Sushi rolls: Buffet vs high end restaurants

[JulesMaximus]

buffet place is $15/person.
high end sushi restaurant charges $15 for a Dragon roll.

the buffet place also had dragon rolls.

I didn't notice a diff even w/o soy sauce.
and I definitely didn't taste a diff with soy sauce and wasabi.

sushi buffet FTW!

How about you?

Those buffet places can be hit or miss. Personally, I'd rather not take my chances with raw fish so I always choose the higher end sushi restaurants and not the buffets.

 

[Newell Steamer]

Any buffet I've been to has it's sushi just packed with rice. A sliver of fish, tons of rice and loads of mango/cucumber/whatever.

High end restaurants, for me anyway, they are the opposite; loaded with fish meat.

 

[OutHouse]

the sushi bar at my Kroger grocery store is really good.

 

[OutHouse]

I saw that Anthony Bourdain show too.

However, most other higher end sushi chefs swear by non-frozen fish. And you can't freeze uni with good results.

The other thing about freezing that is good though is it does kill some parasites.

Tuna is one of the only types of fish that does not have to be frozen by law.

The FDA’s HACCP regulation states that any fish susceptible to bacteria or parasite growth must be frozen at or below -31 degrees for a minimum of 15 hours in order to kill of parasitic growth. This rule applies to any fish that is susceptible, with only a few exclusions on the list. Among those are tuna and some types of lobster which mostly are not used for sushi anyway.

Most fishing boats actually freeze their catch immediately to preserve the fish, meaning that truly fresh tuna is not common, especially not when you purchase cheap sushi. Fishing boats that do bring in fresh fish keep the fish on ice until they reach harbor, chilled just enough to preserve the meat without damaging the flesh. Sushi chefs who purchase this iced and not frozen tuna must then cut and serve the fish as quickly as possible in order to preserve its freshness, meaning that genuine fresh tuna sushi is only just out of the water!

http://opentimez.com/best-sushi-fresh-or-frozen/


i would never eat non frozen raw fish. having parasites living in my brain does not sound like a fun time.

 

[mikeford]

Only place I really hit the sushi is Todai. I eat it if its part of some meal combo other places, but when I want sushi, and no surprise now that I am thinking about it I want some, I go to the Todai buffet.

 

[slag]

Minado is a chain. I've eaten at Minado and it's sister chain Nori Nori. Both are pretty much the same restaurant only with different names. I've even seen Minado printed serving plates being used at Nori Nori. Regardless both have really subpar sushi.

I don't think you'll ever find sushi as good as Hyvee or Dillons has. They make it fresh in store!!!

Seriously though, how does Sushi Samba rank? I've been to the one in Las Vegas and liked it.

 

[Hacp]

I find the best sushi is the cooked sushi with warm rice. I love eel with avocado and the other cooked fish. Dip it in some soy sauce with LOTS of wasabi. Wash it down with some bud light. YUUUUM.

 

[smackababy]

http://opentimez.com/best-sushi-fresh-or-frozen/


i would never eat non frozen raw fish. having parasites living in my brain does not sound like a fun time.

You wouldn't have to worry about them living up there for too long. The food is scarce in those parts.

 

[ponyo]

i would never eat non frozen raw fish. having parasites living in my brain does not sound like a fun time.

I eat it all the time. It's the risk I'm willing to take as a lover of fresh fish and seafood. I've caught groupers, red snapper, spanish mackerels, sheepshead, and other fishes out on the boat and sliced up the fish right there and eaten it raw. That's the best. The fishes I catch on the ocean pier, I take it back to the condo and eat it sashimi style. If I trust the source, I'll even eat fishes bought from the seafood market raw. I like to buy trigger fish from Joe Patti seafood market down in Pensacola, FL and eat it sashimi when I'm vacationing down in Navarre Beach, FL.

And there is korean hoe/hwe. That's always done with live fish. You pick out the fishes you want and they slice it thin for you. I like that more than any sushi or sashimi.

 

[rh71]

agreed, we stopped going to sushi restaurants since we found a good buffet one (not a chinese buffet with sushi but an actual sushi buffet, made to order). You'd spend $80+ on dinner for 2 or you can do a $23pp buffet and it tastes just as good to us (and we're asian).

 

[smackababy]

agreed, we stopped going to sushi restaurants since we found a good buffet one (not a chinese buffet with sushi but an actual sushi buffet, made to order). You'd spend $80+ on dinner for 2 or you can do a $23pp buffet and it tastes just as good to us (and we're asian).

