The chefs at Soko Sushi & Sake Bar take two things seriously: exquisite food preparation and humor. The first is evident in their uncommon attention to detail. Their Chirashi platters don't simply display cuts of fresh fish, but present tuna and salmon rolled into delicate flower shapes amid a rainbow array of fish, shrimp, and fruit. They garnish dishes such as the chicken lettuce wrap and the pan-seared salmon with dainty orchid blooms, and they present sushi rolls like modern works of art accented with striking bamboo leaves.

But their specialty appetizers show Soko's more playful side. The Monkey Brain tempts curious diners with a tempura-fried avocado filled with crab meat, spicy tuna, sriracha sauce, eel sauce, and scallions, and the Heart Attack boasts an indulgent quartet of sushi rolls stuffed with jalapeño tempura, spicy tuna, and cream cheese.