Sushi Tama on Sixth

I don’t know how long Sushi Tama has been here, but it seems like it’s been a very long time by restaurant standards.  Once, back in the early nineties, a man and his son approached a friend and me as we were walking near UPS.  The son was very obviously on a college search trip.  They had a very definite Southern California look to them.  Maybe it was the hair.  Maybe it was the attitude.  I lived there once.  It seemed familiar.  Anyway, these two approached us with a smug look on their faces and asked if there was any place nearby that they could get some sushi.  Without skipping a beat, we pointed down Union, told them to turn right, and you’d see the pink sign on your right just past Proctor. 

They looked shocked.  We told them to ignore the service station conversion look of the exterior.  The interior was simple and nice with rice paper windows and a sushi bar against the back wall.  The sushi has always been good.

They continued to look at us in shock, thanked us, and went on their way.  We heard an “I’m surprised.  This is Tacoma.” from one of them as they walked down the street.

So now I hear that the pink Sushi Tama sign is gone.  In its place is something new.  Something that lights up.  Something black.  That’s crazy.  It changes my world.  I had to see it for myself. 

This is a long introduction to a simple conclusion.  We went to Sushi Tama last night and found that, in spite of a new sign, the place is still the same on the inside.  It’s very comforting.  The same sushi chef is behind the counter.  The sushi and sashimi platter was good as always.  The long list of appetizers haven’t changed and simply seem perfect.  The miso soup, the spider rolls, the unage…. Mmmmm. 

We’ve visited many of the other more visible and popular sushi restaurants in Tacoma.  We’ve found a few good things.  Then, just when we think we’re hooked, some unfortunate experience involving the food forces us to reconsider.  One incident is bad.  Two incidents and we’re done. 

Sushi Tama has always been good to us.  It’s not the fanciest or the slickest sushi place, but it gives us our fix and its familiarity is comforting.