It’s been months since I blogged about Sushi on Bloor and even though I really wanted to incorporate a new scrapbook layout into this post, I figured some new photos sans the cardstock and patterned paper wouldn’t hurt! Sushi on Bloor is just all sorts of awesome and convenience. As I was discussing with a friend, anything located within The Annex makes for great accessibility. The neighbourhood itself is always bustling with foot traffic, there’s great stuff to see and eat, and Sushi on Bloor’s location on Bloor St. West between Spadina Ave. and Bathurst St. makes it simple to explore other neighbouring areas such as Korea Town to the west, Kensington Market to the southeast, and Yorkville to the northeast. I’ve explored this neighbourhood a lot over the last year and half and I’ve had so much fun finding and taking my graffiti art photos, getting excited over new additions (hello, there’s a David’s Tea now!), and basically walking up and down and all around a million times.
Although The Sushi Shop will always be my number one for amazing sushi rolls, Sushi on Bloor holds its place as a solid second. As I mentioned in my very first Sushi on Bloor post, I enjoy their Crunchy Rolls (salmon) and Crunchy Spicy Tuna Rolls SO much. Since then I’ve tried their smoked salmon rolls, their tuna dragon roll, the Casa Loma (again), and their avocado salad and there are some real winners here. The smoked salmon rolls consist of salmon, crab meat, tobiko, and bell pepper! Their smoked salmon rolls are served warm and are different from so many other rolls I’ve had. For one thing, the outer layer of seaweed is coated in crunchy tempura (I know, start drooling!) and for another, there’s bell pepper inside which you don’t see quite as often as other fruits and vegetables such as cucumber, avocado, sweet potato, and mango, for instance. The smoked salmon is not the cured, smoky version but the flaky, grilled fish kind and it absorbs the flavour of the little bit of soy sauce they use on the rolls so well. The texture is fabulous and it packs a punch of flavour with the sauce they use. If you like crispy and crunchy, it has your name all over it!
From my personal experience, if you love rolls stick to enjoying the large variety they have as opposed to ordering the dragon sets. They’re yummy, but honestly, I feel you get SO much more bang for your buck when you order the different sushi roll sets and really, this is their strong suit. They have a wonderful selection of different roll sets (most of them with 8 rolls per set) for $5.00 and great lunch specials that offer 12 rolls (6 each of 2 kinds: salmon and California, or avocado and Dynamite shrimp tempura) for $5.99. I couldn’t get decent photos of my Casa Loma rolls (both times I had them! I really need to clamour harder for those window seats) but I will say that I reeeeally wish they would use more cream cheese in them (unagi, cream cheese, and avocado). They’re yummy, but the beasty cream cream monster in me wants more 😀
The nicest surprise for me in all the times I’ve eaten here was the avocado salad. I was only expecting maybe a small dish or bowl of salad; a decent size, but nothing big. I almost jumped out of my seat in excited surprise when I was presented with a HONKING LARGE dinner plate full of spring mix salad greens, shredded carrots, cherry tomatoes, and big creamy wedges of avocado. OH.MY.GOD. I love this salad. Hands down, one of the most fantastic items on their menu. It’s $4.50 for crying out loud! It’s meal-size! To think that you could have a fresh meal-size salad for under $5 in Toronto at a SUSHI PLACE no less is unheard of! Freshii salads ring in at around $7-$9. Fancy pants places charge $5+ for a simple green salad with balsalmic! And don’t even get me started on the fast food places that attempt to put on a healthier image with their $5-$7 salads. This blew me away and now I’m tempted to order this every time I’m there now!
I know how popular Sushi on Bloor is in this city but it still wows me every time I see line-ups out the door here. They recently renovated and added a 2nd floor of seating to the restaurant and the place is STILL packed to the brim! There are obviously lull periods, but come 12:30pm and after 6pm, you might as well take a number! They serve great quality food and they deserve all the success and business they’ve been getting. It excites to me try the different rolls and really, the only thing missing here is a dessert menu. Fantastic selection with fantastic prices in a hopping neighbourhood. You really couldn’t ask for more. Except the dessert menu 😉
*****
Sushi on Bloor is located at 515 Bloor St. West just east of Bathurst St. They are open for business 7 days a week at 12pm and offer a number of lunch specials and an wide range of rolls, appetizers, bento boxes, and sashimi, sushi, and maki sets.
Ate by Ate 