Awesome Eats @ Kappa Garden Sushi Bistro

The roving plates of freshly prepared sushi moving past diners seated directly in front of the conveyor belt at Kappa Garden does look like something you would have seen on the futuristic cartoon The Jetsons. Diners can pull off the dishes that they want, pay and walk away all within three minutes, or they can sit and eat off of the conveyor belt and order off of the menu.

I wanted every plate I saw. If they had sped up the pace I would have felt like Lucy in the chocolate factory episode. The beautifully arranged foods swirling past me were  taunting and teasing my taste buds.

I am going to start with the very last item served by Sushi Chef Sung Jongk, who honed his culinary craft in Japan. The dish is called "No Name." It should be named OMG! because it was crisp, refreshing and delicious. No Name starts off with very thin strips of crisp cucumber that are wrapped around a circle consisting of four quadrants. A piece of smooth and buttery spicy tuna, perfectly ripened avocado, lobster and crab salad, and tamaco (egg, honey, sake, sugar and cornstarch) make this dish a winner.  This rather large disc is dunked in a little soy sauce, if desired, and then savored like a fine wine. I like to think of this as un-sushi because there is no rice, or seaweed wrap (low-carb eaters rejoice).

While there are many items swirling around, other dishes are made to order. The Spicy Tuna Cocktail is not only pretty to look at, it is a wonderful starter. The blood-red fresh tuna squares are tossed lightly in a mixture of Sriracha, fish roe, and sesame oil, then piled on top of a little shredded white radish and garnished with lemon and mint. The tuna melts in your mouth, and the amount of spice is spot on.

The Strawberry Roll is almost a dessert sushi, filled with shrimp tempura, cream cheese and topped with sweet crab and fresh-sliced strawberries.

The Rainbow Roll is a California Roll topped with yellowtail, shrimp, white tuna, salmon and tuna.  It is a nice assortment and perfect for the novice sushi eater. 

The Valentine Roll was the creation of server Ashleigh Krick for the February special, but it went over with the customers so well that Kappa Garden has kept it on the menu. It has shrimp tempura, crab, cream cheese and is topped with sweet crab and tobiko. It is as pretty as it is tasty.

An unusual, but popular, roll is their Mary Washington Roll consisting of shrimp tempura, avocado, topped with spicy tuna, a layer of soft and fluffy fried tempura then fried sweet potato strings which give it that perfect crunch. Krick said this roll is a favorite with many of the medical employees who frequent their lunch service. It is a savory roll with a bit of the sweet and the spice playing nicely together and then the thin crunchy topping adding the finishing touch.

If it’s a date night be sure to order the romantic sweet crab and avocado topped with tuna in the shape of a heart. Nothing says "I love you" like heart-shaped sushi. 

Fred Vegas is a combination of shrimp tempura, crab, and cream cheese and topped with avocado and spicy crab, and it is one of their most popular rolls on their menu.

Corey White of Fredericksburg eats at the sushi bar several times a week. 

“I always order the Spicy Tuna Cocktail if I’m eating in. The flavor and presentation is fabulous and the spice on the fresh tuna is amazing,” said White. "The sushi chefs learn to know what your likings are and then they will make special dishes just for you."

Kappa Garden Sushi Bistro located at 10153 Jefferson Davis Highway in Cosner Corner. Tell them you have come for their Awesome Eats as read in Fredericksburg Patch.