Sakura Sushi & Kitchen
19 Taft Corners Shopping Center, Williston, 288-8052

By Alice Levitt

Growing up near New York City, my family shopped at a grocery store in Yonkers called Meiji-ya almost as much as much as at our local supermarket. In Vermont, the only place (besides my home) where I can get my Japanese home- cooking fix is Sakura. So, still not sated after making some yakisoba the previous night, James and I headed off to Williston.

A grocery as well as restaurant, Sakura has a selection of Japanese soft drinks, including my childhood staple, Ramuné ($1.90). The glass bottle is sealed with a marble, and comes with a plunger to free the clear, sugary drink.

The sushi is always fresh, creative and unpretentious, but that night, we warmed up admirably with some good ol’ stick-to-your-ribs cookin’. I started with the vegetable croquette curry ($6.99), a bundle of mashed potatoes, carrots, peas and corn, deep-fried and slathered in the mild curry gravy which I consider my lifeblood. James began with a plate of gyoza ($4.25), pork and cabbage dumplings, with a refreshingly zingy vinegared soy sauce.

Next James went for the unagidon ($6.99), a bowl of rice covered with tender and slightly crispy, but very clean-tasting eel in a light teriyaki sauce. I was in the mood for some thick, bouncy udon and chose the beef noodles ($8.25). The broth was sweetly meaty, like a pho, but with the slight brine added by bonito flakes. Chunks of sweet and tangy Korean-style beef rested on top. When munching at Sakura I’ll often get the beef sans soup, with rice and a side salad ($10.99).

It’s just like my imaginary Japanese mama used to make.

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This article appears in The Sex Issue 2009.

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Former contributor Suzanne Podhaizer is an award-winning food writer (and the first Seven Days food editor) as well as a chef, farmer, and food-systems consultant. She has given talks at the Stone Barns Center for Agriculture's "Poultry School" and its...

2 replies on “Best Bites: Sakura Sushi & Kitchen”

  1. What a find! Thanks for the recommendations…. we ended up ordering the same dishes that you suggested – amazing! I like that you can see them cooking everything to order in the back, and I like that they have beer and sake available as well. Don’t forget to pick up some “Vermont Curry” sauce so you can get your fix at home (it’s one of Japan’s most popular brands!).

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