Although vegetarian sushi might sound a bit like carb-free pizza, the chefs at this tiny Gourmet Ghetto favorite magically turn fishless Japanese into a delicious treat. It’s not just the limited vegetarian options of miso soup, vegetable tempura, and kappa maki you find everywhere else, but a whole new assortment of items designed to satisfy a noncarnivore’s palate. Highlights include the soba salad (a cold noodle dish topped with a colorful rainbow of fruits and vegetables) and the utterly addictive Cha-Ya roll (a sushi roll stuffed with asparagus, avocado, yam, and carrots, and then fried in tempura). You don’t have to be a vegetarian to appreciate Cha-Ya’s unique creations, but the number of yummy options can be almost overwhelming if you are. Luckily, Cha-Ya offers a top-ten favorites list to help narrow the choices. The one downside is that the restaurant is simply too delicious for its own good. It’s ridiculously popular given the cramped quarters, and there’s always a wait. Consider take-out as a timesaving option.
Readers’ Pick:
Cha-Ya Vegetarian Japanese Restaurant
