Taka Sushi and Passion Awards

Taka Sushi and Passion Restaurant Review:

Born in Hiroshima, Taka Moriuchi came to Atlanta in 1995 and began working in Japanese restaurants. Learning his craft first with Sotohiro Kosugi at his vaunted Soto restaurant, he then plied it with Kevin Rathbun at BluePointe. On his own since 2002, Moriuchi has been synonymous with sushi in Atlanta ever since. Taka Sushi and Passion showcases a clean, modern design, with lots of natural light and wood and metal decorative elements that subtly suggest a Japanese aesthetic. Unlike many sushi restaurants, this one has outdoor dining. We suggest starting with house-made gyoza or shumai, plump and steamed. Or go for the opener of thinly sliced flounder enclosing crawfish salad, a unique treat. There are fewer cooked dishes at this version of Moriuchi’s establishment --- and we miss some of those creative delights --- but at this operation, he focuses on sushi and sashimi. Sashimi lunch for $11 provides a dozen pieces of pristine sushi, including delectable salmon. Dessert is worth considering, especially the tempura-fried poppy seed pound cake with ice cream. The wine list is lengthy for a Japanese restaurant and offers a substantial selection of sparkling wines and Champagnes, all of which do well with sushi, and Chardonnay, most of which don’t. Premium saké and Japanese beers are good choices, and we like the jasmine tea.