"Takeout sushi doesn’t have to be a smushed, grocery store cooler affair—just look at the pristine boxes coming out of Aji Kiji. The Fillmore spot specializes in to-go bamboo boxes of nigiri and chirashi that are plated with the precision of a Type A seventh grader doing a color-by-number. The $54 omakase box comes with ten snuggled-up nigiri, plus negitoro maki and their house soy in an adorable fish-shaped bottle. For a cheaper option with the same high-quality fish, go for the bara chirashi ($36), a colorful unagi, salmon, and toro-fest over rice, dotted with edamame and wiggly cubes of tamago. Get there around 11am when they open to ensure you get a box waiting in the refrigerated display case, since they typically sell out within an hour and a half. photo credit: Melissa Zink photo credit: Melissa Zink Food Rundown photo credit: Melissa Zink Omakase A lovely box of the greatest hits, and the best way to go if you get overwhelmed by the options in the display case. It’s got ten pieces of nigiri, a negitoro roll, plus crunchy pickles, wasabi, ginger, and soy sauce. You’ll never look at pre-made sushi the same way again. photo credit: Melissa Zink Bara Chirashi This box of mixed fish over rice tends to sell out the quickest, which tracks—it’s on the lower end of the price spectrum here, but still features a rainbow of phenomenal raw fish and house pickles. It’s a great deal for about $20 less than the omakase, so if you can get your hands on it, you should. photo credit: Melissa Zink Sake Don Anyone who would consider getting a salmon tattooed on their inner thigh should zero in on this box. Seared and raw salmon slices are draped over a bed of rice that tastes like it took a cold plunge in sweetened vinegar." - Julia Chen
