Real sushi vs. American sushi?

Question

I had a friend from Japan who used to always tell me that the sushi dining experience here is very different from they way it is prepared and eaten in Japan. (To be somewhat expected)

He said that the best places here in the U.S. would pass as mediocre there (quality of fish, preperation, etc.)

I truely feel that based on what he said and videos that I have watched online, that I finally experienced the true authenticity of Japanese sushi (without going to Japan of course! If I could I would eat it there!!). It was at a place in Beverly Hills, CA....called "Sushi-sushi"

It was hands down the best sushi that I have ever eaten.

You do not have to add a thing to it, and you eat with only your hands.

If you know of any other very authentic places to eat sushi please inform me!! Thanx.

Answer 1

I'd say if it is good, then eat it. But, know this..................................

REAL WASABI IS NOT, I REPEAT: IS NOT!, SPICY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

REAL WASABI IS SWEET!!!!!!

Answer 2

If it taste good eat it.  Traditional sushi make be different than USA sushi... but a Big mac in Japan is different than in the USA.  Still Japanese people love their version of Mc Donald's.  Eat drink and be merry... enjoy them both

Answer 3

There may be an element of racism in there too, as japanese believe that their own home grown rice is superior to anything else, and thinking that only japanese people can make the best sushi.

Answer 4

Disney World, Epcot has the most authentic sushi I've eaten in the US.  Japanese sushi is better.  Sakura in historic Shavanna GA, is good sushi, although not an overly authentic dining experiance.  In downtown Charelston SC Tsunami is excellent sushi, but the restraunt area is very contemporary.  Eating at the sushi bar portion will give you the same menu, but more often than not (when I ate there) the chefs would give you free samples of new things they were trying.  In Norfolk Virginia, Domo, in down town Norfolk, is a great place, and more authentic than any other place I've eaten in the Norfolk/Virginia Beach area.

Answer 5

Ebisu in San Francisco was always rated best in the city when I lived there (but a little pricey and difficult to get a reservation on weekend evenings--it's pretty small). They always had one or two live items on the a la carte menu (which were even more expensive).

My experience having had sushi half a dozen times in Japan and many dozens in the U.S., mostly in S.F., was that sushi in Japan is 1) usually fresher, which makes a big difference, and 2) more varied (they have all the choices we have in the States *plus* those ones you see on those little plastic displays at each table but never are able to order like anago, shako, kohada, etc. Having said that I didn't think any of the varieties that I tried in Japan for the first time were anything special.

In addition, in Japan they don't really have all those rolls (dragon, rainbow, etc.). If you like those don't feel bad about not eating the "real" thing--you're getting something you might like better anyway!

P.S. If you ever do make it to Japan the place to go is the Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo--it's where the sushi boats arrive after fishing overnight to unload the freshly-killed critters (they have little sushi bars on the docks where they buy stuff straight from the boats and prepare it; it's a little expensive but not exorbitant, and something you definitely want to try to experience if you're there [I paid $38 for a sushi special that had around ten pieces IIRC, it was worth it.]) Also, in Japan they sometimes serve the sushi on wet banana leaves instead of plates, and put some wasabi underneath the fish so you don't add any to the soy sauce. But, neither of those really change the taste just the experience, so that's something you might be able to find in California [or do on your own] as well.