Cedar Rapids, IA — Kaji

Kaji 1060 Old Marion Rd NE Cedar Rapids, IA

319.743.3473 map

It is always hard to write reviews close to home. I have a good friend who has been encouraging me to try Kaji for some time, so last week my wife and I were in the neighborhood and decided to stop in. Kaji is a new restaurant in an out of the way corner of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. From the outside, Kaji has an upscale look. When we entered, the atmosphere was somewhat industrial/trendy.

Kaji has a sushi bar, some teppanaki stations, a dining room and a bar. All of these are in one large roughly square room. The atmosphere at Kaji is definitely bar/party. The music was not overly loud. From where I sat, I could see the three TVs over the bar, one tuned to MTV. This is not the kind of place I generally enjoy, so Kaji had to try harder to score in my review.

My wife was not too hungry so we ordered a combination appetizer, a Philadelphia Roll and the sashimi combo. I guess the kitchen was having a rough night since our entire sushi/sashimi order arrived before our hot appetizer. I asked our waitress to bring the appetizers first, and she volunteered to have our sushi/sashimi re-made. Even after sending the fish back, the appetizers took forever. The appetizers were pretty good, a pork egg roll, some spicy shrimp, something that I forgot and an order of Gyoza. The Gyoza was unusual and I really didn't enjoy it much. I thought it had a sort of mealy texture. I order Gyoza in Japanese restaurants all across the country and this is on of the few I did not like.

On to the fish. My Philadelphia Roll seemed to be thrown together. The pieces were of uneven size and the mix of fish to cream cheese was different in each piece. The sashimi was average. I thought the salmon was good and it was nice to see Uni on the plate. However, I thought that the portion was a bit small for $25. The presentation was only adequate, piles of shredded Japanese radish with some leaves.

I did like the fact that Kaji had a variety of specials on their chalkboard. I also learned later that the chef tries very hard to handle special requests. One can make a request in advance for some exotic item, like fresh mackerel or live scallops. I was told that the sushi chef had worked at Nobu in Florida. With that pedigree, I would have expected more. In the end, my favorite local sushi bar is still Sushi House.

Kaji wasn't bad, but it was not great either.

Kaji: 3 rice bowls

Iowa City, IA — Sushi Popo

Sushi Popo 725 Mormon Trek Blvd Iowa City, IA

319.338.7676 map

A reader suggested that I try Sushi Popo. I already had reviews of nearby Takanami and Three Samurai. and I received an email from a reader saying that the best Iowa City sushi restaurant was Sushi Popo. I am spending the week in Iowa City on business so I decided to try it.

Sushi Popo is a large restaurant with two dining rooms and a small sushi bar in a mini mall on Iowa City's west side. Sushi Popo serves both Chinese and Japanese food. I decided to meet an old friend there for lunch. Since I arrived first I order Edamame and Gyoza for us. My friend arrived with the appetizers. The Edamame was a generous portion and the Gyoza were excellent — a good start.

My friend ordered Chinese and I ordered a Deluxe Sashimi Combination. When the sashimi arrived I was pleased to see that it was arranged very nicely on beds of Japanese radish. The combo included octopus, salmon, mackerel, yellowtail, red snapper and white tuna. I think the selection was excellent. The fish was all very good but the yellow tail and mackerel were absolutely perfect.

Mackerel spoils quickly so it is almost always served marinaded in vinegar. This mackerel was lightly marinated and tasted great. On of my favorite sushi items is fresh unmarinated mackerel but it is relatively rare.

I liked everything about Sushi Popo. The only disappointment was that there were no special or exotic items. (Uni, Miragai, etc.) My friend enjoyed his Chinese food as well. All in all Sushi Popo was a gem. I will definitely be back.

Sushi Popo 4 rice bowls

Iowa City, IA — Takanami

Takanami 217 Iowa Ave Iowa City, IA

(319)351-5225 website map

In Iowa, sushi restaurants are few and far between. Since I live only an hour from Iowa City, I had been hearing about Takanami. This week I was working in town and I thought I would give it a try. For lunch today I called my friend, Joe and we went to give it a try.

Takanami is in the downtown section of Iowa City near the heart of the University of Iowa campus. Because of the university, parking can be difficult but there is a new ramp about a block east of the restaurant.

Takanami is a relatively new restaurant their cuisine is a cross between traditional sushi and Asian fusion. The restaurant has about a dozen tables set up outside like a sidewalk cafe. Inside the restaurnt is clean and modern with a large aquariaum behind the sushi bar full of trigger fish. Takanami is huge, when I walked in it was deceptive, as I walked behind the sushi bar I realized that there were as many tables behind as in front.

