Ken Sushi Workshop: Sushi Extrodinaire

Move over Station Sushi and Sushi Ota, there's a new place in town that will make you up your game.  Thank you, Barbie, for introducing me to my new favorite sushi restaurant in North County.  Ken Sushi Workshop is located on El Camino Real, just south of the 56 (near Ruth Chris).  It's a destination, so everyone there is a serious sushi eater.  It's been open for about 18 months, and has been a hit since it opened it's doors.  Ken, the owner, is always there, serving up the freshest and most creative dishes around.  Like the restaurant itself, the food is beautiful.  Simple, elegant and delicious.  Since Barbie had been there many times and practically knew the menu by heart, we let her do the ordering.  Here's some of what we had.

We began with a little crispy rice cake that had been fried, topped with spicy salmon and avocado.  So simple, fresh and delicious.  We then had a salad, a mixture of greens, veggies and sashimi, in a wonderful soy dressing.  Next, we had several cut rolls, one in particular that I couldn't eat, but wanted to in the worst way.  It had crab and shrimp inside, and was topped with a crispy green tea crunch.  Because I am allergic to shrimp I was afraid to eat the whole roll, so I tried to pick out the shrimp and eat the rest.  I wanted to taste the green tea crunch that was sprinkled on top, and I'm glad I did.  It was so unusual, and really made the dish pop.  Vivian, another of my sushi friends, ordered collar of Hamachi, or was it Hamachi cheeks?  Whatever it was, I can't wait to order it again.  The collar of the Hamachi is cooked to a delicate tenderness, falling off the bone.  It's served with a soy dipping sauce.  After eating the fish, everyone wants to suck on the bones, it's that good.

Ken Sushi Workshop serves all the usual sushi dishes, but Ken does magic, by taking standard dishes and enhancing them.  His creative juices are always flowing, and he will always come up with a new and interesting dish for you.  He offers two fixed price meals, one for $120 and one for $150.  Yes, you read that correctly.  These meals consist of 10-12 courses, all uniquely different.  The best place to sit for one of the special meals is at the sushi bar, where you can watch Ken at work, and interact with him.  I'd love to try that for a very special occasion.

Prices at Ken Sushi are a little on the high side, especially for the specialty dishes, but well worth it.  Six of us had lunch there recently, and the price with tax and tip, was $24per person.  We did not eat all that much, but we certainly didn't walk away hungry.  Next time you're in the mood for some really good sushi, and price is not a priority, try Ken Sushi.  It's a winner.