Review: Naked Fish, South Lake Tahoe, CA

When visiting Lake Tahoe, one does not think “great sushi.” However, Naked Fish goes the extra mile. Ask any local, and the response is always the same, “That place is the best!” Naked Fish is known for its sashimi-grade fish and imaginative original creations. They sources their ingredients from over 200 miles away. They send a driver to pick up their precious variety of premium grade fish to guarantee quality control.

Naked Fish South Lake Tahoe

Mindy, our energetic server, was so much fun. She actually sat down with me and went through the massive menu, describing what makes each selection special. While my husband was photographing the restaurant, which had funky urban and pop art everywhere, Mindy and I planned our meal. I just loved the whole vibe of Naked Fish. This was truly the fine art of sushi dining.

I ordered a cold Kikusui Funaguchi, which is a Nama Genshu type of sake. This was excellent. It gave me quite a buzz. Mindy also brought us some miso soup with a side of Shittake mushrooms. Since my husband is not a fan of fungi, I dumped them all in, and it was a superb addition. The union enhanced that fermented savory umami flavor. 

Specialty Sushi Rolls

The dishes all seemed so unusual, such as an appetizer called Sliders. Prime cuts of tuna, salmon and hamachi replaced the nori (seaweed) as they engulfed a mound of snow crab and avocado. Then they were topped with tobiko (fish roe). These delicate fish wraps woke up my taste buds. The smooth texture in my mouth was layered and complex. I loved all of them, but the yellowtail was my favorite. That buttery flavor with the snow crab and avocado was simply magnificent. It was served with fried asparagus which was also super tasty. 

Our second appetizer, Pork Belly arrived at the table. I was a bit reluctant to order something other than sushi, but this was pretty special as well. Looking around the room, it seemed like half the patrons included this in their mix. While the slow roasted pork belly had a zesty seasoning as well a slight crunch on the outside, it was tender inside. It sat on a pile of miso apple butter sesame slaw. I loved this as well. It was both sweet and tangy.

Naked Fish Entrees

Our entrees were just as outstanding. Since I mentioned to Mindy that I loved eel, she recommended the SLO Roller. Inside the roll was spicy crab. Then a striking design of avocado and fried eel crowned the unique roll. It was served with tiger sauce and a sweet soy glaze. This dish was exquisite. The combo of the eel and avocado was wonderful. I often select this when eating sushi. However, adding spicy crab took it to the next level. That overall umami aftertaste further complemented the scrumptious flavor bomb. 

Last but not least we were blown away by the Crunchy Spicy Tuna. Chef Glen (left in below photo) came to our table and personally delivered this one. He is a true culinary artist. Each of the dishes was a stunning work of art. However, he outdid himself with the Spicy Tuna. The plating was sculptural and visually stunning. Due to a dietary restriction of mine, he painstakingly recreated the dish. As you can see from the photo, it’s simply gorgeous. 

The Naked Fish Team

Now let’s talk about the taste. Yowzah!! The tuna was so fresh. As the main attraction, it included three different types of tuna. Each offered a slightly different mouthfeel. In addition to the flavor, it was firm, lean and so supple. Served atop crunchy rice squares, with a tiger and sweet soy sauce, the Crunchy Spicy Tuna was off the charts. A gorgeous presentation, it was a perfect grand finale. 

Ceasar, another sushi chef who was not working that night, is a prolific artist. Many of his paintings are exhibited throughout the restaurant. I really enjoyed hisJapanese Pop Art (Superflat). It speaks to the creative spirit which helps set Naked Fish apart from all other sushi restaurants. See image below. 

If you are visiting South Lake Tahoe and love sushi, make a reservation now at Naked Fish. They also have a second location in Paso Robles. Apparently there are several restaurants with the same name across the U.S. So make sure you visit the correct one. Naked Sushi, 3940 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, CA, 96150; https://www.thenakedfish.com