Sushi Mart

On first glance, my first reaction was "What the....." My friends told me that Sushi Mart was opened by the son of another restauranteur well-known in Vancouver for opening quality Japanese restaurants. The store front was about as as non-descript as a Family Mart in Japan, so at first, I was quite skeptical.
As you can tell from my friend Todd here, he's quite stoked about eating here. This is a guy who no more than just a few years ago, hated sushi. We've since converted him. Once inside, the interior design is clever, and probably inexpensive. The walls are lined with stained wooden shipping pallets. I've never seen this done before, but Sushi Mart managed to pull this off tastefully.

The behind-the-counter service is great, the staff is friendly, and when you sit down to have your meal, there was complimentary miso soup and tea. You just go up to the counter to order your food. Easy for take out, easy for dine-in.
Of course, I had to try the chirashi don. For $12.50, I found a really nice assortment of seafood. Aside from the standard issue ebi, tamago, tuna, and salmon, I got ika, ikura, and hamachi.

My friends ordered a Philidephia roll ($4.50), and a tuna roll ($1.95)

I tacked on an extra amaebi ($3.00) and uni (whatever market price was that day).

Like traditional sushi, a dab of wasabi is used between in the nigiri sushi. Not many places actually do this anymore and I can really appreciate the additional touches.


Sushi Mart is relatively new, and I really hope they can maintain the great quality and the reasonable prices. More locations would be nice, one in Richmond perhaps? But if I were ever downtown and craving sushi, I'd probably go to Sushi Mart.

Edokko Sushi - Part 1

Nothing compares. Two words that pretty much sums up Edokko Sushi. I seriously doubt there is any better sushi restaraunt on the planet and I make it a point to eat there whenever I go through Narita. Unfortunately, I do not have the contact details of the restaraunt except that it's located in Narita, about 5 minutes walk from the station. If I remember correctly, I leave the station and hang a right, walk towards pedestrian bridge/overpass and there it is on the right side. I'll update this info as soon a I can.

I was first introduced to this restaraunt by my friend Mariko, who works for Air Canada in Japan. We met before the takeover, during the good ol' days of Canadian Airlines. She took me and a few friends there sometime in 1999 I think and I've been hooked ever since.




Everything is large, and a little over the top - fresh, as if it just left Tsukiji market. If you sit at the bar, your meal is generally served right on the bar. To me, this is the best seat in the house, because the chef is right there, and they can tell exactly what you want to eat.
Ikura, one of my favourites.

It's hard to tell from this picture, but this ebi is just massive. It was the size of a small lobster.
Anago, similar to the mouth-watering goodness of unagi.
You don't want to know what this is.
My last meal on earth would have to include prime rib from the Keg, foie gras, and uni from Edokko Sushi. There must have been uni from an entire sea urchin in this peice.
Kani sushi, often replaced here in North America with some processed fish paste that's made to look like crab meat. This is the real deal people, and you'll never taste anything like it....also it was huge.

Edokko Sushi - Part 2