Tachibana Japanese Restaurant in Lexington 🍣🎌

Okay, finally sharing my long-overdue foodie throwback from Lexington! Even though I’m back in Pittsburgh now (and busy with my summer internship 🥲), I still have lots of tasty memories — and photos — to share. Here’s my take on Tachibana, a surprisingly great Japanese spot in a smaller city! 🦐 Sashimi Platter: So fresh and flavorful! Especially the sweet shrimp — big, tender, silky, and smooth. It melts like a delicate dance on your tongue 🍤💃. No fishy taste, just pure sweetness. I even ordered a second round! 🐂 Grilled Beef with Scallions: Delicious savory sauce! The beef was a bit overcooked, but the scallions inside were tasty. 🦑 Fried Calamari: Pretty standard — not too chewy or fishy. Solid appetizer! 🐙 Whole Grilled Squid: Just okay… The texture was too firm and starchy, not the bouncy, QQ kind I was hoping for. 🍢 Chicken Skewers: Big NO 🙅🏻♀️ — skip these. Dry and underwhelming. 🧡 Agedashi Tofu: A MUST-TRY! This dish is one of my benchmarks for authentic Japanese food, and Tachibana nailed it. Fried soft tofu in a savory broth with a softened crispy coating — uniquely moist and delicious. 🍜 Inari Udon: Sweet inari tofu + flavorful broth = light yet satisfying. Not overly sweet — I loved it! Makes me crave inari sushi too 🍙. 🍝 Yakisoba: Not my favorite — too many bell peppers 😅, and the flavor leaned Americanized rather than traditional Japanese. 🍛 Tonkatsu Don: Decent but not mind-blowing. A reliable choice if you’re craving katsu, but not a standout. More Lexington (and soon Pittsburgh!) food posts coming… Stay tuned! 👩🍳✨ #TachibanaLexington #JapaneseFood #Lexington#Sashimi #FoodReview #KYFoodie