Japanese Kitchen Sushi Bar
6511 Americas Pkwy NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87110
Japanese Kitchen Sushi Bar Menu
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Address :
6511 Americas Pkwy NE
Albuquerque, NM, 87110 - Phone (505) 872-1166
- Website https://japanesekitchen.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Garage
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Aileen W.
Humble, efficient, very friendly service and a nice space for a date night. I'm just ecstatic that there is a place that serves uni! It was fresh, clean, and oh-so-delicious! The nigiri I've had there has all been excellent, from the hamachi belly to the lightly seared Japanese scallop.
(4)Caroline L.
Geez has it really been a month (or more?) since I've been here?!? I'm seriously lagging in updating my reviews! So lets get to it!!! First things first, holy crap this place is hard to find. Thank goodness for Google maps and yelp reviews that explain how to find this place. Phew!! Since it's been so long since I was here...probably not a good idea to give directions on how to find the restaurant - I'd likely get you seriously lost. But once you find it...O.M.G. I'm totally a picky sushi eater - I grew up in Southern California a hop skip and a jump from the pier and local fish markets. And since moving to the Midwest and travel to Albuquerque I tend to be skeptical of sushi places inland. My initial thought is always "seriously!? we are land locked!" But as all the reviews of this place - the sushi was amazing and fresh. We ordered their triple appetizer special and one of their boat specials...Oh I remember now, Boat A special! The triple appetizer special was delicious: the baked scallop and the spicy tuna roll were excellent; and the skewers were amazing...well, except for the skewer of grilled green chilies. I know Albuquerque is know for them, but seriously on a sushi appetizer!?!? I don't think it has a place. Anyway, as far as the boat special - the sushi was fresh and delicious and even the cooked elements were good! I couldn't tell you how the egg rolls tasted - mainly because my boyfriend ate them, but the squid salad was unexpectedly good! Service was amazing, though maybe a bit slow. Not a huge deal in general, but I was slightly hangry so that's probably why I felt that way. They actually took really good care of us and made the experience quite enjoyable. Next time I'm in Albuquerque and seriously craving sushi this'll be the place I'll be!!!
(4)Katie S.
Who makes tuna rolls out of canned tuna? This place! Yuck!! Salmon roe was so old it had already collapsed in on itself. The service was incredibly slow - took over 30 minutes just to get our order placed. We all woke up the next day with the runs and stomach aches. You'd like this place a lot if you've never been outside New Mexico for sushi. But they do get two stars for pretty presentations and a nice atmosphere. Food? Not so much.
(2)J-Shawna A.
I have been here about 3 times once to the hibachi side and twice to sushi. For the hibachi side I ordered shrimp and scallops combo with fried rice it was delicious my the scallops were cooked to perfection. For the sushi side it was good also. Basically we have been coming to JK for sushi since my husband and I favorite spot closed, and we have been just as happy with the food and service we received.
(4)Tiffani C.
I haven't been here in a while but in the past I always knew I could count on some consistent and fresh sushi. We decided to come for dinner. I have to say I had one of the best rolls I've ever had this visit. "The rapper roll." It had tempura green chile, cream cheese, cucumber, topped with spicy tuna, pankos, eel sauce, and spicy mayo. Its a pretty spicy roll but just perfect for my taste. The other rolls were nice but not anything to spectacular. Their miso soup is very flavorful some of the best I've had and the service was great. Our waitress was very helpful in describing her favorites and she was so sweet. I always get have to order a Kirin when they are offered on draft. They have the perfect crispness to compliment your sushi. I will be back again, probably for lunch to do some bento boxes and maybe one of their new soups I've heard they have added to the menu. Fresh, friendly, creative. Can't go wrong!
(4)Ouroboros B.
Best sushi I've found in ABQ. Good quality fish, rolls, service.
(5)Stacy L.
