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FOODIE
Sushi’s A Sure Bet
At Hikudo
By Peter Sloggatt/ foodie@longislandernews.com
In the restaurant capital of Long Island, there’s no
shortage of restaurants that can satisfy a sushi craving.
In just a few blocks on Huntington’s Main Street, there
are no less than a half-dozen sushi bars, each with its own
flavor. The newcomer on the block, Hikudo Asian Bistro and
Sushi is celebrating its first year at the former Imperial
Chinese Restaurant. With a sharp sushi chef, experienced cooks
in the kitchen and always an owner on premises, Hikudo has
all the ingredients for success.
Owners Lucy Qiao and Jason He – previously partners at
a Rockville Centre restaurant – renovated the space with
simple lines using warm wood tones, and added the all important
sushi bar at the back of the room. From the half-dozen seats
at the bar you can watch chef Alvin Chen carve fresh fish
into magic.
My usual orders at Hikudo generally waffle between the Sushi
or Sashimi platters, depending on whether or not I want rice.
For neophytes, Sushi is raw fish on sticky rice; Sashimi is
the fish alone. The Sushi Regular (seven pieces of sushi and
tuna roll, $17) or Sushi Deluxe (10 pieces and a California
roll, $20) are more than enough for one person and served
with soup or salad. Sashimi platters (12 pieces, $18; 18 pieces,
$22) are likewise preceded by soup or salad.
For those ordering from the kitchen, there are a half-dozen
appetizers from the sushi bar to get things rolling. Sashimi
Jalapeno ($10) tops yellowtail, tuna and salmon slabs with
a spicy hot pepper slice. Pepper Tuna ($13.50) might suit
those who shy from raw fish; the pepper-crusted tuna is pan-seared,
sliced thin and served with a complex dark sauce that is sweet,
with heat, and tangy, all at once. Adventurers might try the
Saigon Spicy Tuna ($7) with avocado wrapped in Vietnamese
rice paper.
For Sushi and Sashimi aficionados who like to order by the
piece, the offerings include Tuna, Red Snapper, Mackerel,
Unagi, Sea Trout, Scallop, Squid and more (two pieces per
order, $5-6). Classic hand rolls start at $4 for the crab
roll to $6.50 for spicy yellowtail; chef’s special rolls
run $10.50 to $16 and include what you’d expect from
any sushi house.
My recent visit began with what in another restaurant the
chef would call an amuse buche- a palate tickler, in this
case a small appetizer of shaved fluke fin topped with egg
roe and served on cucumber strips. We Foodies enjoy that sort
of extra attention, and it gave me something to nosh on while
he prepared my main course, a Sashimi platter of tuna, salmon,
my favorite white tuna, rosettes of fluke topped with flying
fish egg, and striped bass, all artfully arranged with carrot
shreds, greens and a curvy carved lemon.
There’s a kitchen back there, too, and Hikudo’s
cooks bring years of experience from behind the lines at some
of the area’s biggest Asian eateries. Standout entrees
— Thai Basil Duck or Orange Duck ($15.50); Prawns and
Vegetable Tempura Platter ($16.50); and Crispy Grand Marnier
Prawns with Honey Walnut Sauce ($14.50).
Vegetarians will find plenty on the menu, and Hikudo’s
staff (generally an owner on quiet weeknights) are attentive
and accommodating. After many visits, the fish has always
been fresh and the atmosphere quiet and welcoming. What more
could one ask for?
Hikudo
Asian Bistro and Sushi
329 Main Street, Huntington
631-421-4726
www.hikudo.com
Cuisine: Asian and Sushi
Atmosphere: Warm, casual Asian
Price range: Inexpensive
Hours: Mon-Thurs, 11-10;
Fri-Sat, 11:30-11;
Sun 4-10
Main
Menu
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