Joe ordered a tuna bento with seared tuna. It sure looked good. Like most inland sushi bars, Takanami lacked a selection of exotic items or daily sushi specials. I ordered a sashimi appetizer and a Philadelphia roll. The sashimi was 3 pieces each of tuna, white tuna and salmon served on a bed of Japanese radish. The roll was served on a rectangular glass plate that added a classy touch to the otherwise simple item. The fish was very fresh and tasted great. The roll was nicely made and had consistent sizing throughout.

I enjoyed Takanami and had no complaints. I hope someday to order some of their intruiging non-sushi items but I should be realistic — it's unlikely since their sushi is so good.

Takanami: 3  rice bowls

Coralville, IA — Three Samurai

Three Samurai 1801 2nd St Coralville, IA

(319) 337-3340 map

Three Samurai is a cobination Teppanaki/Sushi restaurant. Unlike some combo places, they have a large Japanese menu as well as a good selection of sushi. Sushipilgim has been to Three Samurai four times. The first was for sushi and it was as I recall it was pretty good. While I am not a big Teppanaki fan, I have had it there twice and enjoyed it both times while entertaining guests.

This week I was in the area at lunchtime an I felt like sushi so I stopped in. Near the door was a chalkboard sign suggesting the sushi specials — Uni and Mirugai (Sea Urchin and Gian Clam). This was definitely a good sign. I decided I would order nigiri a la carte in order to have mirugai. I ordered a bowl of miso soup, giant clam, tuna, yellow tail and a Philadelphia roll.

As I sat reading and pondering The Fabric of the Cosmos by Brian Greene I was lost in contemplation of symmetries as applied to modern physics. I was jolted back to reality when the waitress brought my order. I looked down on the plate and decided that it was a harsh reality indeed.

The mirugai looke questionable but I tried it anyway. The color shloud have been a light tan like a manilla folder and the consistency should have been firm and substantial. Instead it looked and felt more like a raw oyster than giant clam. Even worse it felt warm as if it had been kept unrefrigerated. To say it was disgusting would be putting it mildly. The yellowtail was soft and beginning to get slimy.

The tuna was nicely colored — so nice that it looked artificial — but it tasted fine. The nigiri, especially the tuna, was mad of very large thick slabs of fish on a small ball of sushi rice. I felt that the fish portion was to large to let the rice compliment it adequately.

My Philadelphia roll was nicely made each piece being consistent in size. The cream cheese looked like it had been spread on like butter. There was barely enough to add any flavor to the roll. The salmon in the roll was the best piece of fish in the whole meal.

I know it is possible to get good sushi even in Iowa (Sushi House 30 minutes up the interstate is proof of that) just not at Three Samurai.

Three Samurai: 2 rice bowls

Cedar Rapids, IA — Osaka Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar

Osaka Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar 5001 1st Avenue SE Cedar Rapids, IA

(319) 377-2237 map

While I have been on the road, yet another sushi restaurant has opened up in Cedar Rapids. Osaka is a Japanese Steakhouse (Teppanyaki) with a sushi bar. I stopped in at the end of the lunch hour. Sushipilgrim was once a restaurant manage and I know that the worst time to eat in any restaurant is when they are not busy. I should learn to follow my own rules.

I think I was the only person in this rather large restaurant. As I sat alone at the sushi bar, I was dismayed to find that the staff was busy cleaning up all around me. There are few thing that make a guest fell less welcome than cleaning all around them

Osaka has a decent sushi menu but like many Japanese steak/sushi places, it does not have a very broad menu. Osaka would not be a good bet if you want to gently introduce someone to sushi. As for the sushi, the choices at Osaka were decent if uninspired. The quality was good and the fish was fresh. I ordered a sashimi combo with that came with a tuna and avocado roll. I also ordered a Philadephia roll. The presentation was good and I enjoyed the meal. The only real negative was the Miso soup. The tofu was very grainy

I am pleased to see more sushi choices appear in my hometown. I will make Osaka a regular lunch stop when I am in the neighborhood.

Osaka: 3 rice bowls

Cedar Rapids, IA — Sushi House

Sushi House 2655 Edgewood Parkway SW Cedar Rapids, IA

(319) 396-1990 website map

A hometown sushi bar! Sushipilgrim is from Iowa — not known for its sushi. Until now I have only been able to enjoy sushi on the road. There are some Chinese mega-buffets in town that serve sushi and even a Chinese-Thai-Sushi place but it's not the same. I guess a new Japanese Steakhouse/sushi place just opened up but sushi is a small part of their menu.

