Sushi Taro

What better way to pep up your mood after a long day at the Holocaust Museum than to crash Sushi Taro’s restaurant week? It was hot, we were depressed and starving. I heard nothing but amazing things about Sushi Taro and I was not going to take ‘no’ for an answer when they told me there were no available reservations for the evening. It was the last day of restaurant week and I wasn’t going to miss out on this cuisine.

We braved the hostess greeting us at the front and begged for anything they had. Finally, I settled and suggested they just seat us at the bar. They were happy to accommodate and we were more than happy to eat.

We started off with a three box sampler followed by our choice of entrée and later a plate of our choice of sushi.

Our first course was a combination of three sample binto boxes.

Box 1 - Mimono simmered shrimp and eggs: The mimono simmered shrimp and eggs box was an eclectic array of fresh vegetables, tofu and shrimp. This salad was delicately immersed in a light marinade which blended well with each flavor without overpowering all the different elements.

Box 2 - Fine cuts of sashimi (Chef’s choice): This consisted of a white fish and basic tuns. These beautiful cuts of sashimi immediately cured my fish craving and left me excited for the next plate of sushi. They were fresh and beautifully sliced which allowed us to appreciate the full experience of the fish.

 Box 3- Takiawa Tofu Dashi Tofu: The tofu was a beautiful, airy, silky tofu that was followed by a slight hint of citrus. It was refreshing and delicate.

I must say, all three boxes were an adventure for my taste buds and I was constantly asking the bartender what we were eating. My motto: Eat first, ask later.

Entrée- Wild Prawn & Veggie Tempora: How can you go wrong with fresh tempra? It was perfectly breaded and fried to perfection. Prawn tempora is not something I had experienced before and, of course, I had to start with the head. Needless to say, it was an adventure I would gladly partake in again.

Sushi Platter – Fatty Tuna, Wagyu Beef, Jon Fish, Salmon Caviar: Anytime I see Fatty Tuna (Toro) I have to get it. There is absolutely nothing else out there like it and nothing compares to this cut of the tuna. It’s always the most expensive item on the fish menu but it’s always well worth it. (Just make sure it’s not frozen beforehand.) The fatty, buttery fish melts like a cloud on your tongue leaving you with a subtle hint of tuna. It’s absolute heaven to me. The Wagyu beef was something I had never tried in sushi form before and it was an interesting new twist. It was a typical piece of beef marinated and sliced thin. Very creative but not something I would order individually. The Jon Fish was a typical white fish with a bit of a stronger fishy flavor to follow. I enjoyed the simplicity of it very much. Last but not least, the Salmon Caviar. The salt was very faint and I was able to taste the eggs as they were intended, fresh and luscious. One after another they popped and I was overwhelmed with the juices. It was a refreshing and delicate experience, a perfect way to end the meal.

Overall, our dining experience was absolutely superb and we were very thankful that we were able to experience such fine dining at such a reasonable price. This would be a perfect place to take a date who can’t get enough of good Japanese cuisine and who would appreciate the chef’s careful preparation of every piece. I will undoubtedly be back for more. 

Sushi Taro

1503 17^th Street NW

Washington, DC 20036

(202) 462-8999

Hours:

Mon-Sat – Dinner 5:30- 10:00

Closed on Sunday