Showing posts with label maki rolls. Show all posts
Showing posts with label maki rolls. Show all posts

VIPS Sushi (Toronto)

VIP Sushi Toronto

As much as I love the experience of dining out and eating dishes at their optimal temperature, sometimes I get lazy and the promise of food in the comfort of my home is so enticing. Not wanting the typical pizza, Thai food or Swiss Chalet, we decided to give VIPS Sushi a chance. Diners rated them highly across the food review networks and the restaurant is close by so I was hoping the sushi would still arrive at its best.

VIPS Sushi Toronto

Undeniably, we didn’t think out our order very well as three of the specialty rolls ($9.99 each) had a tempura shrimp, avocado, cucumber and creamy crab meat base. The differences between each really stemmed from what topped the maki: the spicy dynamite wrapped in nori with the crab meat getting a hit of spicy mayo, the red dragon topped with vibrant tuna, and the rainbow dragon a mixture of avocado, salmon, tuna, and butter fish. Surely the rainbow dragon would have incorporated the ingredients of the other two options.

VIPS Sushi: rainbow dragon roll

VIPS Sushi: red dragon rollVIPS Sushi: spicy dynamite roll

Nonetheless, they were satisfying with the cucumber finely julienned for crunch and ample amounts of imitation crab salad to make the rolls hearty. The shrimp could benefit from being larger (especially in the dynamite) and crunchier, but otherwise they were all tasty.

VIPS Sushi: spicy salmon crunch rollThe spicy salmon crunch roll ($9.99) contained finely chopped salmon incorporated into an excessive amount of tempura bits, so the fish became lost in the mixture. In the future, I’d likely order a plain salmon roll and make it spicy by drizzling some of the sriracha mayo that comes with every roll myself.


Delivery from VIPS Sushi was quick, taking half an hour despite the quoted 45 minutes, and the rolls still really fresh despite the travel time. Moreover, the portions were HUGE and there was plenty of leftovers (tip: to save it for the next day, wrap each roll with plastic wrap. The rice remained soft and didn’t get soggy). Sometimes being lazy has it benefits, I’ve now discovered VIPS Sushi, a great contender for Netflix and chill nights. 

Overall mark - 7 out of 10


How To Find Them
 Location: Toronto, Canada
 Address: 9 Byng Avenue

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____________________________
Gastro World's Grading System

  • Anything under 5 - I really disliked and will never go back
  • 6 - decent restaurant but I likely won't return
  • 7 - decent restaurant and I will likely return
  • 8 - great restaurant that I'd be happy to recommend
  • 9 - fantastic restaurant that I would love to visit regularly and highly recommend
  • 10 - absolute perfection!


Is That It? I Want More!

Other Gastro World posts similar to this:


VIPS Sushi Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Shinobu (Toronto)

Shinobu

Shinobu’s dining room isn’t very big, consider making a reservation if you want to avoid disappointment. The décor is sparse and there won’t be small segregated rooms, but what the restaurant lacks in esthetics they make up with their food.

The complimentary miso soup was nice and hot, the cloudy miso revealing cubes of tofu and seaweed. Even on par to some of the ones I’ve paid for before.


The edamame ($4.50), although not spectacular, was warm and well salted.


Torn between all the delicious sounding maki, I was about to order three when our waitress suggested starting off with two. I’m thankful for her warning as they were huge and leftover sushi is never good the next day.

An interesting addition, the lettuce used in the double shrimp cannon roll ($9.80) helped to provide extra crunch along with the tempura shrimp while keeping the maki light. Really, it was your typical dynamite roll with tobiko (fish roe) and avocado, but was a well-executed version.


Meanwhile, the volcano rainbow roll ($10.90) was more inventive, blow torched at the table. Slices of salmon, tuna, eel, and avocado glisten on top giving the dish a beautiful contrast and the rainbow description. Overtop was a light diluted honey sauce, which added a delicate sweetness and caramelized a bit from the heat while protecting the seafood itself. Inside the roll, avocado and tempura bits provided a creamy and crunchy contrast.


Unbeknown to me, my friend had switched tables to help the restaurant accommodate another group. So, after the filling meal they also treated us to scoops of intense black sesame ice cream; very rich and creamy. What a satisfying finish to a new local favourite sushi restaurant of mine. 


Overall mark - 8 out of 10


How To Find Them
 Location: Toronto, Canada
 Address: 3403 Yonge Street

Follow me on twitter to chat, be notified about new posts and more - https://twitter.com/GastroWorldBlog
____________________________
Gastro World's Grading System

  • Anything under 5 - I really disliked and will never go back
  • 6 - decent restaurant but I likely won't return
  • 7 - decent restaurant and I will likely return
  • 8 - great restaurant that I'd be happy to recommend
  • 9 - fantastic restaurant that I would love to visit regularly and highly recommend
  • 10 - absolute perfection!


Is That It? I Want More!

Other Gastro World posts similar to this:


Shinobu Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato