Sushi on track

You know you’ve picked a winner for lunch when you find yourself sitting within sneezing distance of Al Brown of Logan Brown and Sanjay of Cuba Street Fruit Mart. Not that sneezing is in any way appropriate at a sushi train, which is where we were for Tuesday lunch, along with a carriage-load of folk who clearly share the same impeccable taste.

Wasabi Sushi on Cuba Street has been open a few years but was somewhat lacklustre up until about 18 months ago when it was bought by the crew of Kazu on Tory & the Yakitori Bar on Courtenay, both of which I have frequented often and enjoyed. They also run Lambton Quay’s Wasabi and Miso Takeaway on Woodward, both of which I’ve yet to try.

The sushi train suits those of impatient disposition and lovers of seafood. (See food and eat it? That’s me!) After placing an order of miso and fried food from the blackboard, Lee and I started pouncing on the passersby. In no particular order… nigiri sushi (that’s rice on bottom, treat on top) of seared beef, nicely pink, served in a pool of wasabi dressing… smoked eel nigiri, sweet and succulent… softshell crab, tiny little suckers, edible all over, wrapped up in nori and drizzled with spicy mayo… tuna sashimi, delicate, soft and glossy… and California rolls of salmon and avocado. Zoom, zoom, zoom, they went, and before long there was a pile of empty plates stacked up in front of us, smudged with fiery wasabi, littered with shreds of zingy ginger and puddled with soy sauce.

The little plates of hot food were also good and around the same price as those on the train – everything $2.80 to $5.50. The octopus dumplings, similar to the familiar octopus ball but without the roll-around in bonito flakes, were delicately fishy and moreish; the squid tender and coated in a fine batter, curiously redolent of cheese powder. The teriyaki chicken was heavy and tepid, but sticky and sweet as it should be.

Other options clocked were udon noodles for just under a tenner, and several desserts heralded by starburst signage that preceded them as they paraded around on the train, including a scrumptious-looking chocolate pot and ‘coconut lover pudding’. Also advertised was the children’s $5 special, combining some ricey things, a spring roll, fruit juice and a lollipop, all of which chugs its way out on a cutesy train-shaped tray. The kids will just as likely lunge straight for the passing puddings as delight in a rice-stuffed tofu pouch, but it’s a nice idea nonetheless. Sake and Japanese beer make an appearance alongside a handful of wines and of course green tea.

On the platform in the middle of the train track sat stacks of comment cards, inviting us to have our say. Well, don’t mind if I do: Dear Wasabi, We love your sushi train. Your food is fresh, fun, delicious and inexpensive, and your service friendly. You’re on a roll!