Japanese. Sushi.
Carrollton: 3301 S Carrollton Ave. 504-488-1881. Map.
Lunch and dinner seven days, except no Saturday lunch.
Casual.
AE DC DS MC V
Website
WHY IT'S NOTEWORTHY
Mikimoto is immensely popular with the students of Tulane, Loyola, and Xavier universities, for two good reasons. First, the sushi is very good. Second, the prices here are noticeably lower than elsewhere. A one-dollar roll special attracts particular attention, as does the drive-thru. All this suggests less concentration on food merit, but you'd never know that to eat here. The sushi lineup is as varied as can be found elsewhere, and the cooked side of the menu is unusually good, as well.
WHY IT'S GOOD
Almost any standard sushi you've ever enjoyed is here. And then the chefs innovate. There's a whole page of new roll creations (with many more old ones on the main menu--all explained fully. Mikimoto's unusual strength is in its hot appetizer section. Alternating selections from there with sushi orders creates a meal full of appealing contrasts.
BACKSTORY
Mikimoto opened in 2000 in what is becoming an Asian restaurant row on S. Carrollton Avenue between Earhart and Palmetto. There's some family connection with the long-running, nearby, popular Chinese Kitchen. Mikimoto renovated a former savings-and-loan office, keeping the drive-through window in place and using it for take-out service. Jackie Chan (not the movie star) is the owner.
DINING ROOM
The dining room is small, yet manages to be somewhat maze-like. When a crush of customers arrives, there's often no room to stack them up. If you see people standing on the sidewalk, the house is full. The sushi bar is also less commodious than one may be accustomed to finding. Still, the service and surroundings manage to be pleasant enough.
ESSENTIAL DISHES
Crab shu-mai.
Beef negimaki (rolled around green onions and seared).
Beef asparagus maki (same idea, with asparagus).
Niku maki (same again, with crabmeat and shrimp inside).
Yakitori (Japanese chicken kebabs).
Spring roll.
Beef tataki.
Baked hamachi neck.
Baked wasabi mussels.
Sesame chicken or beef.
Avocado deluxe (with spicy tuna and smelt roe).
Unagi variations (grilled eel and rice).
Sushi and sashimi.
Sushi rolls (especially salmon twist and volcano roll).
Box sushi.
Teriyaki of beef or chicken.
Shrimp tempura.
Steamed tofu and vegetables.
Banana tempura with honey.
Tempura cheesecake.
FOR BEST RESULTS
Go through the appetizer and salad sections as soon as you sit down and before you order sushi. There's a lot of interesting food in there.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT
Now that it's legal to have sidewalk tables, how about a few of those to ease the crush? (Not that Carrollton Avenue traffic is in any way scenic.)
FACTORS OTHER THAN FOOD
Up to three points, positive or negative, for these characteristics. Absence of points denotes average performance in the matter.
- Dining Environment
- Consistency +1
- Service
- Value +2
- Attitude +1
- Wine and Bar
- Hipness +1
- Local Color
SPECIAL ATTRIBUTES
- Open Sunday lunch and dinner
- Open Monday lunch and dinner
- Open all afternoon
- Quick, good meal
- Easy, nearby parking
- No reservations
ANECDOTES AND ANALYSIS
Mikimoto offers to send a chef to outside parties to prepare sushi for guests.
This review was updated with new information on 3/23/2010.
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