Editor’s Note: Fork & Dagger is 828newsNOW’s anonymous restaurant review series, written by our independent Grub Scout—no freebies, no press perks, no agenda. Grub Scout pays full price, visits unannounced, and takes notes on food, service, atmosphere, and value. Each review reflects a recent, honest experience rated on our 1‑to‑5 fork scale. We aim to help you discover standout dining spots—from casual diners to white‑tablecloth affairs—one bite at a time.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — In this week’s episode, your Grub Scout visits yet another spot that’s been around forever and asks, “How the heck have I never been here? “
I went to see “The Odyssey” and was really hungry after the three-hour epic that it was. While sitting in my car scrolling for options near me in South Asheville, I began craving sushi. So, what did I do? I decided to stab in the dark and go with the restaurant that was actually a tenth of a mile away.
Asheville Sushi & Hibachi sits at the end of the secluded shopping center near Walmart on Hendersonville Road. When we arrived, there were only a few cars in the parking lot, and that always makes me skeptical. No matter, we pushed on, imagining we were taking a risk.
Upon entering, the colorful happy aesthetic was pretty overwhelming. It was beautifully decorated the way I imagine some street spots in Tokyo are. The specials on the menu are handwritten. It was quite whimsical and, honestly, adorable.
We started with a can of Sapporo, plum wine and a beautiful appetizer called Salmon Treasure: seared salmon, cucumber, crabmeat and tobiko with mango sauce. It was very unusual and wonderful. We both loved it.
For my entree, I chose the sushi and sashimi combo, just to get as much variety as possible without the decision fatigue that I often succumb to with any sushi menu. The sheer volume of options is intimidating. I made a good decision. The California roll was typical, but the nigiri and sashimi were phenomenal, perfectly cut, which is most important. It also came with a tasty miso soup.
She chose the Ichiban Roll: Shrimp tempura with cucumber and spicy crab. This was topped with spicy mayo and eel sauce. I was jealous of this one. Good thing we share everything. Her Yellowtail was also quite nice.
Overall, this was outstanding! A great experience with the staff and food that couldn’t have been much better. I highly recommend it.
Rating: 🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴
