Selected restaurants

Weekly theme listings reflect a range of dining possibilities in central Arkansas, across a spectrum of settings and price ranges.

Restaurant reviewers’ visits are anonymous and all expenses are paid by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Bargain means a meal (without beverage or dessert) typically less than $12.

Moderate: $12-$25. Expensive: $25 and up. To read recent restaurant reviews in their entirety, visit arkansasonline.com/restaurants.

Japanese 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 that haven’t changed substantially under a still-recent change in ownership, subdued Igibon is welcoming to Japanese food beginners as well as experts, with 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 pleasing, 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 The excellent sushi bar no longer takes second place to the teppanyaki grills, where the Feast (featuring fi let mignon, shrimp, scallops and chicken) is the priciest and choicest extravaganza.

Dinner daily. Full bar.

Reservations. Moderate-expensive.

MT. FUJI 10301 N. Rodney Parham Road, Little Rock, (501) 227-6498 After more than a quarter century and the arrival of newer, bigger, fl ashier Japanese competitors, this restaurant, like the volcano it’s named for, continues to stand tall, with an excellent and varied Japanese menu and fi rst-rate sushi.

Lunch, dinner daily. Full bar. Reservations (fi ve or more people). Moderate.

OSAKA JAPANESE RESTAURANT 5501 Ranch Drive, Little Rock, (501) 868-3688 The subdued, pleasant restaurant tucked in a far-west, off-Cantrell Road shopping center, has a “wizard” behind the sushi bar, plus a good variety of traditional tempura and teriyaki dishes and a Mongolian Grill.

Lunch, dinner daily. Beer, wine, cocktails. Reservations. Moderate.

SAKURA 4011 E. Kiehl Ave., Sherwood, (501) 834-3546 ;

7307 Alcoa Road, Bryant, (501) 778-9585 An upscale dining experience is available at the original and Bryant locations of this multitasking Japanese restaurant, offering sushi and hibachi specialties.

Lunch, dinner daily. Beer, wine at Sherwood location.

Moderate.

SUSHI CAFE 5823 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock, (501) 663-9888 There is so much more than sushi on Sushi Cafe’s equally excellent, eclectic Asian-fusion menu, including pad thai, miso sea bass and even a Kobe hot dog.

Expanding the dining area hasn’t relieved long waits for tables, though.

Dinner daily Mon-Sat. Full bar. Reservations (large parties). Moderate-expensive.

WASABI 101 Main St., Little Rock, (501) 374-0777 Michael Choi’s Asian-fusion menu offers excellent and inventive sushi rolls (the bill of fare is still labeled “ProudSushi List”) and American, Japanese and Chinese entrees in a distinctly non-Asian downtown setting.

Lunch Mon-Fri, dinner Mon-Sat. Full bar. Reservations.

Moderate.