Love this place. I've been coming since I was little with my Grandma and have always received the same pleasant, consistent and quality service. The sushi bar staff are always great. This trip we had a selection of salmon rolls, the green chile roll, the shrimp and vegetable tempura appetizer, and green tea. Other's at our table had the sushi combo lunch special and the teriyaki chicken bento box. Everything was GREAT! The fish was fresh, the salmon melted in your mouth. The spicy salmon, the crunch and the Alaska roll were our favorites hands down.
(5)Vinh N.
This restaurant was recommended to me and was said to be one of the best sushi restaurants out here. Sadly, I will have to disagree with them on this. It took FOREVER to find this restaurant. It seems to be hidden. The GPS was going crazy trying to find this place. I eventually found it after a long search. The sushi tasted average at best and the rolls are very small. I don't really have much to say about this place other than that it tasted average and the portions are small. I was skeptical about this restaurant being owned by Japanese owners so I asked and it turns out that they are Korean. I have yet to see a Japanese restaurant that actually have Japanese chefs and owners. It not a big deal but it just seems a bit odd to me. Included in the lunch was Miso soup. It tasted the same as the rest of the miso soups that I've had. I really wanted to try their Fried Ice Cream but I didn't get a chance to, so maybe next time.
(3)Nancy S.
Being from California, I am quite particular about fresh sushi. I have been to Albuquerque many times and have been to three other sushi bars. This one is hands down the best. I ordered the fresh selection of 10 piece sashimi and the Jewel roll. Uniquely, this roll is made with sweet shrimp, Japanese mustard and roe. I have never seen these combinations on a menu before but the flavor was perfect on my palate. I have found my new sushi bar in the ABQ!
(5)Anita C.
Probably the best sushi place in Abq - not that there are ample high quality competitors. Fish is good, rolls are generally not over sauces like many places. Miso is good quality.
(4)Lindsay W.
Ordered the Rapper and Albacore with green chile and they were both delicious! Although it was just right for me, if you don't like spicy you might want to steer clear of the rapper. The staff is very attentive & I felt the price was spot on for the quantity and quality of the food. Enjoy!
(5)Tessa F.
Authentic and mostly delicious. I say mostly because I have gotten a few dishes that weren't perfect out of the many times I've gone here. But it's the best you're gonna get in Abq. Sushi is good and very well crafted. These guys know their stuff. (Fresh fish comes on Wednesdays.)
(5)AC B.
Encountered the rudest hostess there. Very curt and unfriendly. The food is okay but I will never go back as a result of one unhappy hostess. Why would any owner hire someone like that to seat customers?
(1)Eugene D.
Wonderful. I'm not sure why Far East Asian has a better review. The sushi at Far East is good, but here is better! If you like eel, their super dragon is a must! The eel on top of the roll has great quality and quantity. It's the most satisfying eel roll I have ever had.
(5)Venetia N.
This was the best Ramen that I have ever had. The broth tasted as if it was simmered for days. The slow roasted pork was melt in your mouth tender. All garnished with scallions and mushrooms. Just delicious! Don't miss this one. Yum!
(5)Fisher G.
Our first and last visit here! First off this review is based mostly on the service, the food was actually pretty good. The service was horrible!! We sat at the sushi bar and sat for quite some time before anyone even acknowledged us. Finally we got our drink order taken and they were brought to us fairly quickly, but that is where the service stopped. We never saw that waitress again. Had to give our order directly to sushi chef, we were never offered soup or salad. Finished our drinks way before we finished our meal and tried, but could not get her attention for another drink order. We were completely ignored for the rest of our time there. We even had to walk up to hostess station to get our check. Will never return, felt like we were invisible at this restaurant!
(1)Matthew D.
Been going here for sushi lunch special with my dad once a month or so for 10 years. Always excellent service and great food. Their sushi lunch special is very reasonably priced and always fresh.
(5)Rita S.
