We finally got to Masu Sushi & Robata. It has been quite the hot spot since it opened a few months ago and I’ve been pretty anxious to get there – mainly because of their Pork Belly Ramen.

The decor is amazing. It’s fun and interesting, hip and each wall has something interesting for your eyes.

I went into Masu with a few things on my mind: Pork Belly Ramen Noodles, Dried Squid (I know) and Miso Eggplant. I had miso eggplant somewhere in LA a few years ago and I’ve been obsessed ever since. Thankfully since Mercedes and Tyler joined us, we could order many, many items.

Their menu is broken down in a few parts: izakaya (small plates), sushi, robata (grilled meat/veggies) and noodles. We decided it would only be right to sample things from each section.

They have a great cocktail menu and while I stuck with wine, the Taster tried a gummi shochu sour, which actually tasted a lot like a gummi bear. I was a little jealous.

Starters included steamed Edamame with Smoked Salt, Shredded Dried Squid and Sautéed Shishito Peppers. The squid was very intruiguing and I’m so glad we tried it - it was essentially squid jerky. The Peppers were amazing - smoky and charred yet soft and not at all too spicy.

For our Sushi Course we ordered an Arctic Char roll and the Firecracker (shrimp tempura, crab, avocado, cucumber with spicy tuna and tempura flakes). The artic char had some really good, fresh herbs that added a very different flavor to it and the firecracker roll? Obviously by reading the ingredients you can tell it was amazing.

The Robata Course was interesting. Robata, much to my delight is all grilled meats and vegetables, not the fried food I was expecting. They are tiny little skewers – zucchini, eggplant, bacon-wrapped shrimp and bacon-wrapped quail egg. The vegetables were both outstanding and perfectly flavored, the shrimp was good, but standard and the Taster says that the bacon wrapped quail egg was “Nothing too special, but good.”

The noodles were a tad disappointing. The Pork Belly Ramen was good, but tasted quite bland to me, until I added a fair amount of sriracha. Maybe I hyped it up too much in my mind and was expecting too much?  The Tonkatsu Curry Ramen had a lot more flavor but I’d probably be more likely to try the yakisoba noodles next time.

We will definitely be back to Masu – it is in our neighborhood and I love the different and exciting options on the menu. And while it isn’t exactly cheap, sushi is never cheap when the Taster is involved.

Masu Sushi and Robata

330 East Hennepin Avenue
Minneapolis MN, 55414

phone	612.332.6278
fax	612.331.4705
info@masusushiandrobata.com

I’ve been trying to think of a way to combine popcorn and sriracha (my two favorites!) for one ridiculous snack. Don’t ask me why I never thought to google it – it just never occured to me. (This has sadly been like a year in the making.)

When the idea finally came to me, I realized how silly I had been! This was so simple, so not profound, so….right in front of my face, why hadn’t I thought of this before?!

I didn’t beat myself up too much, afterall, I had a new obsession to get working on. I rarely eat plain popcorn anymore. It’s most likely dusted with truffle salt, or malt vinegar salt, possibly bacon salt but never plain – and never with butter. (I pop with oil so it’s not necessary) When the thought of melted butter + sriracha drizzled over popcorn finally made it to my mind?

My new life began.

And yes, it is pretty much amazing.

Simply pop popcorn, melt butter and stir in desired amount of sriracha. I love spice so I do a ratio of about 1:1.

What do you put on your popcorn?