It’s not exactly wine (though it's often called Japanese rice wine), and it's definitely not beer (though it's brewed more like beer). It’s old and new, hip and traditional; it’s sake (pronounced sah-kee, for those beginners in the class). Today sake is more popular than ever, as one can seem refined ordering a bottle, while its 14-to-20-percent alcohol volumes ensure more fun than any Chianti you'll order for the table.

But like porch sitting and South Philly, sake and sushi were made for each other. While not always a sushi enthusiast, all that changed when I first encountered Koi’s Northern Liberties Roll, a truly explosive combination of shrimp tempura, avocado and spicy tuna, which dance on the palate like mummers on New Year’s Day. Below is our guide to sake-and-sushi combinations to fit any event. All aboard the hangover express; it’s time to take a trip to sake town.   

Occasion: Need to be hip and have food delivered fast, via conveyor belt
Location: Pod
With a trendy atmosphere, bathed in white and accented with colored lights throughout, Pod offers scrumptious food, a friendly staff, a young University City crowd and a quality drink list (though slightly overpriced). But what makes this Stephen Starr staple particularly distinct is its sushi bar, complete with ready-to-eat sushi whizzing past via in-laid conveyor belt. Try the Sake Mojito, a cocktail combining sake, lime, sugar and mint.

Occasion: Need to impress significant other with a fine dining experience and pseudo-reality-TV star
Location: Morimoto
Morimoto’s selection of fine sushi and expansive sake menu, considered among the city’s best, cannot be left off the list. Many also consider it Starr’s best restaurant, with master Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto at the helm. For the ultimate dining experience, try the Omakase, a multi-course tasting menu of dishes chosen by the chef. On the sake side, there are splendid varieties with names like Divine Droplets, Cabin in the Snow and Sweet Nothings. Also try their custom Morimoto Martini, made with Morimoto’s signature Junmai sake, Smirnoff vodka and garnished with cucumber slices. Surely a night to remember, but don’t forget your credit card.  

Occasion: First time sake tasting or the hostess at El Vez tells you straight-faced, “the wait is three hours"
Location: Raw Sushi and Sake Lounge
Like Morimoto without the cost and celebrity appeal, Raw might well have the best sake service and selection in the city. With more than forty sake varieties on the menu, Raw makes an excellent school for the novice and expert sake drinker alike. For the beginner, try the $17 sake flight consisting of four handpicked brands. I particularly enjoyed the Hakushika Chokara, a dry blend with a crisp, tangy finish. The intimate, lounge-like atmosphere, coupled with tasty but hard-to-handle sushi rolls, makes Raw a must try.

Occasion: Opportunity to reenact Lost in Translation
Location: Yakitori Boy
Billed as Japanese tapas, this sleek Chinatown lounge offers something for everyone. Sit downstairs at the full sushi bar, order nicely skewered meats at the Yakitori bar or head upstairs to the karaoke bar with its expansive sake and cocktail list. For the less brave, slip into the sexy, private karaoke stalls (rented by the hour). One recent trip found our large party led into the Jay-Z room, where the ladies were offered slippers in place of their high-heeled shoes to prevent holes in the leather-covered couches, on which our host assured us we’d soon be dancing. He was certainly right about that.
 
Occasion: A first date with sake’s cousin, Soju, during which you drink a little too much, temporarily masking your naturally awkward disposition
Location: Bobo’s Sports Bar (6424 Castor Ave., 267.475.8989)
Soju, the other rice aperitif. At more than 40 percent alcohol, soju (a clear Korean drink similar to sake) will have you singing Bon Jovi full tilt at the karaoke bar before the night is out. But reader be warned: the following morning you’ll be living on a prayer. Nevertheless, Bobo’s Sports Bar in North Philly offers excellent Korean fare in a comfortable, family-style environment. If not a native Korean speaker, be careful not to follow the neon-lit sign, seemingly pointed toward the restrooms; it actually leads down a small flight of stairs, directly onto the karaoke stage. Speaking of karaoke, afterward you can head over to New World Karaoke for the real deal. Now that’s something to cheer about. Kon bae!

Sake can be served chilled, warm or hot, as dictated by the preference of the drinker or the following considerations:
1. Sake is often consumed hot in the winter and cold in the summer.
2. Poor-quality sake is generally served hot to mask unwanted flavors.
3. High-quality sake is best served at room temperature or slightly chilled.