Aji Kiji

"Aji Kiji is a takeout sushi spot that gives grocery store California rolls self-esteem issues. This place specializes in bamboo boxes of fish and rice that are almost too pristine to touch—each piece of buttery salmon, unagi, and toro glistens like jewels, and the sets all come with a rainbow of house pickles and an adorable fish-shaped soy sauce dispenser. They tend to sell out, so expect a wait and keep an eye on their Instagram for daily updates." - julia chen 1

"The owners of Daeho and chef Jin Lim of Bansang quietly opened the sushi takeout restaurant Aji Kiji on Fillmore Street. Taking over the former Avery space, Aji Kiji serves gorgeously arranged sushi boxes at surprisingly low prices (especially given the quality). On the higher end of the price spectrum, diners can pick up a 10-piece sushi omakase with a six-piece negi toro maki for $54; sake don, or sushi rice topped with both fresh and torched salmon, goes for $26; meanwhile, a classic, 10-piece sushi roll will go for $13. There are no seats at the restaurant, as it’s strictly to-go, so prepare to take your sushi treasure elsewhere." - Dianne de Guzman, Lauren Saria

"Casual sushi is having a moment right now (see The Roll, Hokkaido Sashimi Marketplace, and Oishinbo) as evidenced by places like Aji Kiji in Japantown. The takeout-only spot by the people behind Daeho and Bansang has a range of omakase sets, nigiri, and chirashi bowls, ranging from $13 to $54, all available for you to pick up and enjoy from the couch in your sweats set. " - ricky rodriguez, julia chen 1

"Takeout sushi no longer has to be a smushed, grocery store cooler affair—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. " - julia chen 1, ricky rodriguez, patrick wong

"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