of sauteed scallops, mushrooms, onions and bell peppers held together with a tasty sauce and topped with a sprinkling of tobiko. i've never had such an amazing creation anywhere else but here!
-----11 sep, 2014-----
sakana sushi, the best new sushi restaurant in reno. sakana sushi in the somersett neighborhood of reno, has become reno newest premier sushi restaurant to open. open for just 8 months, they have established themselves amongst the plethora of also ran sushi joints on reno, as having the best quality fish and the highest skilled chefs in reno. as with most all you can eat sushi options in reno, speed and quantity takes first place. but not here at sakana, the chefs really actually focus intently on the preparation of your sushi pieces and take the proper time to make your sushi they way it was intended to be, with artful insight and impeccable knife skills. this is not a grab, stuff yourself and go sushi joint. reno has plenty of those.
friday night was totally packed, and the chefs were on full hustle. this isn't my fave time to come in, but i just did. off times like lunches are great, cause the chefs will have time to make all kinds of special creations or anything custom for you. the vip club card is working out to be a killer deal, all kinds of discounts and a 5% rebate towards future visits. just sign up, it's free. all i can say is give it a try and be the judge, and have reasonable expectations. like i don't expect custom creations when the chefs are going full tilt to service the rest of the restaurant .... i wish the world revolved all around me, but alas it doesn't.
the prices are $20 lunch and $25 dinner for the all you care to order option. one new thing just added, is the frequent diners club card, you get points and discounts and a meal on your birthday, just sign up. also unlike many of the other sushi joints in reno, sakana serves real japanese food as well, with a real japanese chef in charge of the kitchen!
we had our usual nigiri orders of traditional hamachi, albacore, ikura and unagi (eel) which were great as usual. normally we get mostly nigiri, but with some of the creative rolls coming out here, i might be ordering more rolls. we tried the sakana roll, which had salmon, tuna (maguro), yellow tail (hamachi) and avocado rolled with a thin layer of rice on the outside. omg! was that good! yep eyeball rolling back, toe curling good. we did a repeat of the dynamite with the sautéed onions, scallops and bell peppers served on top of a california roll. i never had a simple california roll taste like that! traditional? , no, but damn tasty!\
also, let me add something about the albacore here ..... holy christ on a cracker! (as my sis would say), this is the best most tender and flavorful albacore i have ever had, la, san diego or sf included. i order nigiri style and wow, just gentle pressure with my tongue and the tasty morsel just dissolves into subtle flavors mixing with the sushi rice and dash of ponzu flavor, culminating into a most exquisite experience upon my tongue. yeah, it was that good!
please, do sit at the bar for the best sushi experience where you can talk to your chef and let them know any of your personal preferences, such as less saucing or no saucing, or more hot sauce or whatever. having this relationship with your chef is only to your advantage, verses sitting at a table and filling out the check box list of sushi you want. after they get to know you and what you like, the chefs will even fix you off menu items without even asking, just setting in front of you a beautiful and scrumptious sushi creation.
i'm sold on sakana sushi, the new guy in town. this is not a grab, eat and go kinda place ..... the good stuff takes time and skill to make, sit at the bar and watch. super chic and elegant interior, off the charts good food, what's not to like?