Depending on where you live, there might be actual sushi bars that offer an all you can eat. There are a couple I've been to that weren't bad. Of course, it was like $13 a person with the caveat that every piece left over when you're done was an additional $1.25 or something.

 

[MongGrel]

There is no such thing as good sushi buffet. It doesn't exist.

Probably not, if you're as particular about it as like a good Single Malt Scotch.

I do know one down here locally that is very good to me at any rate, though I've only went a few times and not really something I pursue when dining myself I guess.

agreed, we stopped going to sushi restaurants since we found a good buffet one (not a chinese buffet with sushi but an actual sushi buffet, made to order). You'd spend $80+ on dinner for 2 or you can do a $23pp buffet and it tastes just as good to us (and we're asian).

 

[MongGrel]

I eat it all the time. It's the risk I'm willing to take as a lover of fresh fish and seafood. I've caught groupers, red snapper, spanish mackerels, sheepshead, and other fishes out on the boat and sliced up the fish right there and eaten it raw. That's the best. The fishes I catch on the ocean pier, I take it back to the condo and eat it sashimi style. If I trust the source, I'll even eat fishes bought from the seafood market raw. I like to buy trigger fish from Joe Patti seafood market down in Pensacola, FL and eat it sashimi when I'm vacationing down in Navarre Beach, FL.

And there is korean hoe/hwe. That's always done with live fish. You pick out the fishes you want and they slice it thin for you. I like that more than any sushi or sashimi.

I saw the list of fish and thought FL before I even read down that far

I wonder how Snook Sushi would be, not sure I'd ever seen it mentioned anywhere.

*edit* I did find a reference somewhere it's more a cooking fish than sushi I guess.

"You sushi lovers may be tempted to eat some of it raw but don't. Unlike tuna, cooking snook actually brings out the flavor and enhances the texture."

But I guess he's also just slapping Old Bay on there too

http://www.pineislandangler.com/2009/11/grilling-snook.html

 

[takeru]

new york: minado/norinori, yuka, mizumi, tomo, nobu 57.

 

[Ns1]

"You sushi lovers may be tempted to eat some of it raw but don't. Unlike tuna, cooking snook actually brings out the flavor and enhances the texture."

But I guess he's also just slapping Old Bay on there too

http://www.pineislandangler.com/2009/11/grilling-snook.html

here's a local mexican prep of snook:

 

[Tommy2000GT]

The biggest problem in buffets is not about the sushi, but the tongs used to get them. Everyone touches them so chances are they have been touched unsanitary people.

 

[MongGrel]

here's a local mexican prep of snook:

Man, that looks tasty.


:wub:

 

[Imp]

Sushi at buffets have been pretty meh in my experience. Even the "regular" sushi restaurants taste better.

 

[JMapleton]

Some people have unrefined pallets. If you can't taste the difference, buy the cheaper one. I can taste it very much so.

 

[Dumac]

Even simply the rice and seaweed at any buffet I've been too has been pretty bad.

 

[Eug]

new york: minado/norinori, yuka, mizumi, tomo, nobu 57.

I've been to Nobu but I found the one in New York a little disappointing. For the money I spent, I was expecting a little better.

A friend said the one in Vegas was better.

Conan O'Brien was there though. He really does have a huge head.

 

[DCal430]

LMFAO 99% of the buffets have to flood their rolls in sauces to make them palatable, a good sushi roll should have good amount of fish and shouldn't taste like mayo and siracha. A good roll shouldn't have any need for heavy sauces.

 

[alkemyst]

As many have already said, most top tier restaurants still don't use true sushi grade fish.

Buffets can be hit or miss. We had a great one, but old and cheap people ruined it by not following the rules (no doggie bags, you have to eat what you order, and the rice must be eaten as well). It started at $15 and later went to $20/pp...everything was made to order.

 

[SZLiao214]

I find that most places around me don't season the rice enough. There is almost no sweetness or slight tang from the rice.

I used to be a sushi chef at a mid tier sushi place. I made the rice everyday and being able to eat it warm is amazing.

 

[alkemyst]

I find that most places around me don't season the rice enough. There is almost no sweetness or slight tang from the rice.

I used to be a sushi chef at a mid tier sushi place. I made the rice everyday and being able to eat it warm is amazing.

Most people don't want too much seasoning in the rice (which should only be some rice vinegar, sugar and salt, about 1 tb of vinegar, sugar and 1/2 tb salt per cup of rice).

Many americans want it more seasoned though.