Tasty Places :: Atun Sushi

CLOSED

I’ve always wanted to live in one of those neighborhoods tucked behind the hip, well-frequented, restaurant-and-boutique-lined corridors, calling myself a local – walking to my favorite bar just minutes from home when the masses have traveled 20, 30 minutes, an hour for the experience. My neighborhood is not quite there yet, but it’s sure been trying with recent additions along Atlantic Avenue in Long Beach’s Bixby Knolls. It’s most recent restaurant launched to much excitement and anticipation a couple of weeks ago – Atun is a sushi restaurant that just stepped up the food slangin’ game in my ‘hood.

Since I’m no sushi sophisticate, I asked the homie Kristina to join me for dinner on Black Friday, a day I’d spent relaxed and happy, still deep in a boozy, tryptophan-induced semi-coma from the previous day’s festivities. But I figured it was time to zip up the pants, fasten the bra, and get up out of the bed for some time away from home. A good decision – I might have gone another day or so without showering or brushing my teeth otherwise (it’d been a while since I’d had a proper veg-out day).

Also a good decision because Atun was quite good.

I tried two of their yakitori selections (chicken and salmon), an appetizer (soft shell crab), and a roll (crunchy). I also took a teeny-weeny-tiny bite of Kristina’s yellow tail jalapeno just for fun (don’t judge – you know I have picky genes), and I didn’t hate it. While their crunchy roll is the best one I’ve had in my limited crunchy roll life (about 8 months), I have to say that my favorite bite of the night came from my chicken yakitori – so umami, so firm. And somewhat salty after a little dunk in soy sauce (again, please hold your judgment).

So while the Atlantic Corridor is not quite Belmont Shore, it’s a nice little place to take a walk, especially with Atun as an option. I have a feeling this is just the spark that my neighborhood needs to become another hotspot in the LBC.

Not too hot, however. I don’t want to have to battle for a seat after my five minute stroll from home.

Atun Sushi
4262 Atlantic Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90807
562.513.3243