Robert B.
Yelp
If you want fresh sushi, take a vacation to Osaka(or better yet, the tiny island of Okinawa; just don't make the mistake of calling the locals in Okinawa "Japanese", you might get mugged). Consider that there is NO local fishing fleet bringing in seafood, the local catch is mostly salmon, caught by subsistence fishermen providing for their families(not selling it to restaurants). Consider that all the food served in Barrow's restaurants is flown in from Anchorage. Consider that even in Anchorage, it can be difficult to find fresh sushi. You have a recipe for problems. I'm not saying Osaka has bad sushi. I'm not saying Osaka has rotten, or spoiled sushi. What I am saying, is that you're taking a risk by eating here. There is literally no way to guarantee that the food they are serving you is fresh. In Okinawa, by comparison, the fish is caught less than 30 miles away in most cases. I know some people who can run that far in a matter of hours, and this fish is brought in via boat, and then via automobile. It's fresh. And if it isn't, there's more fresh fish brought in the next morning, and again, and again.... you get the picture. You can't get spoiled fish on Okinawa unless you want spoiled fish(they keep it in the trash).
I'll stop myself there to mention that I got sick at Osaka(yes, Osaka Restaurant, in Barrow, AK) by eating the WASABI. I'll apologize if it's a bit close-minded of me, but if you can't guarantee your wasabi is fresh, I'll pass on your "fresh" fish. Thanks.
The sushi I have eaten there was good, but it's not worth a case of the runs, and if I was traveling I would avoid it that much more. This goes for anyone serving sushi containing raw fish in Barrow, it's just too far to guarantee freshness. Fresh-frozen maybe, but not fresh. Plus, if you want fresh-frozen, and you like the flavor of sushi, go try some maktak(whale skin/blubber). You should be able to get some for free if you ask around at the bank(less than a block away), and just tell people you're visiting and you want to try it. If you're lucky, and you're visiting during the spring or fall whaling season, a crew may be serving. Whaling crews always serve up some of the catch, always cooked fresh, along with a dinner roll, for free to anyone in the community who comes to their home(check to see if anyone is 'serving', ask a local)
On the other hand, almost all of their other food is good. They make a very good chicken teriyaki, and the combination dinners which were common fare in Okinawa when I lived there are comparable here(just considerably more expensive, obviously). Tempura, good. Japanese salad, good. The unagi is good too! Unagi is freshwater eel, and that's served cooked(and it's savory and delectable, by the way). Gyoza(potstickers elsewhere), are delicious, steamed or fried. Soybeans(edamame) are at least as good as they are in most places in Japan. They also, like most restaurants in Barrow, serve some American cuisine, but if you're at a Japanese restaurant, I think you should try the Japanese food. Need I say more?
The wait staff are usually friendly, but will often hurry you out when you are done in the authentic Japanese style, for the same reason it happens in Japan. The establishment is small, and rush hour often brings more customers than there are tables.
Some will be disappointed to find you can't order any Japanese beers here, despite several posters promoting such beverages. Don't despair though, if you are reading this before you trip, you can plan ahead! City ordnance at the time of this writing allows any given traveler arriving in Barrow to import NO MORE than 1 liter of hard liquor(amounts for Beer and Wine vary according to alcohol content, City of Barrow local ordnance is posted online for your reading enjoyment) per trip. More than that is considered bootlegging. Your alcohol will be confiscated and you could be fined. For the record, Barrow is not "dry", or "wet". It's considered "damp". Bon appetit!