{"id":57347,"date":"2021-03-26T00:01:08","date_gmt":"2021-03-26T06:01:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=57347"},"modified":"2024-12-09T13:12:49","modified_gmt":"2024-12-09T19:12:49","slug":"ikigai-abq-albuquerque-new-mexico","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=57347","title":{"rendered":"Ikigai ABQ &#8211; Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<figure id=\"attachment_57348\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-57348\" style=\"width: 525px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai01-scaled.jpeg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-57348 lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 525px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 525\/700;border: 4px solid black; margin-top: 3px; margin-bottom: 3px;\" data-src=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai01-scaled.jpeg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"525\" height=\"700\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai01-scaled.jpeg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 1920w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai01-225x300.jpeg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 225w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai01-768x1024.jpeg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 768w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai01-1152x1536.jpeg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 1152w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai01-1536x2048.jpeg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 1536w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai01.jpeg?size=128x171&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 128w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai01.jpeg?size=384x512&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 384w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai01.jpeg?size=512x683&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 512w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-57348\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ikigai, &#8220;a sushi house with purpose&#8221;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">While ikigai (pronounced <i>ee-key-guy<\/i>) may sound like what grade school girls called me many years ago, in Japanese the term ikigai is a Japanese concept combining the terms &#8220;<em>iki<\/em>,&#8221; meaning \u201c<em>alive<\/em>\u201d or \u201c<em>life<\/em>,\u201d and &#8220;<em>gai<\/em>,&#8221; meaning \u201c<em>benefit<\/em>\u201d or \u201c<em>worth<\/em>.\u201d\u00a0 Though there is no direct English translation, when combined these terms embody &#8220;<em>that which gives your life worth, meaning, or purpose<\/em>.&#8221;\u00a0 Essentially, ikigai is the reason why you get up in the morning.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">It makes a lot of sense therefore that the signage for Ikigai, a sushi restaurant ensconced in a Lilliputian pod within the El Vado Motel complex, would be subtitled &#8220;<em>a sushi shop with purpose<\/em>.&#8221;\u00a0 For some of us, sushi gives life worth, meaning and purpose.\u00a0 Sushi was the reason we got up early on the Sunday morning of our inaugural visit, an indulgence that came very highly recommended by my friend \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.yelp.com\/user_details?userid=lYp818T-xh8Ss79To5Azhw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Howie \u201cthe Duke of the Duke City\u201d Kaibel<\/strong><\/a>, Community Director for Yelp.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_57349\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-57349\" style=\"width: 525px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai02-scaled.jpeg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-57349 lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 525px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 525\/700;border: 4px solid black; margin-top: 3px; margin-bottom: 3px;\" data-src=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai02-scaled.jpeg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"525\" height=\"700\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai02-scaled.jpeg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 1920w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai02-225x300.jpeg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 225w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai02-768x1024.jpeg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 768w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai02-1152x1536.jpeg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 1152w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai02-1536x2048.jpeg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 1536w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai02.jpeg?size=128x171&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 128w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai02.jpeg?size=384x512&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 384w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai02.jpeg?size=512x683&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 512w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-57349\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Left: Crunchy Shrimp Roll; Middle: Caterpillar Roll Right: Tony Roll<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">Leave it to that fiendishly clever Howie to contemplate the existential in his Yelp review of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yelp.com\/biz\/ikigai-abq-albuquerque\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Ikigai<\/strong><\/a>: &#8220;<em>I&#8217;m pretty sure I&#8217;ll spend the better part of eternity seeking out so-called Balance, and failing miserably. There&#8217;s food I consider Healthy and all the rest that doesn&#8217;t fall into that category, and really nothing in the middle. Sushi is something I consider Healthy and, bonus, I happen to absolutely love a sushi session. We went after standards, the California and New Mexico roll and I can report solid findings: very fresh, clean and simple, served with a mound of wasabi that I personally finished off, nostrils flaring, crocodile tears in the corners of my eyes&#8211;something I can&#8217;t say about most of life&#8217;s Healthy options<\/em>.&#8221;\u00a0 \u00a0Hmm, healthy, fresh, clean and simple with a &#8220;life beyond life&#8221; premise.\u00a0 That sounds like a sushi shop not to be missed in this existential plane.