I'm a fan....a HUGE fan of Aoki & I'm not ashamed to admit it.

Having been to Aoki countless times from the time they opened till now, I've never been let down....not even once.

I swear by this restaurant so much I've converted many friends into fans as well. Friends who used to swear by Tatsuya & Nogawa no longer pledge their allegiance to them & have since switched camps!

When I go to Aoki, I hardly ever order cooked items but on the few occasions that I have, I've ordered kinki fish, miso soup & udon. I can't say that they were outstanding but then again, it might be because I compared it to the standards of the sushi & sashimi they churn out there.

If you're there on a budget, I suggest that you go for the chirashi which gives you a generous portion of sashimi to satiate a craving. The rice in itself is a stunner. I don't know what he puts in the rice but it sure as hell beats the rice in other chirashis I've had.

On the other hand, if you're a glut like me, I always have a few firm favourites that I order & allow the chef free rein for the remainder of the meal.

A few of my must-haves include the seared toro sushi, white fish with shaved truffles and/or truffle oil (depending on truffle seasonality) & another scallop dish which they do wonderfully. I also like the fish sperm which I've tried prepared in a few different ways including grilled & as a cold dish.

Nothing at Aoki ever disappoints but be sure to bring a credit card with a decent limit on it.