spicy tuna heaven (nishino, madison park)

When I'm in the mood for sushi, there's no question about where I'm headed. Nishino in Madison Park has been at the top of my list for several years now, and that's saying a lot given the excellent selection of sushi restaurants in Seattle.

Nishino: 3130 East Madison

So, why Nishino?

First, Nishino serves the best spicy tuna hand roll in Seattle. In fact, "two spicy tuna hand rolls, please," was the first thing out of our mouths when we sat down at the sushi bar this evening. And sitting at the sushi bar is a must for optimum enjoyment of this roll. I watched in anticipation as Chef Mori expertly set the rice atop a square of toasted seaweed wrapper (nori), drizzled some sesame seeds and special sauce, arranged slivers of julienned cucumbers, and placed the prized spicy tuna down the middle. Within seconds of wrapping the nori into a cone shape, he was handing it over the bar and placing it into my eager hands.

Spicy tuna hand roll perfection.

I immediately dipped the top of the roll into my prepped soy and wasabi mixture and took the first bite of this crispy, salty, spicy, and altogether heavenly creation. The first bite is always my favorite because it's the roll at its best -- perfectly crispy seaweed, rice, cucumber, and heaps of spicy tuna spilling over the edge. With each second, the nori loses its crispiness as it absorbs more moisture from the tuna and rice, making it harder to get a clean bite. And that is why sitting at the sushi bar is crucial. I shudder at the idea of sitting in the main dining room (although it is beautiful) and wasting precious seconds as this perfect hand roll sits on a counter waiting for the server to pick it up and bring it to the table. It was hard enough for me to set down my roll to take the picture below.

Spicy tuna hand roll up close. Hurry! Eat it now!

Spicy tuna aside, the sushi at Nishino is amazing. The fish is always fresh with wonderful flavor and texture. Tonight was no exception. We ordered nigiri-style salmon, yellowtail, and toro (fatty tuna), and every single piece was better than the last. When seated at the sushi bar, each order is placed on your plate as its prepared. To get an impressive big platter of sushi, opt for a table instead.

Nigiri-style salmon (left) and yellowtail (right).

In addition to having great fish, Nishino adds a bit of innovative flair to some of the sushi rolls and other dishes without compromising the traditional flavors and expectations. The soft shell crab roll (also known as a spider roll) is a good example of this. The crepe-thin layer of cucumber around the edge of the roll gave it a fresh taste without sacrificing or competing with the flavors of the soft shell crab, avocado, and smelt roe.

Soft shell crab roll.

The sake list here is also great. When we arrived, the sushi bar was full, so we ordered some sake to drink while we waited for a seat at the bar. We typically order a bamboo of the Otokoyamo to share, but tonight we branched out and tried the Izumi Judan Ginjo. Described as the "martini-lover's sake... with a hint of juniper reminiscent of Tanqueray," I figured we couldn't go wrong.

Bamboo of the Izumi Judan Ginjo sake.

We skipped dessert, but I do love the mochi ice cream served here. It's the Bubbies brand, made in Hawaii, with a chewy mochi outside and creamy ice cream filling. (If you haven't tried it, stop by your local Metropolitan Market and pick up a flavor of your choice.) Nishino also typically offers Japanese-flavored (e.g., green tea, sweet potato, ginger, etc) cakes and sweets.

hhf says: Great sushi, modern atmosphere, and amazing spicy tuna. Sushi lovers, this one's for you.

Dolce and Gabbana tan, textured leather heels.

Shoes: Tan, textured leather Dolce and Gabbana heels with a classic pointed toe and contrast stitching. One of my favorite go-to heels!