Best Sushi Place In Town?

[Mad Mel]

Originally Posted by troutman

Why would this be? Fish is flown in to Calgary the same way it is to "elite sushi" cities, is it not?

Some of it would be, but a lot of it is fresh. I used to go to the dock in Steveston and buy sockeye right off the boat. Other than catching it yourself, it's hard to guarantee better quality than that.

For example, Tojo in Vancouver is pretty well-known as one of the better sushi places. A quote from their chef:

“I use mostly west-coast seafood. I like many, many flavors, but I like to use more local albacore tuna. Tojo tuna is very famous."

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Mad Mel

Some of it would be, but a lot of it is fresh. I used to go to the dock in Steveston and buy sockeye right off the boat. Other than catching it yourself, it's hard to guarantee better quality than that.

Yes, but that salmon "right off the boat" can be in Calgary the next day (or even the same day?).

[frege64]

Originally Posted by 7uongo

not to mention that Vancouver has a huge japanese community there whereas in Calgary, there is very few. you'll even get chinese or korean people running sushi places here

Hate to break it to you, but most sushi place in Vancouver are Korean- or Chinese-owned. Same everywhere in North America.

Sushi originated in China anyway. And I do not care what ethnicity the front or back staff are or if the owner is farking Hungarian. One of the best sushi places I've ever been to is in Portland and it has almost no ASIAN staff, never mind Japanese.

I have to add that that abominable Kyoto 17 was Japanese owned and staffed for the most part. Fuji Yama, which is just as bad, is also Japanese. El's is Korean, so really who in the hell cares?

[Mad Mel]

Originally Posted by troutman

Yes, but that salmon "right off the boat" can be in Calgary the next day (or even the same day?).

Oh for sure, it can be. The question is whether it is. I'm assuming that you're a fisherman by your handle, so I'm guessing that you know what a difference handling makes with fish. It's pretty easy to take wonderful, fresh fish and make it average. The more steps there are in the supply chain, the more likely it is that quality will decrease. I'm not saying that you can't get great fish in in Calgary, just that it's harder to.

Dammit, now I'm thinking about eating Dungeness crab on the beach. For the record, seafood in Australia sucks.

[Madman]

A small bump for the sushi lovers.

Went for lunch at Blowfish today, (on 11th), and was very unimpressed with the quality of the sushi. (borderline terrible actually)

Salmon was bad. Tuna was worse. Shrimp was ack. Had butterfish for the first time and it was ok.

[DrJ]

^ Thanks for the update Madman. While this is bumped, are there any good all you can eat places in Calgary? I have found a few gems out East where I can drop ~25-30 for all you can eat with sashimi, a large menu and great quality. Thanks!

[chanimal40]

sushi kawa 4th steet. Ownership is Japanese.

[Cain]

Originally Posted by DrJ

^ Thanks for the update Madman. While this is bumped, are there any good all you can eat places in Calgary? I have found a few gems out East where I can drop ~25-30 for all you can eat with sashimi, a large menu and great quality. Thanks!

Don't go to all you can eat, they will never match the quality of a regular restaurant. I challenge you to spend 30 bucks a person and go home feeling unsatisfied anyway!

For the same amount of money, regular places kill any all you can eat. I love my sushi, I've tried every all you can eat in town that I know of, and none compare to a Wa's or Misato.

[CrunchBite]

Best all you can eat in town IMO is Sushi King on 16th, great selection, and best quality of the AYCE places.

[Yee88]

Can someone tell me what kind of sushi is good to have for a "beginner"? Apparently it's surprising that I'm half Chinese and I've never really had much. I tried some (I don't even remember what they were called) at Sakana Grill in Crowfoot and it was pretty gross. Everytime I go to Japanese restaurants I have to eat tempura because the bad sushi experience totally turned me off.

[Cain]

Originally Posted by Yee88

Can someone tell me what kind of sushi is good to have for a "beginner"? Apparently it's surprising that I'm half Chinese and I've never really had much. I tried some (I don't even remember what they were called) at Sakana Grill in Crowfoot and it was pretty gross. Everytime I go to Japanese restaurants I have to eat tempura because the bad sushi experience totally turned me off.

Super beginner stuff is california rolls.

Other easy ones are regular salmon/tuna nigiri. Just stick to salmon and tuna based rolls for easy eating.

[CRXguy]

Originally Posted by CrunchBite

Best all you can eat in town IMO is Sushi King on 16th, great selection, and best quality of the AYCE places.

Agreed. Went to try it out back in September with a group of friends and we enjoyed it. Way better than all the other places in Calgary.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Cain

Don't go to all you can eat, they will never match the quality of a regular restaurant. I challenge you to spend 30 bucks a person and go home feeling unsatisfied anyway!

For the same amount of money, regular places kill any all you can eat. I love my sushi, I've tried every all you can eat in town that I know of, and none compare to a Wa's or Misato.

Disagree.

There are some great all you can eat places in Vancouver that rival some of the best non-all you can eat anywhere. Most all you can eat places are only 20-25 and usually have lunch specials of 12-16.

As for the price of non-all you can eat, if you are eating strictly rice heavy items then you might have a problem getting to the 20-25 marks. However, if you are eating lots of sashimi and sushi it becomes pretty easy to get a large bill quickly.

[Cain]

Originally Posted by blankall

Disagree.

There are some great all you can eat places in Vancouver that rival some of the best non-all you can eat anywhere. Most all you can eat places are only 20-25 and usually have lunch specials of 12-16.

As for the price of non-all you can eat, if you are eating strictly rice heavy items then you might have a problem getting to the 20-25 marks. However, if you are eating lots of sashimi and sushi it becomes pretty easy to get a large bill quickly.

I guess I was speaking about calgary only, and shouldn't have used a blanket term. I've never had the chance to go on a sushi binge in Vancouver and can't speak to that, though it wouldn't surprise me.

I still fully believe what I said for calgary though. And sure, if you are eating a ton of sashimi and expensive nigiri then it adds up quick, but I've actually found that you leave just as satisfied from a regular restaurant with the same bill while eating superior sushi. I'm a bigger guy as well, and the aspect of going from all you can eat to a normal place was worrisome at first, but I do encourage you to try and make that jump! Opinions may differ of course, but it is truly what I and my group of friends found.

[SeeGeeWhy]

I've been impressed with El's Japanese Fusion on 33rd Ave in Marda Loop lately. Yum!

[OzSome]

Kinjo's at Macleod Trail, Sushi King on 16th Avenue and that place at Willow Park(can't remember the restaurant's name)

[Russic]

Going to try and go for Towa tomorrow night simply because of this thread. It came down to Towa vs. Zipang and Towa has a website so they win.

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by CrunchBite

Best all you can eat in town IMO is Sushi King on 16th, great selection, and best quality of the AYCE places.

Damn, I can probably see that place from where I live. I will have to wonder over there one day.

[bomber317]

Originally Posted by Russic

Going to try and go for Towa tomorrow night simply because of this thread. It came down to Towa vs. Zipang and Towa has a website so they win.

Do Zipang! they're too busy to make a website!

Zipang is more traditional, so if you want that, I'd go there, but you have to make reservations. I went last wednesday and every table was reserved. The bar had seats though.

[amorak]

Originally Posted by SeeGeeWhy

I've been impressed with El's Japanese Fusion on 33rd Ave in Marda Loop lately. Yum!

I second this - I live in Garrison Woods and make the walk over lots in the summer to El's - small restaurant so getting a table is hit or miss some times, but man is it good and decently priced