Sushi seems to be the talk of the town lately, especially around campus. In fact, it has been one of the most popular nouvelle cuisines for a number of years. Personally, I find sushi to be more of an artistic talent than a delicious, unique entrCB)e. I get goose-bumps every time I’m introduced to a new innovative sushi roll.
Every ingredient is charismatically displayed in order to produce a beautiful interpretation of rainbows or dragons-with sushi, anything is possible. However, as a college student, finding the affordable sushi restaurant can often be the problem. I find that the restaurant is either too expensive for my budget, or the sushi is far too terrible to even consider paying $12 per roll. Yet, in terms of both taste and price, Hapa Sushi finds a compromise.
Hapa Sushi is a modern and chic restaurant that appeals to most individuals who are looking to spend an enjoyable evening (or even a pleasant midi). The overall ambiance screams for brazen attention. In fact, from the moment that you walk into the restaurant you automatically feel as though you have left Denver and have moved into a West Coast city. The general layout of Hapa is also intricate and unique. There are separate rooms for dining and sitting at the bar.
Point-blank, sushi is an experimental food group. I find that if you continue to eat the same roll over and over again without some variety, it loses its flavor and pizzazz. At Hapa, innovative sushi ideas are their claim to fame.
To begin, you must try one of their amazing appetizers. Two of my personal favorites are the Tuna Taro Poke and the Spicy Tuna Nachos. Each appetizer is about $9. The Tuna Taro Poke is an inimitable dish. It is a combination of Hawaiian-style tuna served over a seared taro cake. For those of you who don’t know, taro is a type of potato, which is thinly sliced then baked to form a crispy crepe.
The Tuna Taro Poke is finished with a dollop of cucumbers and yuzu sour cream. Its striking presentation is too perfect to touch. The Spicy Tuna Nachos on the other hand, combines two opposite worlds, Mexican and Japanese. The spicy tuna is combined with mango salsa, fresh guacamole and sour cream. It is then served over a bed of delicious fresh flour tortilla chips. Though it sounds odd that this recipe is a mix of raw fish and tortilla chips, you will be surprised when you dive into this rather scrumptious meal.
Normally, when I dine out for sushi I always love to taste the strangest roll on the menu. Granted I love the traditional tuna and salmon roll, but why order something you can get everywhere when there is something different on the menu? For instance, Hapa’s Tootsie Roll is a brilliant concoction that I wish I could call my own. The roll combines fresh water eel, cucumbers, sweet soy and cream cheese. Without the cream cheese the Tootsie would lose its oomph. The Tootsie has reached the top ten sushi rolls on my list of fabulous.
Typically, when I decide I want to eat sushi there is always something on the menu that sounds too absurd to try. At Hapa they feature Orgasm Roll is outstanding (no pun intended). It is a combination of a classic California roll, which is wrapped in salmon, topped off with sweet soy and a cream sauce, then broiled to perfection. On average, these rolls range in price from $7 to $9.
Hapa Sushi is located in Cherry Creek North. Their address is 2780 E. 2nd Ave. It is open on weekdays from 11:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. From Thursday to Saturday they open at 11:30 a.m. and close when the restaurant empties. As a safe bet, I recommend that you make a reservation by calling (303) 355.3449. Now, indulge.
