i don't think i've written about sushi since we've moved back in the area. while my allegiance is always to kotobuki, there are some worthy contenders for getting our sushi on.

we haven't been actively exploring sushi restaurants, but we have gone to a few places (some since we've moved back, others while we were living in dc or nj). each has its pros and cons.

i would say that sagami has very fresh sushi, killer agadashi tofu as well as other japanese cuisine (other than sushi), is a byo, and has cozy feel to the place, but it's all the way in nj, so it's more of a i'm-bored-wanna-drive-to-nj? kind of place.

osaka is in chestnut hill, which is very close to where we live now, but it's expensive, and it's not a byo, so getting sake, wine, or liquor adds to the already high prices. [though, i just read this so maybe kirin ichiban is the (cheaper) way to go.]

speaking of high prices. while we haven't visited in a while, morimoto is spectacular, if by spectacular you mean having the freshest seafood (they have seafood tanks in the restaurant where they fish out your entree's main ingredient for you - at least they did the last time i was there). on the menu is my favorite dish of all time, rock shrimp tempura with spicy 'kochujan' aioli: light and crunchy batter on the outside, perfectly cooked sweet rock shrimp on the inside, coated with a sweet/sour fruit-based sauce (morimoto's take on the korean kochujan, a sweet and spicy bean paste) and masago (i seriously LOVE this dish!). this is definitely the kind of place you go to if you have a surplus of money lying around (hello economic stimulus!), or for a very special occasion.

our most recent find is bluefin. it's in a most unsuspecting strip mall in plymouth meeting, which happens to be a mere mile from my office. cavin and i have been a few times, and actually, we ordered a ~$100 tray of sushi for christmas 2007 for my family gathering. while it's not as cheap as kotobuki, their fish is quite fresh, and going for lunch isn't terribly expensive (today i had their 'sake lunch special': soup or salad, 1 spicy tuna roll and 4 salmon nigiri for $14). one of the other best things is that the sushi chef trained/worked with morimoto, and has added a 'spicy rock sundae' which pays tribute to morimoto's rock shrimp tempura dish. while it's not exactly the same as morimoto's version, it's a close match and definitely worth the price ($~9 vs morimoto's $18).

i suspect we'll be going to bluefin more often whenever a sushi craving strikes. the only downside is that it gets super crazy for dinner and if you forget to make a reservation, you are looking at a long wait, or dinner at bluefin another night.

bluefin sushi
1017 germantown pike
plymouth meeting, pa 19462
610.277.3917

Labels: philly, restaurant, sushi