Takara Sushi and Sake Lounge

Dive In usually doesn’t venture far beyond the neighborhoods right around downtown Tampa, but we made an exception to head out to New Tampa to try Takara Sushi and Sake Lounge.

It was the first time, but it won’t be the last time.

Takara was worth the ride. The ambiance, the food, the great service, this gem is giving South Tampa sushi joints a run for their money.

But it’s not just sushi that is going to bring me back to Takara. Appetizers like chicken tatsu-age, garlic edamame, and pan fried pot stickers are a few other reasons I’ll be heading back. Not to mention the sushi tacos, a perfect mix of crunchy fried and fresh seafood — crab, grouper and tuna. Those surprising sushi tacos will have me running back for more… and bringing my girlfriends.

The sushi tacos are part of Tarkara’s new Thursday Ladies Night. The sushi tacos are only available on Thursdays along with a few sushi rolls made especially for ladies night and a list of other drink and food specials. So round up your friends and take a trip to the newest competitor in the Tampa sushi war — Takara Sushi and Sake Lounge.

Here are a few of my favorites you should try along with some sips of sake — especially the Ozeki Hana Awaka.

Chicken Tatsu-age

7-spice Japanese seasoned chicken served with spicy mayo

Sushi Taco – Crab

 Served with avocado, red onion, cucumber and Asian mango salsa

Crazy Tako Roll – Only Made on Ladies Night

Tempura octopus, avocado, red bell pepper, cucumber, rolled in seaweed & rice, topped with crab & smelt roe, served with sassy sauce

Crunchy Rainbow Roll

Crab, cucumber, & avocado rolled in seaweed & rice, topped with tuna, salmon, whitefish and wonton crisp,  served with eel sauce

DJ Roll

Crab salad, avocado, cucumber & cream cheese, wrapped in soy paper & rice,served panko style with eel sauce & yum yum sauce

Green Lantern Roll

Tuna, crab delight, mix greens, cucumber, red pepper, avocado, rolled in rice & soy paper, served with spicy ponzu

Ladies Night

Every Thursday Takara welcomes woman to enjoy sake, sushi, and savings.  From 7pm to close, ladies night takes over the lounge with a long list of specials in both food and drink.

• Half off appetizers, soups, and salads
• $5 Sushi Tacos (2 pcs each and served only on ladies night)
• $8 Specialty Rolls from selected menu
• Half off on House Hot Sake (small)
• Half off  Cabernet, Merlot, Chardonnay, Moscato, White Zinfandel, and Pinot Noir
• $4 Saketinis

Buy 1 bottle, get the second one 1/2 off (same brand) & 1/2 off select Wine & Sake Bottles that include:

• Ozeki Hana Awaka, Sparkling Sake – Bursting sweetness & fruity flavor
• Infused Flavored Sake (Fuji Apple | Honey Dew & Apple | Lychee | Strawberry | White Peach
• Shirakawago, Nigori –  Unfiltered, silky & semi sweet creamy flavor
• Bunraku, Junmai Ginjyo – Less refined, distilled with mountain water
• Gekkeiken, Horin – Highest quality sake, most polished

Follow Takara Sushi Tampa on Facebook and Twitter or get more information at www.TakaraSushiTampa.com.