Tiga Sushi & Asian Bistro - Salem, OR

 It was time for another scheduled service on our vehicle, and so we headed to the dealership in Salem, accepting their gracious offer of a loaner car while they performed routine inspections and repairs.  By this time it was noonish, and we quickly went off in search of what we hoped would be a splendid lunch spot that would help us forget about the impending service bill.  We drove through Salem's core business and government area and over to the convention center, where we spotted Tiga; we looked at each other, agreed that a sushi lunch could be just the nourishment that we needed, and took a chance on this unfamiliar restaurant, hoping that it would turn out to be perfect.  And it was.    
                                                                                                

The outside of the building may look just a little dated, but the interior decor is understated and the place is absolutely spotless.  Our waitress (who is married to the chef) is charming and ingratiating.  The menu is varied and the items appealing, with lunch options that range from curry to katsu, noodles, tempera and sushi.  Tiga offers the traditional sushi rolls along with a score of very creative options such as the Halibut Lover (halibut tempura, avocado, cucumber topped with seared salmon and lemon slices), all at very affordable prices.

Steven’s always more adventurous in a sushi restaurant than I am and opted for the day’s special roll.  Within minutes it was delivered by the chef himself, beautifully positioned in a proper fashion with an appearance that was only surpassed by its flavor combinations.  Steven pronounced it "Yummy," rolling his eyes for emphasis.

My selection of the Chicken Katsu was somewhat conventional.  Yet, the plate was outstanding, a real winner, arriving with a generous salad, a crispy Japanese style fried chicken cutlet coated with panko, tonkatsu dipping sauce, steamed rice and several pieces of a delicate and tender veggie tempura.  Marvelous.

Too soon it was time to head back to the dealer.  But we know that we’ll be returning to Tiga on a regular basis.  It’s within minutes of I-5 and will most certainly be a convenient and frequent lunch stop in the future both on our way to and from Mt. Hood.

 

Tiga Sushi & Asian Bistro

260 Liberty Street
Salem, OR 97301

503.339.7846