Buckhead
Taka Sushi and Passion
God-dawg, somebody be a witness: This is the best sushi in town. (Side note: It’s also the best full name of a restaurant, maybe ever. As the website explains, “It is inspired by Barry Manilow’s famous song ‘Copacabana’ in which he sings of ‘Music and Passion.’”). Enter the Pharr Road Japanese-home-like digs and prepare to be enlightened by Chef Taka Moriuchi. Born in Hiroshima, he moved to Atlanta in the ‘90s, where he has studied under Chef Soto (of the once-wondersome, now-closed Soto Sushi) and partnered with Chef Kevin Rathbun on the beautiful, but short-lived Buckhead Life early aughts anthem, Bluepointe (Rest in Power). Sushi, sashimi, nigiri, izakaya, fresh salads, Japanese pudding, and much more—Taka is fresh and tongue-popping, at prices that try not to put the lesser person in debt. One more thing: Chef Taka's blog is flames and if you've been searching for inspirational words from someone who truly respects the hustle, Chef's posts might be the scriptures you've been seeking.