When I go out for sushi, my biggest concern is the freshness of the fish. I'm from the east coast and have been lucky enough to taste a variety of fresh, well prepared sushi. Maybe I sound like a sushi snob, but my palate has been spoiled and I'd rather stop eating sushi than eat sub par fish. I'm not naive enough to think you need to live on a coast to get high quality fish. I realize its a supply and demand issue, and that those delicious places in NYC were shipping their product in fresh from all over the world because there was a demand for it. I love Albuquerque, but I am aware the same demand is just not here. That said, if a restaurant has regular deliveries of high quality seafood, and is respectful enough to not serve me old and stinky fish, I'm happy. Usually, Japanese kitchen gives me that respect. I'm not a huge roll fan, although Japanese kitchen does have some creative special rolls. I prefer nigiri, and some of my favorites are salmon toro, uni (sea urchin), aji, and scallop. I have had some of the best uni here. But the last few times we ordered the aji (Spanish mackerel) it was old tasting and pungent, so we've just stopped ordering it. They have a sushi specials board which lists the "freshest" fish for that day. I'm grateful for this board because we love to try new and different fish, although I admit there have been a few stinkers. The other board lists creative fried appetizers, salads and more elaborate sushi/sashimi preparations. The servers here are really friendly and helpful. The dashi miso soup is delicious and better than most. The atmosphere is comfortable. The sushi is usually delicious and easily the best in Albuquerque. The specials boards are helpful. I've tried a LOT of places in town. When I am in the mood for sushi, this is my go to place.
(4)Bobby M.
So hard to find, but soOoo worth the hunt... As my friend and I walked up we were faced with two storefronts, but wandered into the right one. **JK Sushi Bar is way more sushi, and JK is there for Teppan.** Now you know and you don't have to struggle at the crossroads like we did on our visit. Onto the experience... We were greeted, sat, and greeted again. They weren't quite busy yet, thankfully, because I've always wanted to be adventurous and try 'Omakase'. Today was the day. We were told by our server that we should normally call ahead... The chef took mercy upon us and decided he was willing to make it happen, and so we placed our order for a two cold sake samplers, and a five course omakase. Thus our meal was in the making. This will go down as one of the best sushi experiences I've had, and it's all because of the process. It was fantastic, and I just look at this as a stepping stone to other 'Omakase' experiences. The sushi was fantastic, and the plating was the same. The dishes went from miso (not a course), to tataki, to sushi, to tempura'd veggies, to sushi, and to the entree. Great food, and experience. Our server took a bit of time getting our check to us at the end because she was a little overwhelmed with her customers. But I can't see that as a reason to mark down the rating. They were legitimately busy, and took very good care of us. Although JK Sushi Bar was little hard to find. I must say it was worth it. If you're in Uptown, in the mood for sushi, and you're feeling adventurous. Call ahead and set yourself up for their 'Chef's choice.' It's worth the price, and the experience.
(5)Jared R.
This place may be the literal definition of a hidden gem because it is extremely hard to find. I originally found it on yelp and using my trusty iPhone and google maps was on my way....until the maps kept telling me to make a U-turn within 500 feet of the said destination and all I could see were dark office buildings. Finally I called and it was explained to me that they were located between the building. Parking tip find the garage sort of back and to the right of Jasons Deli for the office towers and park there. The restaurant is between the buildings in sort of a court yard. Once inside I found a more traditional looking restaurant. Being this was in landlocked Albuquerque I wasn't sure what to expect but I was very impressed. For dinner I ordered the miso soup, seaweed salad, Rising Sun roll and the Albacore Green Chile roll (I felt I had to being in the land of chiles). The miso was out first and it was spot on with large pieces of tofu (most places tend to skimp) and not too salty. The seaweed salad was also very well done. The rolls just blew me away between the flavor profile and the quality of the fish. I wasn't expecting it. The fact that on the Green Chile roll there were large pieces of chile on the top had me worried it would overpower the fish but it didn't and the flavors were a nice complement, the avocado added a nice creamy texture that seemed to go well with the spice. The rising sun was my favorite this is a fairly common roll but expertly done, not to heavy with the spicy sauce and high quality fish made this. Price for all that was right on at $28 for all that. To tell you how much I liked this place I went back the very next day for lunch before heading out to my flight but brought a buddy along with me. This time I did the lunch combo which featured a great variety of nigiri, california roll, green chile roll, a bit of tako salad, and some tekamaki. I also had a spicy scallop hand roll and the rising sun again (yes it was a lot of food but it was late afternoon and I skipped lunch plus it was sooooooo good). Again the quality was great, I wasn't a fan of the white fish but I rarely am anywhere. The other fish was all very fresh and tasty most of it just melted in the mouth. The scallop roll was one of the best I have had and spicy scallop has been one of my favorites lately. Check this place out and you won't regret it I would put it toe to toe with pretty much any place in Phoenix.
