Sushi: to some, it is like that strangely hot person who you originally thought wasn’t your type but fell for instantly. To others, it’s like that weirdo who won’t stop texting you. In other words, you either are completely obsessed with sushi or not.
For those of you that do love it, keep reading. I went on a quest to see what Columbia had to offer in the sushi department, despite the fact that some connoisseurs claim you can’t find fresh sushi on the East Coast. As for the haters out there, keep reading also. Who knows? Maybe by the end of this I’ll convert you to the dark side.
First stop on my sushi excursion was quite literally a hole in the wall — well, actually, a hole in Five Points— Sushi Yoshi. While Sushi Yoshi might not be the most upscale of the restaurants I visited, it’s cheap, absolutely adorable and the staff was super nice. Though Sushi Yoshi does have some specialty rolls that are amazing, specifically the Spicy Yoshi roll, I suggest going with the Spicy Tuna roll or the Super Crunch roll. Sushi Yoshi seems to place their focus on serving a lot of people quickly and efficiently, rather than crafting unique rolls for the menu. That being said, they really know how to amp up the classics. P.S. The sushi comes on these really cute wooden boards, so that’s a plus.
Next stop on my sushi journey was the Mexican-Japanese fusion restaurant TakoSushi. A place where your friends who hate sushi can get cheese dip and tacos? An absolutely genius business plan if nothing else. I’d been here a few times before and ordered the Stoney’s Roll (a basic spicy tuna roll topped with crab, avocado, soy vinaigrette and scallions) and the Dynamite Roll (similar to the previous roll except flash fried and topped with asparagus and tilapia). Both options are simple, yet elegant. This go around I wanted to try something a little more unique. First I ordered the Cary’s Roll, a roll with salmon, tuna and the unique fish escolar. Cary’s Roll also had cream cheese, was flash-fried and topped with the restaurant’s signature TakoSushi sauce. Next on the menu was the Firecracker Roll, a fried tilapia-based roll with "Bada Bing — Bada Bang" sauce. Compiled of TakoSushi sauce, sweet chili sauce and Sriracha, it exploded my taste buds. Everyone knows Sriracha is the s---, so this roll is sure to be a fan favorite.
Tsunami was next on the list, and let me just say: Go during happy hour. The numerous specials offered from 4-7 p.m. include saké, which is kind of awful, but the type of awful you keep running back to — like tequila shots or an ex. The sushi is clearly what this place does best, with over 20 different rolls on the menu. I ordered the Heartbreaker roll first. This game changer is a spicy tuna and cucumber roll topped with albacore tuna, avocado and scallions drizzled with a sweet and spicy ponzu sauce. Next, I ordered the Gamecock roll and it was one of the best rolls I’ve had in Columbia so far. With perfectly crisp tempura shrimp and a sauce that made me want to slap my mama, it was just the right combination of unique and simple. Also, please order Seabiscuits as an appetizer — and don’t share with your friends because, trust me, you won’t want to.
Last on my list was SakiTumi, a more upscale sushi restaurant located down an ally off Gervais Street. This place is the crème de la crème of sushi in the capital city, and I figured that out before I even finished my appetizer. SakiTumi flies in fresh tuna daily from Hawaii, and it is the only restaurant in Columbia that does so. For starters I had the sashimi sampler, which is what those sushi connoisseurs I mentioned early consider real sushi. It is simply thinly sliced fish, served best with a light dip of soy sauce. This is the best test of a sushi restaurant’s quality, because in order for it to be any good it has to be insanely fresh. All in all, everything I ordered was absolutely delicious, especially the King Kong Roll. This giant roll is made with crab salad, cucumber and green onion, drizzled with Japanese mayo. The best thing about this roll? The diced jalapeno. It completely transformed the roll, and made it one I will definitely order again. SakiTumi insider tip: order the Mochi ice cream for dessert — you won’t be sorry.
