Selected restaurants

LITTLE ROCK — Weekly theme listings reflect

central Arkansas dining pos

sibilities across a spectrum

of settings and price ranges.

Restaurant reviewers' vis

its are anonymous and all

expenses are paid by the

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Bargain means a meal (with

out beverage or dessert) is typically less than $12. Moder

ate is $12 to $25. Expensive

is $25 and up. To read recent

restaurant reviews in their

entirety, visit

www2.arkansasonline.com/restaurants/

Japanese

GINA'S CHINESE KITCHEN & SUSHI BAR

14524 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, (501) 868-7775 At its new west Little Rock site, Gina Wu's cozy eatery combines a full sushi menu with an array of Chinese dishes to satisfy a wide range of tastes for Far Eastern fare.

Lunch, dinner daily.

Beer, wine. Reservations.

Moderate.

IGIBON JAPANESE FOOD HOUSE

11121 N. Rodney Parham Road, Little Rock, (501) 217-8888 With a friendly staff and a user-friendly menu with pictures, subdued Igibon is welcoming to Japanese food beginners as well as experts, serving traditional entrees, sushi and sashimi and more exotic fare than is typically served in showy steakhouses.Lunch, dinner Mon-Sat.

Beer, wine. Reservations.

Moderate.

KANPAI JAPANESE STEAK & SUSHI

4120 E. McCain Blvd., North Little Rock, (501) 945-9494 This North Little Rock Japanese restaurant offers sushi, traditional dinners and pleasant, if predictable, hibachi suppers and shows.

Lunch, dinner daily. Full bar.

Reservations. Moderate.

KOBE JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE

11401 Financial Centre Parkway, Little Rock, (501) 225-5999 Close seating spurs togetherness at the teppanyaki grills, where the chefs put on deft shows and The Feast (featuring filet mignon, shrimp, scallops and chicken) is the priciest extravaganza. But don't pass up the sushi bar.

Dinner daily. Full bar.

Reservations. Moderateexpensive.

MOUNT FUJI

10301 N. Rodney Parham Road, Little Rock, (501) 227-6498 Other newer, bigger, flashier Japanese restaurants may have mobbed the metro area, but sturdy Mount Fuji still stands, with varied sushi and entree menus offering traditional teriyaki, sashimi and tempura, as well as more exotic selections.

Lunch, dinner daily. Full bar.

Reservations (five or more people). Moderate.

SAMURAI JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE & SUSHI BAR

Shackleford Crossing shopping center, Shackleford Road and Interstate 430, Little Rock.

(501) 224-5533 The staff is welcoming and the decor is tony at this eatery specializing in sushi and hibachi dinners complete with all the trimmings as well as Japanese steakhouse shenanigans.

Lunch, dinner daily. Full bar.

Reservations. Moderateexpensive.

SASHIMI JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE

1900 Club Manor Drive, Suite 108, Maumelle, (501) 851-4700 A cut above the ordinary for hibachi dining - each entree item actually has its own flavor and a large portion of excellent hibachi-fried rice is part of the price. The sushi bar has tasty nigiri and inventive rolls.

Lunch, dinner Mon-Fri, dinner Sat, lunch Sun. Full bar.

Reservations (six or more).

Moderate.

SHOGUN JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE

2815 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, (501) 666-7070 That Shogun has been around a long time is evident in its consistent sushi and hibachi dinners, as well as its cozyto-cavelike atmosphere that doesn't possess the light, airy openness of newer competitors.

Dinner daily. Full bar.

Reservations. Moderate.