(5)Gary G.
I can only describe my experience here with one word, amazing. Everything was perfect.
(5)Snehal Rudra B.
Disclaimer: I originally posted this review under Japanese Kitchen [not the sushi bar]. So I am re-posting in the appropriate place: I am a bit of a snob when it comes to sushi. When we moved to Albuquerque from the east coast years ago, I tried a number of sushi places around the city to find my regular joint. I ultimately settled on Japanese kitchen. They serve, hands down, the freshest fish in town. They also have some good specials on the menu. Over the years, I have enjoyed Samma, kohada, black snapper, Japanese oyster, and other selections of fish. They are also the only sushi bar in town that has good quality tuna toro on offer. I don't usually eat rolls, so can't comment on it, but for nigiri, this is the place to go.
(4)Ethan B.
Japanese kitchen is totally my favorite restaurant! It has a variety of different foods, sake, and sushi. Its atmosphere is perfect: good lighting, cushion (No rips) booths or/and average chairs. The food not only looks good, but it tastes good, too. My personal favorites are the gyoza and eel entree. I would definitely recommend it for anyone.
(5)James H.
I've eaten here over the years and never had a bad experience. Tonight was no exception, we made a reservation and were seated promptly. Every time I go I wind up getting the teriyaki fillet, I've not tried sushi here but I think I'm going to here soon. This facility has two stories and is packed on the weekends but, that's ok my drink was always promptly refilled and the wait staff was exemplary. I always wonder if anyone has gotten their eye brows singed when they light the fiery onion volcano!
(5)Jenifer C.
I recently moved from L.A. And I was afraid great sushi would be something I wouldn't find, but boy was I wrong. I love Japanese Kitchen. I have been here several times. Actually we came three weekends in a row and even brought visitors from California, that were here for balloon fiesta. They loved it too! We have tried several different rolls and they have all been phenomenal. I have had the rapper roll which is very tasty. But favorite is the tears namida. It is very spicy and I love it. I do agree with other reviewers, service can be hit or miss. One time we waited over 45 minutes to get our rolls. But most of the time I've been here the service has been ok. Maybe they aren't overly friendly, but I'm ok with that because they aren't rude and the food is great.
(4)Neil C.
Great place for groups and they are extremely accommodating. We have 20 in the upstairs grills. The food was great and the chef were a lot of fun
(4)Trish N.
Such yummy sushi!!!! We had the rapper and hip hop that were fabulous!!! Also had the super dragon and they were great too!! Service was a little slow but great food!!!! A for sure place to try!!!!
(4)Al C.
This is the most authentic, fresh, and fun sushi restaurant in Abq. I've been coming to abq for work about once a month for 2 years. I've tried at least 4 other sushi places. None of them can compare with this 30+ yr sushi institution of ABQ. The reason that I didn't try sooner? Because I don't enjoy sushi where others are watching a tepan show. JKitechen IS NOT LIKE THAT! This place is set up ideally separated from the tepan part, they are in two separate buildings. WTF? That's awesome. This is THE place to have sushi in ABQ. And you won't be disappointed even if you're used to having sushi on the coasts. Don't know what to get? Cooked: grilled ika (whole squid) Sushi: chirashi (b) with Shige-San magic I can't wait to go back to abq to try something else from this place.
(5)R M.
Great sushi (for being in Albuquerque)!! The young lady taking my to go order was pleasant and engaging. The food was as ordered and provided in a timely manner. The only drop of a star is their location. My GOODNESS it is hard to find! I was staying at the Marriott that was so close I could have thrown a rock and hit it from my room....if I just knew which way to throw it! I walked around the block....saw the signs at the street for it but only found it by following another group that looked like they were headed to dinner (since there aren't any other restaurants in that corner of the strip mall). Owners: Some kind of sign that points people back into the corner where you are would be REALLY helpful.
