May's Taste - Sushi in Joy ~ Bellevue, WA

Sushi In Joy is bumping up against Oto Sushi for the number one spot. But Oto holds out for the price point for sure. The restaurant is located just outside downtown Bellevue in an unassuming strip mall. What is it about sushi joints and strip malls? It was actually a bonus that it was outside of the hustle an bustle of downtown. There was no issue finding parking at all!

We arrived around 6:30 pm on a Friday night and had no trouble being seated right away. The staff was very friendly and welcoming. Especially the older lady who delivered our meals to us. One of my favorite things about Sushi in Joy's atmosphere is the mix of music they have playing. There is something for everyone, from country to pop. Loved it! The only awkward point of the evening was when the staff seemed to be arguing loudly in Japanese in front of the sushi bar.

We started out our meal with our traditional steamed gyoza. It was a bit cold once it made it to the table but had an overall pleasing texture and flavor. The wonton wrapper was a bit on the thick side but not too bad. The dipping sauce was slightly sweet and paired well with the stuffing. We also ordered an Asahi beer for me and some cold Sake for my better half, C.

For dinner I started out with the Mariner Roll and a dish called Monkey Brain. The Mariner roll was superb. The scallop on top of the roll was lighted seared but still raw. It was silky and succulent on the tongue. By far the best scallop I have had yet during my 12 months of sushi journey. The roll was beautifully presented with a drizzle of sweet eel sauce over the top and panko bread crumbs. This roll would be just as good without the panko crunch.

The Mariner

The Monkey Brain was amazing in its delicate tempura shell. The creamy avocado was the perfect pairing to the spicy tuna and crab meat. The tuna was not overly spicy but still had an addicting heat that made you want to go back for more. We were both pleasantly surprised by this dish. It is now a favorite of ours and we have told multiple people they must go and try it.

Monkey Brain

C started out with the Cherry Blossom Roll, the Seattle Roll and some Ebi and Salmon nigiri. The Cherry Blossom was very bright on the palate. I thought it tasted slightly citrusy. C liked that it was not overly saucy with allowed the fish to speak for itself. The salmon on top was rather lean so it wasn't as tender and fatty as we like our salmon but still very good quality.

Cherry Blossom & Seattle Rolls

The Seattle Roll is a very simple but tasty roll for sushi lovers that don't like any sauces to muddle the taste of their fish. The Ebi and Salmon nigiri were very good quality seafood. C liked that the ebi was fresh and not dried out at all. The salmon was the same as the product used on the Cherry Blossom roll so it left him wishing for a slightly fattier fish. C remarked that the wasabi was some of the freshest he had tasted and the ginger was very good too.
After finishing all of that we both decided to split one more roll and some nigiri. We ordered the Lion King roll, Scallop nigiri and Surf Clam nigiri. The Surf Clam was a bit on the chewy side for me but C loved it. I have decided it must be an acquired taste because I would not choose to have it again. The Scallop however was heavenly. So buttery and almost melt in your mouth soft. Beautiful.

The Lion King and nigiri

The Lion King

The Lion King was well composed and light in flavor with a slightly sweet sauce drizzled over the top. After all of the other amazing rolls, especially the Mariner Roll, this roll left me wanting more. It fell slightly flat in the flavor department. It needed something to give it a bit of "Pow".
Overall we loved our night at Sushi In Joy. The $110.38 bill was a bit of a wake up call but it is so easy to get carried away when you have good sushi to try right? We will return just when we feel we can splurge a bit.

Sushi In Joy

2618 Bellevue Way NE

Bellevue, WA 98004

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