Eat Japanese

Sushi and steak houses o'plenty

By Jake and Jason de Paul on July 19, 2007

FUJI JAPANESE STEAK HOUSE:Teppanyaki, the Japanese art of cooking foods — meat, fish, vegetables — on a large griddle rules here. It’s an exhibitionist-lovers delight, complete with flashy knives and flying food. 7914 Martin Way, Suite 3, Lacey, 360.459.4499.

FUJIYA: Fujiya owner Masahiro Endo selects the fish from the market, offering extraordinary treats like glistening raw shrimp with an amazingly creamy, crystalline texture and scallops that taste like someone made a mousse of sea essence.  1125 Court C, downtown Tacoma, 253. 627.5319.

JAZZBONES:  This nightclub’s upstairs sushi bar combines traditional Japanese cuisine with California and Northwest influences. Don’t skip the baked sea scallop topped roll.  Live blues, jazz and rock mixed with sushi and sake?  Nice! 2803 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.396. 9169.

KOIBITO: The inside isn’t too memorable, but the staff is pleasant from beginning to end at Koibito in Olympia.  We enjoyed the immensely flavorful nebeyaki udon: a marvelous broth flavored with miso, chock-full of fat udon noodles, shrimp tempura, fish cake, crab meat and various vegetables. 900 Capitol Way inside the Best Western Aladdin Inn, Olympia, 360.352.5085.

SAKURA: Groups of 20 sit around a teppan-yaki grill before a chef who demonstrates masterful, high-speed chopping, pepper-mill twirling, salt shaking and meat frying.  3630 S. Cedar St., Tacoma, 253.475.1300.

TWOKOI JAPANESE CUISINE: This open concept treat offers inventive sushi, sashimi, and tuna and salmon carpaccio, plus teriyaki, tonkatsu, yosenabe, salads and starters. Full bar with 40 sake varieties.  1552 Jefferson Ave., Tacoma, 253.274.8999.