Readers’ Pick:

Osaka Japanese Bistro

4205 W. Sahara Ave. 10920 S. Eastern Ave., Henderson

Readers frequently pick Osaka Japanese Bistro in this category. We figure it’s because there are east-side and west-side locations, for all those who are allergic to crossing Interstate 15, and because they offer sushi, teppanyaki and menu items such as tempura and teriyaki, so there’s something for nearly everyone. Or it could be just because the food is great. I Love Sushi finishes second.

Our Pick:

Raku

5030 Spring Mountain Road

Three words: amazing fried tofu. If Raku can make its own tofu and can make it into a dish this amazing — that would be the agedashi tofu, which is served in a light miso broth — that should give you an idea of what the rest of the offerings are like. It’s a teeny-tiny place so we usually have to make reservations, but the need to plan ahead just makes the anticipation that much sweeter.

Guest Pick:

Toby Allen, Member Of Human Nature; Ichiza

4355 Spring Mountain Road

Weakness for Japanese cuisine? That’s just Human Nature.

“Coming from West Sydney, back in Australia, it’s one of the foods I often search out back home,” says Toby Allen, of the Motown-belting Human Nature at Imperial Palace. “I didn’t expect in the middle of the desert there would be some fantastic sushi. And I love the soft-shell crab.”

That would be at Ichiza, whose frequently updated menu extends beyond sushi, with delicacies such as honey toast, black cod, beef tongue and ika (grilled squid).

“A girlfriend of mine who had been there loved it, she was dying to take me there so I went one night and fell in love with it,” Allen says.

We appreciate Allen cluing in Las Vegans about Ichiza’s charms. But consider the risk.

“I’ve taken a couple of groups of people there,” Allen says. “But I don’t know whether to take them there or keep it a bit of a secret. The more people I tell, the harder it’s going to be to get a table.”