A lot of people ask me for restaurant recommendations all the time. Maybe it’s because I enjoy eating out so much. Maybe it’s because I post restaurant reviews on this blog. Whatever the case, a friend messaged me the other day wondering whether or not she should try Sushi Oyama.
I’ve driven past this Japanese restaurant more often than I can remember, always telling myself that I really ought to give them a try. It just looks so interesting from the outside. Sushi Oyama is actually a converted heritage house, complete with a fantastic stone exterior and storied wooden walls on the inside. I’ve been told that it was even a funeral home at one point, making the “haunted sushi” even more intriguing to consider. Reading the review by Raul was the tipping point for me.
Assorted Sashimi
The menu is pretty typical of a Japanese restaurant in Vancouver, offering a variety of nigiri and sashimi, as well as appetizers and hot food. They have regular maki, as well as a number of specialty rolls. One of the first things that hit me at Sushi Oyama was the speed. We received our assorted sashimi less than five minutes after ordering.
The sashimi was nicely chilled without being icy. There were three pieces of six different types of seafood. Everything tasted fresh, though the tuna was a little on the stringy side.
Toro Nigiri Sushi
The toro (tuna belly) nigiri was better, naturally. It was buttery smooth and they offered decent sized pieces for about $1.40 each.
Awesome Roll: Crab and cucumber inside, topped with salmon, green onion, masago and bonito flakes
After noticing the Awesome Roll on the menu, we immediately drew a connection to the roll of the same name from Sushiholic. In fact, we have a burning suspicion that the same people own both restaurants, as they use the same kind of plating and the menus are similar. The two Awesome Rolls are different, however.
While the one at Sushiholic is topped with shoestring yam fries, the version at Sushi Oyama is topped with bonito flakes. I’m used to having bonito on my takoyaki, so it was a nice change having it on a “signature roll.” That said, it didn’t have the same satisfaction as the Sushiholic version. It didn’t have that burst of warmth and that satisfying crunch. It’s not a bad roll, but it’s not as good as its East Broadway counterpart.
Red Dynamite Roll: Ebi tempura and avocado, topped with spicy tuna
The other signature roll we ordered was the Red Dynamite Roll. It’s basically just a dynamite roll that has been topped with spicy tuna. I don’t really have any complaints here, except that the spicy tuna wasn’t all that spicy. If you want an extra side of spicy sauce, they charge you a dollar.
With a total bill of about $40 including taxes and tip, dinner at Sushi Oyama represented a decent value. The food is fresh, service is remarkably fast (making you wonder how much of it is pre-made), and the storied decor makes for an interesting conversation topic. Where else can you try haunted sushi (so to speak)?
Sushi Oyama is located at 5152 Kingsway in Burnaby, a couple blocks past Metropolis at Metrotown. There is a shared parking lot in the back with a limited number of spots, as well as metered parking on the street.
These all look delicious. I especially would love to try the red dynamite roll.
– Robert
They look great Michael, but they may have more than 2 Sushi Chefs making it so the speed and freshness is there. But, I could be wrong. Of course I never sit anywhere but the sushi bar so that I can my sushi made for me.
It does look very good and has made me extremely hungry.
There were three sushi chefs that I could see, but that was still VERY fast.
It was a Funeral home at one time indeed. My Great Grandmother was cremated there when I was a child. I still love that house, even now with all it’s history it still has a great warm vibe too it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bobkh/306314123/
Here’s the link to the history of the house.
Enjoy. 🙂
Fantastic. Thanks Samantha.