SUSHI ROKU (PASADENA, CA)

Sushi Roku
33 Miller Alley
Pasadena, CA 91103
http://www.innovativedining.com/restaurants/sushiroku
Tel: 626.683.3000
$$$ ($30-$45)
Cuisine: Japanese
Tues, 12/29/2015, 7:00pm reservation
    (4 Piglets)

Sushi Roku is a restaurant providing contemporary Japanese cuisine with a hint of innovation. The restaurant combines ingredients that are traditional to Japan fused with elements from around the globe. The menu is not limited to sushi, but rather dishes that are geared toward the palate of Westerners. If you haven't been exposed to traditional sushi but would like to take that leap to start, this is an ideal place to do so. Sushi Roku eases your way by incorporating raw fish with non-traditional Japanese ingredients.

Located in an alleyway in the heart of Old Town Pasadena, the restaurant has a modern ambiance. It is tranquil, yet sophisticated at its best. There is a great happy hour menu as well as a bar where you can witness the sushi chefs in action.

The interior

Another view of the interior main dining room

I forget the name of this drink but it was mighty tasty. 

MIXED VEGETABLE TEMPURA ($11.00): I know. Tempura is simplistic and found at most Japanese restaurants. When done right, it could leave you craving for more. That evening, I was craving for something crunchy and long behold, tempura was on the menu. The delicate vegetables were fried to perfection. It was delicious and withheld its crunch without absorbing the oil. 

MY FAVORITE DISH. FLUKE KUMQUAT SASHIMI ($18.00): Yuzu Vinaigrette. OMG. This was extremely tasty. The fluke was fresh and delicate. The yuzu vinaigrette had the perfect amount of acidity. The dish was balanced with a delicate level of sweetness. Overall, the dish was refreshing. 

JAPANESE FRIED CHICKEN "TATSUTA-AGE" ($10.00): This is a decent batch of fried chicken. I wouldn't say it's the best thing on the menu (we already established that with the fluke), but it satisfies your cravings if you wanted fried chicken to begin with. The chicken was moist with a nice, crisp skin. 

SALMON SASHIMI AND CILANTRO ($18.00): Ponzu olive oil. They piled on the cilantro with this one! The salmon was delicious and I loved the ponzu olive oil. They complemented each other well. 

TUNA JALAPENO ($18.00): Spicy tuna topped with tuna sashimi , yuzu olive oil. I liked this roll. I'm usually not a roll type of girl and much prefer sashimi and nigiri, but this was pretty good. I liked the kick from the jalapeno and I definitely didn't need any soy sauce to my dish. 

UNI UDON ($19.00): Japanese style sea urchin pasta. This was my least favorite dish. The sauce reminded me of an alfredo sauce and the udon wasn't udon but rather fettuccine. The uni was good but it did lack flavor and wasn't seasoned well. 

MAKOTO ($17.50): Yellowtail, shrimp tempura, seared tuna, spicy creamy sauce. This was my least favorite roll of the two. I think I much prefer something fresh and although the spicy sauce was good, it just overpowered the dish. However, I do think that this would be a great dish for those who have not been exposed to raw fish. 

DESSERT. We had complimentary dessert that consisted of a bread pudding with bananas and ice cream. Enough said.

Overall, the food was solid and the service was impeccable. My only complaint was the wait time to receive the dishes, but they apologized and made up for it with dessert. I did, however, appreciate the staggering of plates as it can be a bit overwhelming if all the dishes came out at once. Sushi Roku is a decent place to get your sushi fix. There are multiple locations, so find the closest location nearest you. 

Notable dishes: Fluke Kumquat Sashimi

And check out my video below: