Trying to choose my favourite sushi place is nearly as hard as just trying to pick a single place to go for a dinner out.
There’s just so bloody many of them. And so many good ones.
I’m always stunned when I see a new sushi place opening for business because there’s probably another one located in the next block.
People like their sushi. I like my sushi.
So how do you choose a place to go? Well, one of my main criteria is how inventive the menu is. So many sushi restaurant menus look the same and my eyes just glaze over as I try and get inspired.
“Oh, it’s not just a California roll – it’s a deluxe California roll. Well, in that case…”
Yawn.
I need some creativity. I also need food that tastes fresh.
Well, there are a bunch of great names out there, including Yo Sushi, Japolo and Gaya Sushi – places so good that their inspirations have heated up the sushi wars in Burnaby. I’ve added a selection of their wild creations above.
They mix succulent fish with spicy and crunchy elements and a rainbow of colours.
And then there is my favourite Burnaby sushi restaurant – Sushi Oyama on Kingsway.
Located in an old stone mansion, Oyama has that one dish that I always come back for and that’s the point of this blog – celebrating my favourite bites.
It’s called the Green Sandwich and they serve four of these chilled beauties on one plate.
The Green Sandwich consists of shrimp, masago, avocado and mayo. Those ingredients are then layered and covered by green soybean paper and sprinkled with sesame seeds.
My friend thinks it’s too salty, but I love that. I also love how soft and creamy it is. It also works with a variety of sauces or on its own.
Oyama has some other great bites, including the “eye” nigiri delights – such as the dreamy bacon eye. I mean, wrapping sushi with bacon is just unfair.
Also pictured with this blog is a tender piece of calamari with a creamy concoction on top, as well as the inari mashed avo.
Oyama is the one place where I mainly order single bites because they have so many different ones to choose from.
But please, feel free to pass along your favourite places and rolls
Follow Chris Campbell on Twitter @shinebox44.
