🍙✨ Sado: Unrivaled Japanese Cuisine in St. Louis 🇯🇵

I’m declaring Sado the Japanese food ceiling in our little STL “village” 🍵✨! What I love most is their plating—every dish feels like a pleasant surprise, offering a feast for both the taste buds and the eyes. 🥢 My Top Recommendations 🦪 Uni Nigiri At $24 per piece, it’s a splurge—but it has to be my first pick. I hesitated a little when ordering, but the moment I took a bite, it melted instantly, sliding down my throat before I could even fully process the flavor. Its texture is as smooth and creamy as butter, and every mouthful bursts with rich, natural sweetness. It’s like a quick trip to the seaside with just one bite 🌊. 🔥 Smoked Masu Nigiri 🐟🍃 This was the best nigiri of the night! The trout is lightly smoked, with an enticing caramel hue on the surface. The fish itself is tender and bouncy—first, you get a subtle smoky aroma, then the fish’s natural fat melts gently in your mouth. Compared to regular sashimi nigiri, this smoked version leaves a way more lasting impression. 🥩 Wagyu Tartare 🌿🍋 The most surprising and my favorite dish of all! As someone who’s obsessed with beef tartare, I’m officially “locking in” with Sado’s version 🔒. It preserves the beef’s original, fresh flavor, while the house-made sauce adds a sweet, refreshing note that cuts through any richness. Paired with the crispy nori base—whoever invented this combination is a genius! 🥚 Chawanmushi (Japanese Steamed Egg Custard) 🍵 St. Louis has been unusually cold this year, and as someone from southern China, I was freezing—so ordering this seafood chawanmushi felt like the perfect choice. Its texture was exactly as I imagined: silky and smooth. As soon as it was placed on the table, I could smell the warm, savory stock, and I almost didn’t want to scoop it with a spoon. Every bite carries the rich umami of kelp stock; a bowl like this on a cold day is pure comfort 💛✨. 🍨 Neri Goma Semifreddo 🌰🍦 This dessert gave our meal the perfect ending! I fell in love with semifreddo—this Italian-style semi-frozen treat blended with rich black sesame is simply divine ✨. Its texture sits between ice cream and mousse, and the sweetness is just right—absolute perfection for wrapping up the meal 😋. 🍣 Nigiri & Sashimi We ordered a variety based on personal taste, so I won’t go through each one individually—just pick whatever suits your preferences! 📍 Restaurant Info 🎎 Sado📍 5201 Shaw Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110 ✨💕 If you love Japanese food, you have to give this place a try! Don’t forget to like and save this post for later! #StLouis #StLouisLife #StLouisRestaurantHunt #JapaneseFoodTour #JapaneseCuisine #HiddenGemRestaurant #BeautifulMealsIEaten #StudyAbroadRestaurantHunt #AmbianceRestaurant #NorthAmericanLife