: Chef-owner Sam Okamoto began his career as a classically trained French toque, but found out that French food didn’t agree with him. Luckily for Truckee, the gluten-intolerant Japanese native turned to his sushi-chef father to learn the tricks of his trade. Drunken Monkey offers a gluten-free menu along with noodles and fresh fish. When it comes to nigiri, confidently order the Japan-sourced hamachi or freshly vinegared saba. Kimchi is made in house and always offers a surprise, be it tiny shrimp or fresh ginger. Noodle dishes, on the other hand, can be sporadic when it comes to presentation. Certain occasions found us excited over the variety in the ho-fun rice noodle dish, while others left us searching the bowl for promised ingredients. As noodles are delivered fresh from the Bay Area every Wednesday, it might be wise to plan visits accordingly. A tapas menu with items such as shrimp avocado salad and ahi poke is made to satisfy smaller appetites or accompany a sushi roll or two. Diners are hard-pressed to find a larger saké list locally, but it may be just as difficult to find a bottle on the list that is available.

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Drunken Monkey

Drunken Monkey Restaurant Review

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