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💛 Sushi: Yamato Japanese Restaurant
Location: 857 E. Grant Road
Yamato is on the short list of my favorite restaurants in Tucson. The sushi chef Noboru Nakajima is old-school, taught in Japan. The restaurant’s been around since 1988. Once you try sushi here, you’re going to be holding the rest of Tucson to its standard.
That being said, it also has a formidable grill menu. I’m waiting for their distributor to get hamachi kama back in stock — yellowfin collar is one of the most precious, tender cuts of meat out there and I don’t want to try it anywhere else before I have had it here.
Ramen: Raijin Ramen
Location: 2955 E. Speedway
Raijin’s rich broth makes their ramen addictive. In case you opt for to-go, their takeout travels better than most, because they separate the stuff they don’t want to get soggy.
Honorable mentions: Toss Fried Chicken and Ramen, Yoshimatsu.