Sushi Chiyo
If you’re like me and you worship at the feet of the sushi masters—“Jiro Dreams of Sushi” is a great Netflix documentary if you haven’t already indulged—then you might have Sushi Chiyo on your radar already. After all, nothing beats a five-minute drive from campus—Sushi Chiyo is located near the Burgerville on the corner of Highway 99 and 134th St.
However, if you prefer the freshness of nigiri to the decadence of rolls, you may be disappointed. Sushi Chiyo’s only saving grace is its 2 — 4:30 p.m. happy hour when all plates are half the price. Still, if you’re looking for cheap, fast, and simple, this is not the place for you. It was hard to find a plate without the cheap spicy mayonnaise or a sort of “tempura’d” ingredient to the point where a once fresh cuisine becomes heavy.
Furthermore, when each plate color costs a different amount it becomes difficult to track spending. Twelve plates in and I paid over $20—at happy hour. If you’re not in a rush and looking for a sushi fix, I suggest making the drive down to Sushihana on Mill Plain. Their plates are $1.60 each and they have an easy system for custom orders. Also, there’s plenty of nigiri to go around.
KC Teriyaki
In a strip mall near Fred Meyer, a nine-minute drive from campus, KC Teriyaki operates a place just like any other: safe, delicious, and utterly unsurprising. The upside of the experience was the perfectly cooked pork served with a simple teriyaki sauce and a side of sticky rice. The downside, unfortunately, was getting all the way home only to find out that shrimp yakisoba had been unwittingly substituted for pork.
Fortunately, there is a 10% student discount with your Cougar Card (Unfortunately, I discovered this after having paid for my meal). Also, if you eat in, prepare to consume some excellent egg drop soup and check out a slew of local school sports jerseys. The company sponsors soccer teams nearby. Points for community involvement!
In my opinion, KC Teriyaki is a no-muss, no-fuss protein-and-rice joint with decently greasy yakisoba and mouth-watering gyoza. You can’t go wrong.