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">Ikigai is one of six food pods at the pristine <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/elvadoabq.com\/restaurants\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">El Vado<\/a><\/strong> multi-use complex on Central Avenue just east of the Rio Grande. The food pods are diminutive in size (though proffering an immensity of flavors), ranging from 191 square feet to 495 square feet. Among the tenants proffering deliciousness are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=40471\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Rude Boy Cookies<\/strong><\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=49229\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Happy Chickenzz<\/strong><\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=56252\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Street Food Sensations<\/strong><\/a>, Buen Provecho (Costa Rican cuisine anyone?), A Heavenly Taste Cakery, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=49190\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Bosque Burger<\/strong><\/a> and Ikigai.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_57351\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-57351\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai04-scaled.jpeg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-57351 lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 750px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 750\/375;border: 4px solid black; margin-top: 3px; margin-bottom: 3px;\" data-src=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai04-scaled.jpeg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"375\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai04-scaled.jpeg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 2560w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai04-300x150.jpeg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 300w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai04-1024x513.jpeg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 1024w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai04-768x384.jpeg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 768w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai04-1536x769.jpeg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 1536w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai04-2048x1025.jpeg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 2048w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai04.jpeg?size=128x64&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 128w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai04.jpeg?size=384x192&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 384w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai04.jpeg?size=512x256&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 512w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai04.jpeg?size=640x320&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 640w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-57351\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rainbow Roll<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">Step into the El Vado complex&#8211;especially if you\u2019re not necessarily in the mood for any specific type of food&#8211;and you might feel like the proverbial kid in a candy store. No matter which purveyor you choose on the day of your visit, opportunities abound for further culinary adventures during future visits. That\u2019s one delicious dilemma you\u2019ll happily wade through. Designers knew what they were doing when they placed so much deliciousness in such close proximity.\u00a0 Ikigai is the pod furthest from the main entrance to the complex, mere feet from its neighbor pods.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">When you arrive at Ikigai, you&#8217;ll likely peruse the menu on an exterior wall for a good long while (there&#8217;s so many items you&#8217;re going to want) but the second you turn toward the door to Ikigai you&#8217;ll espy a note informing you that you&#8217;ll have to place your order at sister restaurant Happy Chickenzz.\u00a0 Sure enough, the superbly talented folks who have made chicken sexy and hot again own and operate Ikigai, too.\u00a0 That means you&#8217;re bound to run into co-owner Tony Chalenphonh, a Lao transplant who knows flavor and heat levels very well.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_57352\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-57352\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai05-scaled.jpeg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-57352 lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 750px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 750\/422;border: 4px solid black; margin-top: 3px; margin-bottom: 3px;\" data-src=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai05-scaled.jpeg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1\" alt=\"Spicy Tuna Sushi Burrito\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai05-scaled.jpeg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 2560w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai05-300x169.jpeg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 300w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai05-1024x575.jpeg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 1024w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai05-768x432.jpeg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 768w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai05-1536x863.jpeg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 1536w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai05-2048x1151.jpeg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 2048w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai05.jpeg?size=128x72&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 128w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai05.jpeg?size=384x216&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 384w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai05.jpeg?size=512x288&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 512w, https:\/\/b4385483.smushcdn.com\/4385483\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Ikigai05.jpeg?size=640x360&lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1 640w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-57352\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Spicy Tuna Sushi Burrito<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">Ikigai&#8217;s menu is surprisingly ambitious considering the pod&#8217;s cramped quarters:\u00a0 four salads, tempura shrimp and vegetables, fried egg rolls, eight chef&#8217;s special rolls, three sushi burritos, six sashimi, eight daily rolls, seven nigiri options, yakisoba, Udon stir fry, fried rice, Pad Thai and even pho.