The St. Louis Sushi Scene

I venture to say St. Louis has more sushi bars per person than the average Midwestern city. Sushi outlets around town are beginning to rival pizza joints. The newest star in the sushi galaxy is Sado, on the Hill, where I’ve yet to find a time that works for both me and their reservationist.

But then, there’s plenty of places nearby, that keep raw fish enthusiasts from going hungry. Nobu’s, Sushi Koi, Indo, Wasabi Sushi Bar, Blue Ocean, Sushi Ai, PokeDoke to name a few.

What’s Katsu?

Recently, Cyndy and I drove to the Loop to try Katsuya, a Japanese cutlet and sushi roll place. It’s a charming, little hole in the wall snuggled up alongside Insomnia Cookies.

For those, (such as I), who are unfamiliar with Japanese cooking terms, katsu is a brined and breaded chicken or pork cutlet covered in Panko-like crumbs and fried to perfection. That would be, crusty on the outside while tender inside.

What’s a Bento Box?

If you’re wanting to sample the menu, get the bento box. The multiple compartments feature an assortment of items, that will quickly have your taste buds doing a happy dance. The bento is much like the lunch box or as one pundit put it: “a little bit of everything.”

The formula for a bento box is the “4-3-2-1 Rule.”  That is, four parts rice, 3 parts protein, 2 parts vegetable, and one of pickled vegetables or something sweet. (My box was heavier on the protein—pork cutlet—and shorter on the rice.) No problem there. I had enough pork cutlet to bring some home for dinner.

Place your order then sauce up at the bar (left). Pump your choices into those little,  pleated paper cups for a sample of each.

Owners Jack Li and Dae “Terry” Lee help with my selection. Katsuya opened in January and is already wowing the Loop with its trendy fare.

A couple of sushi roll are included in the bento box. Options include tuna, salmon, crab, tempura, shrimp, and avocado and scallions.

The bento box comes with Katsu (chicken or pork), edamame, slices of tamango (a rolled Japanese omelet), cabbage kimchi with pickled vegetables, green salad with ginger dressing, rice, 2 sushi rolls, and seaweed salad.

Katsuya. 6301 Delmar Loop in the Loop, University City. Open: Tue-Sat 11a-9p, Sun 11a-8p. Closed Monday.