Kinki

Description:

• Kinki features tables outside and inside, and sushi and cocktail bars in the back, and all of them are full most of the time. Just when the whole sushi phenomenon was starting to look a little tired, along come innovators like this to punch it up and make it actually seem sexy. The fish and associated cuisine here is fresh and sprightly; just check the sushi, maki, and nigiri portion of the menu, where diners get a chance to sample a wider range of tastes and combinations. Most come in two to four pieces, as does maguro (tuna) sashimi encrusted in spices. Unakyu (freshwater eel) is wrapped in rice with a cucumber dice, sweetish sauce, and sesame seeds. Non-sushi dishes are equally enticing -- they might include grilled salmon with Thai red-curry sauce, spicy chicken with basil and green chile, or mango-dusted scallops. Sit at the bar, and if you seem sympathetic to the vibe, one of the sushi chefs may add a little something extra for you. DJs provide pumping background music most nights, too, to keep the mood ultrahip.

• © Frommer's 2013

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Highly Recommended 2010