Osaka – Best Sushi in Memphis
Sushi at Osaka
Almost everyone who grew up attending public school in the 1980s remembers The Breakfast Club. But ask 100 people what was their favorite scene and you might get 100 different answers. For me, it was simply the song. “Don’t You Forget About Me” by Simple Minds has always been a defining song of that decade. For someone else it might be Judd Nelson staring at Molly Ringwald’s lunch, asking what it was she was eating. Sushi… some of us had heard of it. Most of us never tried it. Ringwald had to explain to Judd Nelson what it was she was eating – many people in the audience audibly groaned at her definition.
Little did we know that 20 years later (boy do I feel old now) those of us who laughed at that scene then would be frequenting sushi bars in mass with our co-workers, friends, and wives. While sushi made its debut in America about a decade after World War 2, it wasn’t until the mid 1970s that it started to take off, ever so slowly, and only in America’s largest urban areas. From 1988 to 1998, however, the number of sushi bars in America quintupled. Today, they are everywhere – in restaurants, grocery stores, and even gas stations!
Char enjoying sushi at Osaka
Memphis has several Japanese restaurants, most all serving sushi (vinegar rice with ingredients rolled inside and / or over the top) and sashimi (raw fish without the rice). By far, the best we’ve found is at Osaka. At the time of this writing, Osaka is open in Cordova, Collierville, and Olive Branch. Osaka’s sushi and sashimi is fresh and flavorful. Served with pickled ginger, soy sauce, and wasabi, it can be a meal unto itself – or an appetizer to their other delicious entrees.
The selection at Osaka is expansive and it is reasonably priced. If you go early enough for dinner, you can catch the “Early Bird Special” and choose three rolls (most rolls contain 6-8 pieces) for $10.95. It’s one of the best sushi values in Memphis – even more affordable than buying it at the grocery and eating at home!
Some of our favorite rolls include the Spicy Crawfish, Kamikaze, Sunrise, Tokyo, Arizona, Alaska, Lobster, New York, Orange Dragon, White Tiger, Tornado, and Volcano Rolls.
The Early Bird Special also comes with your choice of Miso Soup or an Osaka House Salad. The Miso Soup is good… but may you take our recommendation of the salad – all because of the outstanding house dressing. Osaka’s house dressing is simply the best we’ve ever had. It’s the perfect accompaniment to your plate of sushi.
The house salad at Osaka
Whether you want sushi and sashimi as your dinner or as an appetizer along with an entree (let me recommend the Samurai Steak, medium well, with fresh rice and veggies), we think you’ll be thrilled with Osaka’s taste, quality, and quantity!
Osaka is the most amazing sushi bar!!! I crave it all the time!!! Folks, if you live in the Memphis area I am telling you this is a MUST. The Japanese stir fry dishes and fried rice and salad is all just as awesome as their sushi. JUST DO IT!