Asahi

546 W. Dickson St.

Fayetteville

Some people might have an aversion to eating sushi in Arkansas, but they shouldn’t. This is one of the best sushi restaurants we’ve tried (and we’ve tried them on both coasts), even if the nearest ocean is several hundred miles away.

The seafood at Asahi Japanese Restaurant is fresh and carefully prepared.

For lunch, we sampled three different meals: two “specials” and a combo of sushi rolls. The grilled salmon steak teriyaki ($8) was delicious and tender. The fish flaked apart in tasty chunks under the pressure of our chopsticks.

The chicken teriyaki lunch special ($7) — which comes with California rolls, fruit and choice of miso soup or salad — was also good, although our diner had trouble manipulating her chopsticks. The California rolls, which our diner described as “addictive,” contain avocado, cucumber, crab and rice.

We also tried the salmon skin roll ($4), and the crunchy tuna roll ($6). Six large pieces — each one more than a mouthful — came with each roll. Fish and sauce in the middle was surrounded by rice and corralled around the edges by nori (that’s seaweed to you Arkies out there). Both rolls were also delicious.

For dessert, we had “cheesecake tempura” ($3.75). Tempura is Japanese for “fried,” by the way. We had gone out on a limb on this one, but the dessert was surprisingly good. We’ll order it again next time.

The atmosphere at Asahi is pleasant with Japanese blinds and decor. Asahi also serves hot or cold sake as well as Japanese beers.

For an exotic Northwest Arkansas dining experience, try Asahi.