Like every major city on the West Coast, Seattle has no shortage of Asian influence in its local flavor. Like burger chains dot the Midwest, teriyaki shops and noodle stands are ubiquitous in the Emerald City. For fans of sushi, this presents something of a problem. There's nothing in the world like good sushi, but nothing quite as terrible as bad sushi. So, how can visitors and locals find their go-to sushi spot in Seattle? Well, they can ask around, or they can just cut out the exploration and head to Wasabi Bistro in Belltown.

At 2311 Second Avenue, the heart of downtown just south of the iconic Space Needle and Seattle Center, Wasabi Bistro is a gem nestled in a colorful neighborhood. It sports lively, modern interiors and a relaxing atmosphere good for a romantic outing, a dinner with friends, or an indulgent work-week lunch.

The key to great sushi is freshness. At Wasabi, the catch of the day comes cool and smooth. In essence, it tastes the way fish ought to taste, whether cooked or not. With a wide variety of classic sushi and more innovative, modern recipes, Wasabi encourages return visits.

The busy lunchtime rush is a great time to grab a table. Wasabi's lunch specials are generous and varied. I enjoyed Lunch B, a sushi plate with tuna, yellowtail, salmon, albacore, shrimp, and a full Seattle Roll. For those unfamiliar with Seattle's namesake sushi, it's a roll with salmon, avocado, cucumber and tobiko. All the lunch specials come with a bowl of miso soup and are very affordable.

For those who enjoy Japanese cuisine but aren't ready to embrace the raw stuff yet, Wasabi has a respectable menu of cooked entrees. There's the requisite pan fried salmon dish, a very affordable King crab udon and an indulgent wagyu flat iron steak.

For a flat rate, sushi-eating patrons can put themselves in the hands of the chef. This guarantees the freshest, most choice selections and is a great way for newcomers to explore the many unique flavors sushi and sashimi have to offer.

Wasabi also has an impressive dessert menu. While it features restaurant classics like chocolate lava cake and creme brulee, there's real intrigue in specialty house plates like the green tea tempura. It's a scoop of green tea ice cream wrapped in cake, then fried in tempura batter. For those who enjoy fusion-style concepts, the green tea tiramisu is a mildly decadent way to end the meal.

Like any good sushi restaurant, Wasabi has an extensive sake menu. For those patrons going for quantity, the house sake comes cheap and hot. More refined palates will enjoy one of the fine imports from farther down the list, or a sake-based cocktail.

Whatever your tastes, Wasabi Bistro is a top-notch fixture in the Seattle dining scene. This summer it is celebrating its ninth year in business with no signs of slowing down. Seattleites will find it free of the dense tourism crowds that work their way into most of the restaurants in Belltown and visitors can relax at an excellent spot with plenty of local comfort. If you've never been to Wasabi Bistro, give it a try, and if you're a regular, please keep going.