With plenty of talented chefs and fresh, locally sourced seafood, Victoria is home to some of Canada’s best sushi joints. And while visiting one of these spots can be a lot of fun, sometimes you’ll want to enjoy fresh-made sushi in the comfort of your own home. When the craving strikes, here are some restaurants that really deliver.
Itami creates sushi from quality fish. It’s a simple premise, but you can taste the difference. Instead of bluefin tuna, they use the richer and fattier albacore. And instead of imitation crab in their California rolls, Itami uses the real thing. The sashimi is thinly sliced and expertly prepared and their nigiri features generous portions of fresh fish. When ordering from Itami, be sure to get the salmon, which is locally sourced when possible for maximum fresh flavour.
Osaka’s generous portions make sushi take-out less of a light snack and more of a filling meal. The rolls in particular are loaded with quality ingredients and are sure to satisfy even the most voracious eaters. The hand rolls are especially recommended, coming in several delicious and unique varieties. And don't forget the tempura: it’s light, crispy and the perfect accompaniment to the sushi.
Azuma’s sushi bar houses some of the most talented and dedicated chefs in the city. Every piece they make, from the Red tuna nigiri to their specialty beef sashimi, is carefully and delicately prepared. You can taste the freshness in every bite. Pick and choose from rolls and individuals pieces using their own online ordering system, which makes the whole process quick and simple.
One of the best sushi experiences you can have is when you leave the choices up to the chef. At Koto, they make this option easy, allowing you to choose how much you want and leaving the rest in their very capable hands. They’ll prepare the freshest, best fish they have in the restaurant and delicately create artisanal sushi for a memorable meal. Order far enough in advance and they’ll even make you sushi with fresh Victoria lobster.
Shima is a bustling downtown hot spot with excellent food and very reasonable prices. Imaginative and delectable rolls are their speciality and worth ordering. Try the Crazy Crab Roll, which comes with real crab meat, seared salmon, masago and spicy mayo for an extra kick. Or, if you’re even more adventurous, the Sexy Mango roll comes with sweet egg, spicy mayo, cream cheese, avocado and mango for a sweet and spicy experience. The chefs at Shima Village prove that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get quality sushi.
While sushi is delicious on its own, sometimes it’s best when paired with other Japanese favourites. Chiba Sushi, in addition to offering delicious and fresh sushi, can round out your order with classics such as beef teriyaki, crispy tempura and chicken katsu. Ordering from Chiba is like building your own bento box, where you can pick from a wide range of nigiri, rolls and other favourites.