(4)Ma H.
Service was extremely slow b/c all 3 or 4 waiters and the chefs were catering to a family event in the back. They should've planned better and had more staff to get to their regular customers. Food was good but overpriced. This was my first time trying this place and I will likely not be going again.
(3)Veronica M.
The sushi bar at Japanese Kitchen is great. One of my family's favorite places to go for special occasion. The atmosphere is nice even though it's a small restaurant. The servers are amazingly fast and they're all very welcoming. The food here is amazing: the salmon melts in your mouth and you can't help but want more of that amazing salmon. The spider roll, the green chili roll, the chicken teriyaki was also good. My family and I will keep coming back.
(5)Mindy J.
I've been eating here for years and I've had sushi in many cities on the coast and if you're looking for something like that in Albuquerque and you find it please let me know. This is the best sushi in Albuquerque that I have found so far. The portions are standard, the prices are decent, and the fish is fresh. The service is quick and the place is always immaculate.
(4)Lyssa D.
I just went here, because I had heard good things. My friend and I got several different things, I typically love the Spider Roll, so I get that, and it was very tasty. We also got the Spicy Tuna Roll, which was a little small, but also tasty. The best roll was the Rising Sun, it's a total do over. She loves the Amaebi, and it seemed fresh and filled with enough wasabi to put some hurt on us. The service was good and I left full.
(4)Amy B.
Sushi here is delicious and fresh. Our favorite roll was the Funky Lady Salmon Roll. Our service was great and we can't wait to go back.
(4)Ricky M.
This is separate from Japanese Kitchen and is located directly across the sushi here is really good I came with a group of friends and had the sushi boat as well as a few specialty rolls some of my favorites were the Caterpillar roll and also the cooked oyster shells are amazing! I also had there egg roll appetizer and these were some of the best egg rolls I have had in Albuquerque. The tepian on the other hand over here isn't as good as it is next door so I suggest only ordering sushi and nothing else.
(3)J. Christopher E.
I've been here a few times. This is an OK sushi place. Service is very good and it's a pleasant restaurant. I've always had a good meal but I can't say it's my favorite sushi place. Don't really know why, but I just don't get excited about this place.
(3)Carmen G.
Worst service ever!! I ordered two roles and sake. The first roll w lobster was very nice. The other role was a spider role w mustard. I took one bite and thought, wow those flavors do not work together. So when the waitress asked why I did not finish i quietly told my waitress I did not like it. She gave me the bill and it had the roll i did not like and did not eat still listed on it. I asked her if she could remove it, and she went to get the manager. The manager first went to the sushi chef and admonished him. Poor guy was clearly embarrassed. Then she came and asked me why I did not like it. I said that the mustard was not good on it. She looked astonished and insulted. She said i should have told the sushi chef i did not like it. I said that it was not ill prepared, it was ill conceived. She told me that no one ever complained. At that point after she had cause a scene and clearly embarrassed me and the sushi chef, I said: are you going to make me pay for it or not? She said; 'yes pay.' Clearly the manager thought her honor was more important than the chef's or her customer's. She went out of her way to ensure we were both 'shamed'. Very bad customer service
(1)Janine F.
I only ate here once, and probably only ever will eat her once since I was passing through on a road trip back to California. I really liked the atmosphere of the restaurant. It seems like a place that people who work in businesses nearby go often and that's always a good sign. I wanted to eat light since we were going to be on the road so I decided I was going to order fish. I wanted to get the grilled saba meal, but the waitress said we had to get two orders if we wanted to get it. I thought that was really weird, because shouldn't I be able to order what I want without having to pay more? I dont know, maybe that's normal? So, I ended up getting the grilled salmon. The grilled salmon was really good. Very light, but still flavorful. I also love the salad it came with. We ordered some tuna rolls on the side, and of course those were good. Can't go wrong with a tekka maki. I also got hot tea, which was good.
