At the recently opened Japanese restaurant Kusshi, one can find a multitude of both common and unique dishes, all at reasonable prices. 

The exterior of Kusshi is decorated simply, with two grey doors and a bold sign above them; however, after walking into Kusshi, you are immersed in a beautifully balanced modern Asian setting. The maître d’s desk looks like a black cube with colorful lights shining through it, while Japanese artwork is scattered throughout the entire restaurant.

One aspect I appreciated about Kusshi was its many different seating options. There were regular tables, booths, high tables and bar seating. I chose to sit at a booth and was immediately greeted by my waiter and given a menu. The menu consisted of various selections of sushi, noodles and desserts. 

I ordered the New Philly roll which was a Philadelphia roll with avocado and wasabi sauce. I also ordered mochi ice cream for dessert. The order comes with three pieces of mochi ice cream with 12 flavors to choose from. The roll costs $12 and the mochi costs $9 for three mochi balls. The restaurant is not cheap, but the prices are reasonable for the quality of its food. In addition, the restaurant’s service was wonderful and quick. I got my food within 10 minutes of ordering. 

The New Philly roll was delicious: The fish was fresh and the cream cheese added the perfect amount of saltiness. The wasabi sauce on top of the roll was a nice touch because it added a bit of spice, which enhanced the overall flavor. 

The mochi ice cream also tasted amazing and was the perfect combination of chewiness from the mochi outer layer and softness from the ice cream. I ordered two vanilla chocolate chip pieces and one salted caramel; both flavors were exquisite. 

At Kusshi, there is something for everyone. Even if you aren’t particularly craving a sushi meal, there are many noodle options. This restaurant is a great place to get together with your friends and family and definitely has Instagram-worthy potential for those looking to share their meals out artistically.  I would rate Kusshi four out of five stars. 

Kusshi is located at 11826 Trade St. Rockville, Md. Hours are Monday through Thursday 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m., Friday 11:30 a.m.-12 a.m., Saturday 12 p.m.-12 a.m. and Sunday 12 p.m.-10 p.m.

This story was featured in the Volume 36, Issue 3 edition of The Lion’s Tale, published on Dec. 20, 2018.