Leo Park, chef at Tokyo Sushi, shows off his freshly made sushi rolls. (Photo by Grace Gude)

by Kimberly McGuire

Tokyo Sushi
522 W. Dickson
(479)444-8122

The last word that typically comes to mind when thinking of a Japanese restaurant would be “quirky,” but Tokyo Sushi is just that. The service, the menu and even the odd mix of music playing over the loud speaker—it’s a strange assortment, but it works.

When you walk through the door, every staff member merrily welcomes you in Japanese. The entire staff is friendly; I’ve never encountered someone in a bad mood at Tokyo Sushi–not a chef, a waiter, nor an unsuspecting customer whom I may have creeped out by staring at their plate of raw sushi majesty.

First-timers, you’ve been warned — the staff does tend to get loud. They have their own chant when someone takes a sake bomb, and if you hear them shouting “Oh my God, fire!” do not be alarmed. This means that a customer has just been served their “Oh! My God” roll. It comes on fire, naturally.

I recently dined at Tokyo Sushi for a friend’s birthday on a Friday night. The place was pretty packed. If you aren’t one to wait under an awning for a few minutes for a table to open up, then you need to be patient, because this place is worth it. Either that, or you need to try it out on a weeknight, when Dickson Street is significantly less populated. Lunch, too, is always a little more calm, and there’s also the option of take-out.

After being seated, my group was pondering what to order when all of a sudden the waiter brought out edamame, soup and salad. We considered protesting, asking how he knew to bring out such delicious offerings before we could order, but I caution you to save your breath — it all comes free with the meal. This place is a college student’s sushi heaven. Not many places like to tractor-beam us in with free appetizers.

Edamame (whole soybeans) are a delicious appetizer no matter where you go; it’s the soup and salad that can be defining items on a restaurant’s menu. For free soup and salad, this stuff is pretty great. Since the restaurant opened, the soup has only improved. If you aren’t a fan of tofu, perhaps this brothy starter will enlighten you. As for the salad, the ginger dressing is a tangy, lightweight topper you’ll be craving until your next visit.

The “House Specials” list is quite extensive, but don’t fret if you’re new to sushi because the menu has photos to browse while deciding. To cure indecisiveness, the staff is well equipped with knowledge on what rolls are the most popular, the spiciest and the most delicious. The rolls average $10 to $15 each and have some interesting names (Dickson, Razorback, Football, U of A). For those without an adventurous palate, there are classic rolls available, too: “The Basics,” such as the California, Philadelphia, Alaska and spicy tuna rolls, cost about $5. And for those who aren’t into the raw fish or sushi scene at all, there are vegetarian rolls ($3.75 to $7.95) and fried rice or teriyaki meals ($6.95 to $12.95).

When it came time to order, I decided on the Crab Mania and a Philadelphia roll. Crab Mania consists of tempura shrimp, crab mix and avocado, and it’s topped with seared crab, eel sauce and spicy mayo. Now, if you’re a sushi minimalist and prefer white rice and seaweed wrapped fish dunked in soy sauce and wasabi, this place might not be as high on your list as mine. Almost every specialty roll comes smothered in what our table liked to call “fancies,” which are anything extra delicious added to our rolls. My Crab Mania came drizzled in eel sauce and spicy mayo, indeed a fancy addition to my roll. For my friend, it’s the saucy goodness that comes with her chicken fried rice. My sister went out on a limb and got a Bento Box (a combination box). If you aren’t sure what you want or will like, or if you really like to have leftovers, the Bento Box is a good option and runs from $9.95 to $14.95.

On less busy nights, the chef or owner will come to your table and ask if everything is up to par. Of course, everything I ordered was above and beyond my expectations, but was relegated to expressing my delight with an awkward thumbs-up. I have the kind of luck that leads me to take a bite of food just in time for someone to ask me a question.

All in all, Tokyo Sushi ranks #1 on my list for sushi in Fayetteville. Everything is fairly priced, and did I mention you get free starters? If you’re one for good food, good people and a quirky experience, there’s no other place to enjoy more.

Tokyo Sushi is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 to 2:00 and 4:30 to 9:30, Friday and Saturday from 4:30 to 10:30 and Sunday from 4:30 to 9:00.