(3)Alice S.
The chirashi here is beautifully done, totally delicious, and a true bargain.
(4)Jon M.
First of all this sushi isn't great but its ok for NM. As someone who has had great sushi in Japan, Hawaii, and LA, I make it a point to avoid raw fish if there isnt an ocean within 15 minutes. That said there are some great infusion rolls here and the shrimp tempura and green chile rolls are definitely worth a try. They also make great tempura which is light and crispy. The service is also generally very good. Japanese Kitchen is about as good as it gets for NM!
(3)lin l.
This is a pretty decent sushi place considering we live in New Mexico. The service is great. I am talking about the sushi not the steak place next door, if you want good sushi.
(4)Tony G.
This place is really good. The food is very reasonably priced and the quality is great. Add to that you get really good miso soup and salad before the meal and you can see how this is one of the better places in Albuquerque for sushi. The place is decorated nice and the staff is friendly. The place can get busy and they only take reservations for parties of 6 or more. Next door is the teppan grill section which is also always packed. The only downside I can think of is the selection is not that expansive. All the traditional ones are there but they don't have that many unique slelections. Sakura has many more non-typical choices. All considered this is still one of the best places in the city to get sushi. Great food at a great price (except the lobster roll for $17 which is a bit much but tastes good)
(4)Alex Y.
Don't poo-poo this this place simply because it's serving up fresh seafood miles from any coast. This isn't just "good sushi for the desert", this is good sushi, period. Way back in the day, I thought this must be just the best I could get at the time -- but this is *not* the case. I've paid far more to eat ridiculously *bad* sushi in areas which should have been far better. I've actually had to search for sushi this good since I left and went to places which *should* have had better sushi, by default. As a disclaimer: I really don't do "new school" sushi. I like the "old school" done right. Also, I may be writing this review simply to increase my geographical dispersion ... but this is good stuff. The one "new school" roll this place has -- which you will never, ever see anywhere else -- is the tempura green chili futomaki. I really, really wish I had one, right now, actually. They will generally serve up Chirashi (even though it isn't on the menu -- or wasn't, back in the day) if you ask.
(4)Brad H.
I've been to the Japanese kitchen Sushi bar several times over the last year. So often, in fact I actually get annoyed at the guests behavior. We should share that the restaurant team is Korean, not Japanese. If you tell them something in Japanese they will look at you with the deer in the headlights stance while trying hard to resist the urge to slap you. Rightfully so I think. Overall the service here is good but lately the food quality has been slipping. Rolls are no longer solidly packed and now easily fall apart while eating them. Food freshness is another issue as the rolls are now hit or miss. Even the tried and true California rolls were uninspired. Although we saw real crab being used inside of the roll they fell apart and the food tasted old. I'll give this restaurant another chance eventually. But for the money and quality served other market participants like Sakura, Samurai and Sushi Gen are all better.
(2)Jesse S.
I was so disappointed with my experience at this restaurant that I signed up for a Yelp account. I lived in Japan for a few years and have eaten a lot of nigiri-zushi and sushi rolls in my time. You obviously can't expect the best freshness when you're eating in Albuquerque, but I was still disappointed. The maguro nigiri-zushi was a generous size, and the taste was passable, but it did not look fresh at all--it hardly looked edible. I tried a salmon tempura roll, which was decent enough. The real problem with this restaurant, to me, was the complete and utter lack of friendliness from the staff. I came in excited to chat with a Japanese sushi chef or server (if I was lucky enough to get one that was actually from Japan). I tried to strike up a conversation with both sushi chefs, both of whom were very standoffish. I'm fluent in Japanese and was hoping to shoot the breeze with someone, anyone, who spoke Japanese. Every Japanese sushi chef I've ever talked to has been friendly and anxious to engage in some small talk about Japan. These guys, however, were extremely cold, and made me want to leave a sushi restaurant before I was full for the first time in my life. I mentioned to a server who was crossing the walkway between the two restaurants that my attempts at conversation were met with apparent contempt (disinterest at best), and he apologized, saying that many other people have complained of the same problem with the chefs. I am not a pretentious person, and I came in with a smile on my face, hoping to enjoy a taste of the land I called home for years. There were no smiles after I left. Take my review with a grain of salt. If you don't care about having a friendly sushi chef, you could probably do worse. Just don't plan on getting any warmth from the staff.
