South Florida certainly has no dearth of sushi options.
From high-end spots on Las Olas to tiny takeout, there seems to be a place serving up the Japanese cuisine on every block.
Downtown Fort Lauderdale is, for some reason, the lone exception to that rule. The walkable district has plenty of burger and pub grub options but few lighter, healthier alternatives.
Just last week, however, the Himmarshee Street bar district got its first late-night sushi bar, the latest outpost of Sushi Song.
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Set in the former site of Brew Urban Cafe, just off the main drag of Himmarshee, facing the train tracks, the spot opened its doors for dinner on Thursday.
Lunch service begins today.
It is the latest location for sushi chef/restaurateur Wijai "Song" Ketsuwan.
He decided to open a third location in downtown Lauderdale because he saw a need for fresh Japanese cuisine in the area.
"There's no sushi there," says Ketsuwan. "The whole street has bar food. I thought sushi would be a good choice for people in there."
Following the concept of his other sites, the restaurant features Ketsuwan's unique style of creative rolls in a laid-back, casual environment.
Options range from à la carte sushi and sashimi to salads and appetizers to inventive rolls.
Signature rolls are on the higher end of the price spectrum, featuring pricier seafood in original combinations. The Japan Red Hot ($15) combines shrimp tempura, cucumber, and jalapeño inside-out topped with tuna, black tobiko, and house special sauce. The A1A ($22) is an inside-out roll filled with Maine lobster, avocado, cilantro, and spicy mayo topped with seared wild salmon and special sauce.
House specialties include more commonplace options such as hamachi jalapeño ($12), spicy tuna ($8), spider ($12), and rainbow ($12).
In a similar fashion to his other two locations (in Deerfield Beach and Fort Lauderdale Beach), the downtown location will be open until 4 a.m.; it is also open for lunch.
Depending on demand, Ketsuwan might stay open until 5 a.m. to cater to bar crowds on weekends.
Sushi Song is located at 209 SW Second Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. Call 954-764-7664, or visit sushisong222.com.
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