TOKYO SUSHI
Hoppen Hierarchy:★★
District: Downtown Omaha
All-You-Can Eat Sushi
Perfect For: Lunch; Casual Dining
Standout Dishes: Mexican Crunch Roll; Golden Dragon Roll; Tuna Nigiri
The concept of all-you-can-eat restaurants sounds great. You pay one flat rate, then get to eat until your stomach can take no more or the sheer guilt of your gluttony overwhelms you. The idea is great in theory, but there are widely-varying levels of execution.
Las Vegas is famous for its delicious endless buffets, and my experiences at the Rodizio Brazilian grill have been quite positive. But for every worthy all-you-can-eat joint, it seems there are five Cici’s Pizzas or Golden Corrals, places crafting average food, then throwing it under a heat lamp for hours. No thanks.
Can the concept be extended successfully to sushi? That’s the question Tokyo Sushi seeks to answer.
And I think they achieved it.
This is no buffet where rolls are thrown together then left sitting on a counter for guests to pick through. Each roll is made to order by a set of chefs in full view of customers. And they have a lot of work to do, as the expansive menu offers 36 unique rolls, not the mention six soups and salads, and 16 appetizers.
Though you can order rolls individually as you would at any other sushi restaurant, the all-you-can-eat special is what makes this place stand out. It runs only at lunch every day but Tuesday, when it’s also available for dinner, and it includes everything on the menu for just $13.25 per person! That’s less than you’ll pay for one specialty roll at some sushi joints.
All the specialty rolls I’ve tried have been quite good. Here’s a quick rundown of the highlights:
- Mexican Crunch (spicy crab, avocado, tempura, jalapeños): delivers just the right amount of heat, and the tempura provides a nice texture contrast
- Rainbow (crab, avocado, cucumber): unique because of its diversity. Of the seven pieces, three are topped with tuna, two with salmon, and two with white fish. All are delicious, and the variety is appreciated.
- Golden Dragon (salmon on top of shrimp tempura): plays wonderfully with texture. The soft, supple salmon works nicely with the bite from the fried shrimp.
- Tuna Nigiri: encased in seafood, this roll is a curveball that looks off-putting and doesn’t seem like it should work. Just trust me when I say it does.
Not all the rolls are home runs. The standard rolls that you can find at just about sushi restaurant, such as the Philadelphia and the California, aren’t anything special. Don’t get me wrong, they’re not bad by any means. But I’d recommend trying Tokyo Sushi’s more creative options, which pack much more flavor.
The appetizers are hit and miss. The Shumai, steamed Japanese dumplings, are tender and blend very nicely with the provided sweet sauce, the perfect start to the upcoming feast. The same cannot be said of the Spring Rolls, which are deep fried, greasy, and basically flavorless.
If you can manage, save some stomach space for dessert. Though it’s not mentioned on the menu, Tokyo Sushi accompanies the check with a bowl of Vanilla Ice Cream for each customer, a welcome surprise and the perfect way to cap off your meal.
There’s no beating Tokyo Sushi when it comes to value. A bill that would cost $80-90 at most places clocks in at around $30 if you take the all-you-can-eat option. And while not all the rolls are great, none are bad, and a few really stand out.