Vancouver, BC
W and I both love well-made, traditional nigiri sushi. We are always on the lookout for sushi places that make good, fresh, authentic nigiri sushi. When I spotted some appetizing photos of sushi made by, well, Yuji, I knew I had to give it a try.
Marinated Tuna
W and I whetted our palate with 2 starters. We had the marinated tuna which was tuna sashimi slices dressed in a pungent wasabi sauce and sprinkled with crushed sesame. One has to like wasabi in order to enjoy this appetizer. I am finally starting to like wasabi so I thought it was not bad, but the horseradish was a little overpowering.
Spinach Gomaae
The spinach gomaae was done just right though. Coated with a lightly sweetened soy sauce and sprinkled liberally with crushed sesame seeds, it was simple, light and yummy.
Gunkan Sushi - Chopped Scallop, Tobiko
Yes, I am relatively still a noob when it comes to Japanese food terms. That night I learned from W that the sushi with the seaweed wrapped around the rice and filling is actually called Gunkan sushi! We both had the tobiko gunkan sushi while I added a chopped scallop one as well. The chopped scallop had a naturally sweet flesh and when mixed with the mayonnaise and tobiko, it was buttery and indulgent. One of the better chopped scallop sushi I've had in a while!
Gunkan Sushi - Tuna Carpaccio
Another gunkan sushi that W wanted to try was the Tuna Carpaccio. There was a slice of tuna spread on top of the rice and seaweed and then topped with minced green onions, salt and pepper, and a splash of olive oil. I wasn't too fond of this combination so I didn't try it. W said he liked it though.
Nigiri Sushi - Wild Sockeye Salmon, Hamachi (Yellow Tail)
As for nigiri sushi, we had the wild sockeye salmon and hamachi. We also had other types but I forgot to document them with photography =___=" I can tell you one thing though, the nigiri sushi were spot on and were delicious! The size was just right, the rice was seasoned well, and the fish was fresh (you can tell by that lovely sheen on the flesh!).
Sushi by Yuji is a hidden gem. Its unassuming exterior on a busy main thoroughfare will have many pass by without batting an eye. Although this place is a little on the pricier side, it's already got a few followers. It's a small place too; reservations recommended!
