Solo Sushi Needs Soy Sauce. Akashi Has Soy Sauce.

Raina McLeod | March 17, 2009 | 1:06pm

9:39 p.m. last night, my friend texted me, "Loving [Lil'] Kim on Dancing With the Stars!"

While

he was home watching B & C-Listers do the cha-cha - wasabi, crab

and fresh-out-the-water tuna was doing the electric boogaloo on my

tongue. Akashi's South Miami

outpost is potentially one of the best sushi spots in town, and the

spankin' new SoBe location is potentially one of the sexiest.

Japanese-inspired graffiti by an artist named Jonas had welcomed me

into the restaurant, and an urban chic vibe continued throughout.

I was there for Sushi-Me! Mondays a weekly dinner party where sushi rolls and sake bombs

reign supreme. It is all put on by promoter Michael Madd, in

conjunction with owner/head chef Larry Chi. "The South Miami location

has great food, but no atmosphere. It's kind of like a cafeteria, while

this location adds South Beach flair to incredible sushi," said Chi.

Ideally, last night should have been about me and a few girlfriends

giggling/griping about our Monday or me and a boy feeding each other

Dragon rolls, but I rolled to Akashi solo and intent on chatting up

someone new. Luckily the sushi bar is usually packed with solo birds

open to a lil' convo and willing to drop a piece of Cali roll onto your

plate if you say the right thing. Plus, watching Larry construct,

slice, and serve the sushi is entertainment enough. I had one with crab

and avocado on the inside and topped with tuna. Understand that my roll

was rice-less because carbs aren't my friend - let it be yours. Or

don't and order the tuna tartare - a subtly explosive mound of tuna

mixed with lemon juice, olive oil, avocado, onion, and sesame oil. How

the hell do you say yum in Japanese?

Recommended For You