(2)Sarah S.
I believe that this is the best sushi place in ABQ. Yes, you will get better sushi in other places, but in ABQ this is where it's at. The egg rolls are fantastic. ---update---- Upped to 5 stars (from 4). Every time we go (at least once a month) we get great service, place is busy but never have to wait for a table, sushi is always fresh, and the staff is ultra friendly.
(5)Nuri G.
I'm absolutely sick and tired of people saying "oh, this is good for the 505" or "wow, this is great sushi for Albuquerque." Maybe I'm a purist, but all the sushi I've had in Albuquerque is barely passable as grocery store sushi. We'll start with the good: Believe it or not, the quality of fish wasn't bad. I'd give it three stars. The cuts were tasty and generously sized. The rolls were normal sushi standards -- nothing creative or special. The service was good, and the meal came with a decent salad and an above average miso soup. What, then, would take my three star "average" review (maybe even "good for the 505" rating) and make it barely rate a two star? The rice. Sushi, as defined by WIkipedia, is "vinegared rice, usually topped with other ingredients, including fish, various meats, and vegetables. The word sushi itself comes from an archaic grammatical form of a word that is no longer used in other contexts; literally, 'sushi' means 'it's sour'." The rice accompanying all of our average fish was dry, flavorless, and cold. I wonder if the restaurant knows how to make sushi rice, stores it correctly, or even makes it more than once a day... or every other day. To help out the Japanese Kitchen Sushi Bar, I have included a recipe to a make proper sushi rice from one of the masters. If they read this review, I hope they take this well-intentioned advice to heart and put it into practice. Then, out-of-towners may actually take their sushi seriously ... not just "good for the 505" because honestly... it's not good for anywhere else. Mitsuko's Perfect Sushi Rice (courtesy of foodnetwork.com ) * 3 3/4 cups Japanese rice, such as Nishiki (or 5 rice maker cups) * 3 3/4 cups water (or 5 rice maker cups) * 1/2 cup rice vinegar * 4 tablespoons sugar * 1 teaspoon salt Directions In a large bowl, add rice and cover with lots of water. Stir rice in water with your hands, then pour off most of the water, and agitate 10 to 15 times by quickly moving your hand back and forth, swishing rice against side of bowl. Rinse the rice several more times, until the water that drains off of the rice is almost clear. Transfer the rice to a colander and let drain for 1 hour, undisturbed. Transfer the rice to a rice cooker, add the water, cover, and cook as directed by manufacturer's directions. While the rice is cooking, bring rice vinegar to a boil in a small saucepan, and then remove from the heat. Add sugar and salt and stir until dissolved. Allow to cool to room temperature. When rice is done, allow cooked rice to remain in rice cooker for 10 minutes. Transfer rice to a large shallow mixing bowl (traditionally a wooden tub, called a hangiri), so that rice forms a mound in the center of the bowl. Using a diagonal slicing motion, gently cut into rice with a wooden paddle (called a kijakushi), and pour cooled vinegar mixture over top of rice. "Cut" rice several times to evenly distribute vinegar mixture, then allow to cool. Gently turn rice over from time to time with paddle so that rice cools evenly. You might want to consider using a fan if time is of the essence. When rice has cooled to body temperature, it is ready to use for sushi rolls. Rice can be kept at the proper temperature by placing it in an insulated container such as a small ice chest, covered with a damp kitchen towel.
(2)Joan H.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Albuquerque. I LOVE the sake mai thai. On a couple of occasions they have garnished it with a flaming sugar cube. The sushi is fresh and satisfying. Japanese Kitchen Sushi Bar has become my go-to place for a "nice" dinner. The atmosphere just feels special. I highly recommend it for a romantic date.
(5)