I'm not a sushi expert by any stretch of the imagination. I like sushi, but my experiences at such restaurants all seem to blur together. This may speak to how average most are, but only two in the region have ever stuck out. The first is Sushi Ken, located along Chandler Blvd in Ahwatukee. I'll save that for another review but, if you have the opportunity, be sure to check it out.
The other is Yasu. My wife and I had an impromptu dinner here a few weeks back and very much enjoyed it. We actually had one order of California roll as an appetizer and the first quality I noticed was how fresh it tasted, much unlike the kind that comes in a plastic carton from Basha's. Upgrade. The accompanying miso soup had a striking taste without being overwhelming.
For our entree, we shared the rib eye steak. The steak itself was nice and tender but the highlight were the included dipping sauces. Delicious!
The restaurant itself is a little cramped for my liking, but it has a very cool, laid-back vibe. The sushi chefs were busy chatting up a couple at the bar, talking about their favorite items on the menu and just making it feel even more pleasant. Yasu makes me happy I moved to NE Phoenix.