Samurai Sushi: Is Bigger Always Better?

Let's eat some sushi! Today we got Samurai Sushi, which is a popular spot for sushi in South Vancouver. Samurai Sushi's value proposition is large quantities of sushi at an affordable price. That means that all of the rolls are huge, stuffed with sushi rice and filling. But does that mean it's actually good?

They used to have 3 locations (Fraser St., Oakridge, and downtown Denman St.), but the Oakridge location was rebranded as Kimura Sushi (still the same menu, different owner). Across the board, the prices are very reasonable and fit a variety of taste palates, from vegetarians to those craving sashimi. We got our sushi from the Fraser St. location.

I used to eat Samurai Sushi more often growing up as a high school student; it was cheap, filling, and perfect for a weekday snack after school. Their combos are very reasonably priced relative to other Japanese restaurants. You can also phone ahead to save time.

We ordered 2 California rolls, 1 unagi roll, 1 chopped scallop roll, and 1 dynamite roll - the basics. The takeout experience was fast and efficient. We pre-ordered a day in advance to get a 10% discount; you can get 5% if you order 2 hours in advance.

The rolls were kind of meh. I liked the chopped scallop roll and dynamite roll. There was plenty of chopped scallop and the fried shrimp in the dynamite roll was good. I found the unagi roll was kind of dry and the California roll needed some more flavour, lacking sweetness and taste with the imitation crab meat part. The soy sauce was also very strong, perhaps a bit too concentrated. 

Would I go here again? If there weren't any options nearby, I'd consider Samurai for some cheap, convenient, quick service sushi. This is best for students or for those who need a quick bite on the go. However, if there were other options, I'd much prefer those for sushi or Japanese food. Sometimes Skipthedishes or UberEats have coupons, to which I can order Japanese food for a similar price and better quality to Samurai Sushi. 

Hits:

• No-frills sushi
• Fast, efficient service, free tea
• Good if you want takeout
• Huge portions

Misses:

• Very, very average sushi
• Don't expect omakase or restaurant quality sushi and flavours
• Heavy on rice
• Raw fish quality is inconsistent

Rating: 3.75/5 - It's a place to come for satisfactory, affordable sushi with generous portions. In an economy with rising prices, Samurai Sushi has stood out as a place to solve your sushi cravings that won't break the wallet