While I wait for the Sakanaya Downtown location to open, I am enjoying Sakanaya’s original Green Street location. Recently open for indoor dining, Sakanaya has lunch specials like the Sakanaya special roll ($10).
The Sakanaya special roll came with raw spicy tuna and avocado, wrapped in rice, topped with seared white tuna and bonito flakes. The smokiness of the seared tuna was superb, and the soft filling of raw fish and avocado paired beautifully.
We also tried the sushi roll that was on special yesterday: salmon crunch roll ($10).
Photo by Alyssa Buckley.
It’s not regularly on the menu, but our server told us she had just sampled it, and it was good, so we were convinced. It was a fantastic fried roll with fatty salmon and avocado with two different drizzles and a super crispy edge. I have certainly missed eating fried sushi at the restaurant instead of hoping it carried out well on my drive home.
Photo by Alyssa Buckley.
Even the simple, flavorful miso soup was exquisite, probably because it wasn’t in a plastic container for takeout. I will never again take for granted the simple joy of having a hot soup brought to me and then immediately enjoying it.
If you’re wondering when Sakanaya Downtown will open, then we’re the same. I asked my server, and she said that the Downtown Champaign location will likely open in August. I am excited to visit the new location, but in the meantime, I’m more than satisfied to grab a meal at one of the tables at Sakanaya’s cosy Green Street location.
Sakanaya
403 E Green St
Champaign
M-Sa 11:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. + 5 to 9 p.m.
Su 4 to 9:30 p.m.
Top image by Alyssa Buckley.
