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| - I used to go to Chaya pretty frequently, but after a series of so-so to below-average experiences around 2006, I got out of the habit of going. On occasion, though, when I read another review extolling its virtues, I'd contemplate going back. It'd be awfully convenient to have a neighborhood sushi place.
Tonight I returned to the familiar cozy little dining room once more. Almost everything is as I remembered (the price went up, but I shouldn't begrudge them for keeping up with inflation). The best thing about the meal is still the fried chicken that comes with the dinner set.
Unfortunately, the negative aspects also are as I remembered. The salad dressing is overly watery, and the sushi combo is still a let-down. The selection is pretty run-of-the-mill sushi fare: tuna, salmon, shrimp, some roes, and eel. The cut ought to be fresh, as it is purportedly flown in, but the taste was just not there. The fatty tuna pieces did not have that melt in your mouth feel nor did they have that suculant sweet taste. Instead, they looked a bit dried out and tasted bland.
Overall, I was disappointed. I would have liked to return to the days when I had a reliable neighborhood sushi joint. Well, perhaps in another three years, I'll give Chaya another shot.
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