Another sushi restaurant in town (I think Kamakura?) claims to be the only \"Japanese-owned\" Japanese restaurant in Champaign. I've eaten at Sushi Kame on several occasions, and I have overheard the hostess speak to the other staff in Japanese several times. Although the owner's ethnicity might not be the sole indication of authenticity and quality, I certainly think Sushi Kame's menu provides sufficient evidence of the restaurant's potential.\n\nOn a winter night several months ago, I decided to stop into Sushi Kame for dinner. Cold fish doesn't alleviate the chill in one's bones, but I thought that a hearty bowl of udon (noodle soup) might do the job. As I took the menu from my waitress, I glanced at the list of daily specials and saw that sukiyaki was being served. This wasn't the type of trendy, flashy food that readily pervades American culinary consciousness, but home-style Japanese comfort food. When the waitress brought it out, I was surprised to see the slices of rare beef and shirataki noodles served in the traditional iron skillet used to prepare this dish. Like much of Japanese cuisine, the flavors of my dinner were simple and clean, but the meal was nevertheless hearty and perfect for winter.\n\nBecause other reviewers have already commented on the quality of sushi here, I will instead focus my review on some of the other dishes served at Sushi Kame. My favorite appetizer to order at Sushi Kame is the agedashi tofu, several pieces of lightly-breaded soft tofu in a classic Japanese dressing (soy sauce, dashi, mirin, etc.). If I have time to relax in the afternoon, I like to stop by and order one of their lunch bento boxes, which are fantastic deals as you are given: an entree of your choice (usually some kind of teriyaki), white rice, a salad (pretty modest, made mostly with iceberg lettuce), several pieces of tempura (I'm delighted when I get a piece of Japanese pumpkin with mine), and a few pieces of sushi. Meals also come with a small somen and cucumber salad (don't expect much; you can finish it in 2 bites) and miso soup (pretty standard). I absolutely adore the teriyaki at Sushi Kame, a mix of grilled meat (or tofu) and vegetables, including carrots, onions, green beans, and HUGE, DELICIOUS pieces of teriyaki-flavored GARLIC! I've also eaten the tonkatsu (Japanese fried pork chop), which is fairly simple and good enough for people who crave it.\n\nEveryone fosters a love for their own favorite Japanese town, and while Sushi Kame might not have the flair of KoFusion (with its dance club-inspired decor) or Kamakura (with its teppanyaki performances), I would recommend it as an elegant establishment that offers its own menu of worthy Japanese food.
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