A new sushi bar opened in Tøyen about a month ago (August 2007). I have been a bit reluctant to go there, because I really wanted it to be good, hoped it at least would be ok, but expected it to be mediocre or plain out bad. It was mediocre.
Restaurants have been opening and closing in this venue with all kinds of different food as long as we have lived here. This time sushi was going on the menu. Not because the ones who run the restaurant are trained sushi chefs from Japan looking to open their perfect sushi bar and serve you a both visually and palatable meal, but more because they are in the “opening another restaurant business” and sushi is the type of food you can charge more for than any other asian type (fast) food.
And it shows. And tastes. They don’t seem to care or know much about what they are doing unfortunately. We ordered a salmon and eel nigiri sushi, softshell crab roll, king crab roll and a rainbow roll. The sushi rice was a bit too sweet for me and the rolls were not sticking together. Also the sauce that was put on the eel was not the thick, sweet, hickory flavored sauce you expect and the eel was practically cold which to me makes it a bit nauseating.
They do get their fresh fish delivered from a good fish shop in Oslo, which was a good sign, but in general - the sushi chef needs to take some classes. All of the rolls came with strips from the same non-ripe avocado. After pointing out that maybe the avocado was a bit hard, we were told that it was because it was not ripe. We kind of knew that. Using the right ingredients using proper techniques and presenting the artistic and properly are key elements to sushi! If your avocado is not ripe, save that for later and go get another one. Don’t ruin my meal!
Hey! This goes to all of the non-skilled sushi chefs out there in Oslo - go to Mikaku, Nodee or Alex sushi and ask them to teach you how to make proper sushi! Or go to Japan and take a proper sushi class!
Summary:
Good willed maybe, but the quality of the sushi was quite poor. Just another take away sushi place that Oslo has too many of already. Bring cash, they don’t take cards - yet (Sept 2007). Will go back after they get proper training. Not sooner.
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| Price level: | OK |
| Times visited: | 1 |
General information:
Street adress: Kolstadgata 17, 0652 Oslo
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 12am-10pm, Sat-Sun 1pm-10pm
Phone number: +47 22 68 28 88
URL: http://www.samuraisushi.no
Samurai Sushi - Tøyen, Oslo
The sushi tastes good, the staff is polite, the place is clean and the prices are friendly. I have visited this place five times and I am always happy after the meal. Excellent for my everyday sushi-needs.
I am glad that you have a different experience. Maybe I will have to go by there again, give them a second try! Thanks for commenting, Ge!r! Cool name!