\u00a0 It&#8217;s as diverse an Asian menu as you&#8217;ll find in restaurants five or six times the size of Ikigai.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">If our initial sushi order&#8211;<em><strong>Tony Roll<\/strong><\/em> (crab, avocado, and cucumber covered with tuna and green chile), <em><strong>Crunchy Shrimp Roll<\/strong><\/em> (shrimp tempura, crab and tempura flank), <em><strong>Caterpillar Roll<\/strong><\/em> (eel and cucumber top with avocado and eel sauce) and <em><strong>Rainbow Roll<\/strong><\/em> (crab, avocado, and cucumber covered with Chef\u2019s choice of five fish)&#8211;is any indication, this little sushi shop creates gigantic flavors.\u00a0 Though we missed watching the Chef deftly slice fresh fish and arrange it artistically within and atop the vinegared rice, we enjoyed setting our own pace.\u00a0 The vinegared rice is aromatic and moist, a delicious vehicle for contents therein.\u00a0 Vegetables and fish are both unfailingly fresh and delicious&#8230;and as Howie learned, the wasabi will definitely water your eyes.\u00a0 \u00a0We ordered a variety of rolls so as to experience the diverse potential of different sauces, fish and vegetables.\u00a0 Each sushi roll was special in its own way.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">Among the intriguing items on the menu is something called a &#8220;sushi burrito.&#8221; While it may not be constructed inside a flour tortilla, a sushi burrito offers infinite possibilities&#8211;or three in this case: crab, avocado and cucumber; or spicy tuna, avocado and cucumber; or tempura shrimp, green chile, crab and cheese.\u00a0 Spicy tuna, not something I&#8217;ve ever had inside a burrito, was my choice.\u00a0 In all honesty, the <em><strong>sushi burrito<\/strong><\/em> is actually a spicy tuna handroll though instead of the roll being conically shaped, the nori was fashioned in the shape of a burrito and cut in half.\u00a0 More than any sushi roll we had, the sushi burrito had me wondering if napalm was used in its construction.\u00a0 It was plenty piquant, deliciously so.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\">For diners who appreciate the palate-pleasing qualities of noodles, Ikigai offers three options: Yakisoba, Pad Thai and Pho.\u00a0 \u00a0<em><strong>Yakisoba<\/strong> <\/em>(pan-fried noodles with bean sprouts, green onions, shredded seaweed, and your choice of chicken, beef, tofu, or pork. With shrimp or combination for an additional charge) was my Kim&#8217;s choice.\u00a0 Delightful as the noodles themselves are, it&#8217;s the unique Yakisoba sauce that makes this dish.\u00a0 \u00a0As described on the delightful &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/chewwannaeat.wordpress.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Chew Wanna Eat<\/strong><\/a>&#8221; blog, Yakisoba sauce is &#8220;<em>a teeny bit sweet, a teeny bit spicy, a teeny bit salty, and a teeny bit sweet.&#8221;\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>The sauce permeates the slurpalicious noodles, vegetables and protein of your choice.\u00a0 It would make an excellent aftershave.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;\">While &#8220;sushi without the show&#8221; isn&#8217;t as leisurely as a sushi bar experience, there&#8217;s a lot to be said about enjoying sushi served outdoors and mingling with a phalanx of other diners enjoying a preview of summer. El Vado is the perfect place for al fresco dining and Ikigai will remind you that sushi does indeed help make life worth living.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small; font-family: Verdana;\"><strong>Ikigai ABQ<\/strong><br \/>\n2500 Central Avenue, S.W.<br \/>\n<strong>Albuquerque, New Mexico<\/strong><br \/>\n<strong>LATEST VISIT<\/strong>: 21 March 2021<br \/>\n<strong># OF VISITS<\/strong>: 1<br \/>\n<strong>RATING<\/strong>: N\/R<br \/>\n<strong>COST<\/strong>: $$$<br \/>\n<strong>BET BET<\/strong>: Yakisoba, Spicy Tuna Sushi Burrito, Rainbow Roll, Caterpillar Roll, Tony Roll, Crunchy Shrimp Roll<br \/>\n<strong>REVIEW #1214<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While ikigai (pronounced ee-key-guy) may sound like what grade school girls called me many years ago, in Japanese the term ikigai is a Japanese concept combining the terms &#8220;iki,&#8221; meaning \u201calive\u201d or \u201clife,\u201d and &#8220;gai,&#8221; meaning \u201cbenefit\u201d or \u201cworth.\u201d\u00a0 Though there is no direct English translation, when combined these terms embody &#8220;that which gives your life worth, meaning, or purpose.&#8221;\u00a0 Essentially, ikigai is the reason why you get up in the morning. It makes a lot of sense therefore that the signage for Ikigai, a sushi restaurant ensconced in a Lilliputian pod within the El Vado Motel complex, would be subtitled &#8220;a sushi shop with purpose.&#8221;\u00a0 For some of us, sushi gives life worth, meaning and purpose.\u00a0 Sushi was the&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":57349,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[440,839,703,262,380,141,119],"tags":[746,886,887,891,885,884,747,889,883,890,888],"class_list":["post-57347","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-albuquerque","category-closed-in-2021","category-dog-friendly","category-closed","category-japanese","category-new-mexico","category-sushi","tag-albuquerque","tag-caterpillar-roll","tag-crunchy-shrimp-roll","tag-el-vado-motel","tag-happy-chickens","tag-japanese","tag-new-mexico","tag-rainbow-roll","tag-sushi","tag-sushi-burrito","tag-tony-roll"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Ikigai ABQ - Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED) - Gil&#039;s Thrilling (And Filling) Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nmgastronome.com\/?p=57347\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Ikigai ABQ - Albuquerque, New Mexico (CLOSED) - Gil&#039;s Thrilling (And Filling) Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"While ikigai (pronounced ee-key-guy) may sound like what grade school girls called me many years ago, in Japanese the term ikigai is a Japanese concept combining the terms &#8220;iki,&#8221; meaning \u201calive\u201d or \u201clife,\u201d and &#8220;gai,&#8221; meaning \u201cbenefit\u201d or \u201cworth.\u201d\u00a0 Though there is no direct English translation, when combined these terms embody &#8220;that which gives your life worth, meaning, or purpose.&#8221;\u00a0 Essentially, ikigai is the reason why you get up in the morning. 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