sushi roku || 33 miller alley, pasadena, ca 91103 || (626) 683-3000
now here’s a festive place paired with innovation, thus their appropriately self-dubbed innovative dining group. sushi roku is one of my favorites that have been around for years along with katana [my second home before moving out to ny + it’s wagyu week til march 9th!] which continues to have consistently amazing dishes. they reinvent their menu with new additions that mix classic items with edgy flavors that really excite your palette. aside from the great food, here’s a venue you can count on to look sexy, stylish, hip and complete with beautiful decor from top to bottom with great photo opps all around – selfies in the restroom will probably be more interesting than most places. feel free to wear your best to see & be seen, and maybe fall in love – this is applicable to their whole restaurant chain.
below are some of their newest items from this pre-oscar wknd treat:
fluke topped w/kumquat, yuzu citrus, & black salt on the side
tuna tartare with yuzu guacamole, soy truffle vinaigrette and black TRUFFLES.
filet mignon wrapped asparagus – delicious [although i personally would have preferred the meat uncooked or seared] but texture was still great.
lychee imperial – cocktail choice of the night – refreshing & not overly sweet.
hot oil-seared halibut with diced chili + scallions. one of my faves.
spicy jalapeño shots for the table!
my favorites on this queen-sized platter: amaebi (live sweet shrimp) w/caviar, uni w/black salt, the special baby ika (squid), spanish mackerel
girls w/the queen platter
sweet baked shrimp over uni risotto – YUM.
ankimo – monkfish liver pâté **fave**
deep fried shrimp heads from our amaebi – you can eat their tentacles + whiskers! try it!
tuna tataki + grilled shishito peppers & eggplants – enough to feed the tables around us!
“you’re so hot[ate], especially with those gold flakes & caviar on top.”
DISH OF THE NIGHT: hotate (live scallop) topped with caviar, pink peppercorn, & gold flakes. so pretty. so delicious.
valet car keys anyone? pls drive responsibly!