Today my wife and I went out to lunch and she suggested we try the Sushi House. I was surprised for two reasons; first Mrs. Sushipilgrim only tolerates sushi and second I did not realize that Sushi House was even open yet. Well, I am always game for sushi so we decided to go. After Taki in West Des Moines, I was not expecting much.

When we arrived at Sushi House, I was pleasantly surprised. The restaurant has a very clean minimalist decor. There are some colored hangings on the walls and potted bamboo as a privacy curtain between sections. This is a large restaurant with a good sized sushi bar.

Sushi House is a full service restaurant with both Japanese and Chinese items on the menu. My wife ordered Lo Mein and Nabayake Udon. The Lo Mein was excellent and the Udon — I can barely describe the Udon. Let me just say that there are few things that can make February in Iowa any better than a steaming bowl of Udon. Having a full menu makes Sushi House a good choice to take a sushi newbie they are sure to become hooked.

The star of the restaurant is the sushi. The selection was good and when available includes exotic species like Uni and my favorite — Mirugai. I inquired about the Mirugai but I was told they were out. I ended up ordering the Sashimi combo (chef's choice) and a Philadelphia roll. When my order was ready, the waiter said that he had been wrong and the sushi chef gave me an order of Mirugai sashimi on the house.

The first sign that this was going to be good was the presentation. All of the food was as beautiful to look at as to eat. The sashimi was artfully placed on ice in a bowl. The bowl was filled with shredded radish and had wasabi in a carrot star. The chef had also carved a small piece of cucumber into the shape of a swan. All of the fish was very firm and fresh. My wife tried the salmon and really liked it.

The piece de resistance was the Mirugai. The mirugai was served in a bowl, on a bed of ice. In the back of the bowl were three smooth black river stones. Next to them was a large cowrie shell. The Mirugai had substance but was not gummy or rubbery. It was absolutely perfect.

The roll was arranged in a rather ordinary way on a long glazed earthenware dish. The only negative was that the roll was inconsistent. The end pieces appeared to have little or no creme cheese in them.

Service, presentation, selectiona and quality were all very good. It was easy to imagine this restaurant in New York or California. But Sushipilgrim is glad it is here in Iowa.

Sushi House: 4 rice bowls

Des Moines, IA — Taki Japanese Steakhouse

Taki Japanese Steakhouse 2677 86th Street West Des Moines, IA

(515) 331-3030 website map

Sushipilgrim is from Iowa, not exactly the sushi capitol of the world. I have met many people who never eat sushi more than 50 miles from the ocean. Having been in the restaurant business and knowing how fish is distributed I don't think that is a reaonable position anymore. With air shipping, fresh seafood may be had anywhere in the country.

My good friend Chuck suggested Taki after consulting with one of his friends, a local sushi lover. I was in Des Moines on business and several of the guys at the client site also reccomended Taki. As its name implies Taki is a Teppanaki and sushi place. It is located in a relatively upscale section of the Des Moines area.

We visited Taki on a Wednesday night and the place was packed. Both the Teppanaki and Sushi sections were nearly full when we went at 6pm. Wednesday night they have Martini and sushi specials with the sushi from a limited menu. The prices were very reasonable on the regular menu and especially on the special menu.

I was dissapointed with the atmosphere at Taki. We sat at the sushi bar but the sushi chefs barely acknowleged us. Even though we were right there, a waitress took the little paper menus on which we had made our selections. The sushi chefs never asked if we wanted more or how things were going.

As for the sushi, I really expected more. After all the reccomensations, I expected better quality. I ordered a Philadelphia Roll and a Tuna and Avocado Roll. The fish in both rolls was almost slimy and seemed to be lukewarm. The consistency of the rolls was pretty spotty. The rice was very thin in some parts and thick in others. Overall Nigiri was fine and the sushi rice had good consistency but the Mirugai was not as firm as I usually experience.

I have conflicting views of how to rate Taki. I am struggling between giving Taki two or three ricebowls. Everyone I've spoken to in Des Moines rates it very high. I don't even think it is a prejudice on my part against land-locked sushi bars. Two of my favorites are located in Detroit and Denver and I gave a 4 ricebowl rating to a restaurant in Columbus, OH.

As much as I have a soft spot for a home state restaurant — I want to be honest in my reviews. I will visit Taki again and give them another chance. As I look at the other restaurants that I have rated at three ricebowls, really good sushi places like Hama Sushi in Herndon, VA or Taigun in Broomfield, CO — I have to be honest, Taki is not in their league. Taki may well be the best sushi restaurant in Des Moines, but it still rates only two ricebowls.

Taki: 2 rice bowls