Asahi Sushi, for everything that it is, is quite possibly one of the best sushi places I've ever had the pleasure to eat at. From the moment you enter you feel at ease. Greeted by a maneki-neko (those welcoming cat statues typical of Japanese establishments) the place is cozy, warm, and unassuming. This isn't the sort of place that makes you feel like you need to know the sound of one hand clapping to enjoy the food. The effort they save on gussying up the place most definitely goes into the food though. The rolls are some of the best I've ever had, always fresh, good texture, great flavor, perfect size, well made. I've been to so many sushi restaurants that served mushy fish, or rolls that fell apart, or fish that tasted like almost nothing, to rice that wasn't fully cooked. Asahi makes sushi very well, and it has just the right flavor, i.e. if you order a spicy roll, it's not going to be drowning in hot sauce (like some other places I've been). The staff is very friendly too. It is customary to talk to a sushi chef about the quality of his food, and to make good relations with him, but a compliment here is just a good way to start a conversation, as the chefs are almost always willing to chat it up. All this, plus the hours of operation, plus B.Y.O.B if you're into that, plus the sticks of Juicy Fruit that come with every check, plus their green tea ice cream (highly recommended) make me wish I lived in Fells Point. Hey, the price isn't bad either. My last meal (with a friend) consisted of a spicy tuna roll, yellowtail and scallion roll, rainbow roll, tamago roll, two cokes, and a pint of green tea ice cream to go, all for 20 bucks. It doesn't get much better than that.
Pros: Great atmosphere, great food, great service, friendly staff, great price, awesome hours
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