When my fellow diner and I are looking for a special meal, we tend to end up heading to an Asian fusion place.

While we were browsing for restaurants to try, Bangkok Thai & Sushi in Algonquin quickly became an option, offering both Japanese and Thai items on its menus.

We love ordering a few sushi rolls and treating them as appetizers, while having traditional Thai curries as our entrees. This was the right place for that kind of dinner date lineup.

The sushi rolls were exquisite.

The Black Dragon roll ($15) featured spicy salmon topped with eel partnered with a sweet glaze bursting with flavor. Plus, there were two pieces of shrimp tempura that came with this roll, which my fellow diner really enjoyed. The tempura was just crunchy enough, and the shrimp inside the roll was outstanding.

The Holiday Special roll ($14) came with salmon, crab and avocado on the inside. It was topped with tuna, white tuna, plus a special sauce that brought plenty of heat. But the kick didn’t overpower the rest of the roll, and the seafood elements still stood out on their own, offering us the treat of the taste of pure, fresh fish.

The eel roll ($9) consisted of delicious and chewy seafood rolled with avocado and rice, and was accompanied by a tangy eel sauce.

Mussaman curry is an old favorite of mine, and I have a special affection for places that do it right. Bangkok Thai & Sushi now falls squarely into that category.

I ordered my mussaman with tofu ($11) as I normally do, and it came loaded with the protein and potatoes, and mixed well with the other elements amid a creamy texture that had strong contributions from coconut milk and peanut, along with just a tiny hint of spice.

I mixed mine with a lot of white steamed rice, and this dish became really hearty and filling. I had to save some for later.

The panang curry with chicken ($11) came with a bit of spice, but it didn’t overwhelm the smooth flavor of the rest of the dish. Biting into the green peppers in this curry definitely left a bit more heat on the tongue than the mussaman, which is how it’s supposed to be.

Next time we’re looking for a Thai or Japanese treat, or both, we will not hesitate to return to Bangkok Thai & Sushi. We can’t wait to explore the rest of the menu.

• The Mystery Diner is an employee at the Northwest Herald. The diner’s identity is not revealed to the restaurant staff before or during the meal. If the Mystery Diner cannot recommend the establishment, we will not publish a story.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Bangkok Thai & Sushi

WHERE: 4077 W. Algonquin Road, Algonquin

PHONE: 224-569-3999

INFORMATION: www.atbangkokthaisushi.com