The Best Splurge Sushi in Toronto

I'm salivating, cheap sushi may do the trick every once in awhile, but its been TOO LONG since I've been able to afford one of these places.

I feel like ignorance is bliss in this regard. Why anyone would willingly cultivate a taste for expensive sushi, wine, and so on if they originally loved the el-cheapo variety is beyond me. That being said, I'm almost afraid to check out one of these premium locations, just in case it ruins New Gen for me forever. Man, that place is great.

"Really good sushi ruins you for the cheap stuff."

That's the most true statement I've read in a while.

"Why anyone would willingly cultivate a taste for expensive sushi, wine, and so on if they originally loved the el-cheapo variety is beyond me."

It's not my fault that the stuff I bought in the convenience stores at train stations in Japan (at a fraction of the cost) is better than what New Gen and SonB offer! :)

As for wine... once you acquire a taste for good wine, it's hard to go back to the mass-produced schlock (ie most of what you find on the LCBOs general list).

Appreciating finer food and drink has its drawbacks (cost) but many people (myself included) feel that its often worth the extra price.

Surely you have your own vices for finer things too, Joe. Maybe it's not food and drink, but elsewhere?

"Appreciating finer food and drink has its drawbacks (cost) but many people (myself included) feel that its often worth the extra price."

exactly. although it costs more, when i first realized what a quality sushi experience was, it became painful to spend my money on the cheap stuff that never satisfied.
although, i'm the opposite for wine and most alcohol. i don't care for the taste of it, and can't appreciate the 'good' stuff... so i buy the cheapest possible!

Haha, you're absolutely right, Jerrold. It's pretty much just sour grapes - I secretly love the finer things in life as well, but as a starving student I must try and convince myself that I don't. I've almost succeeded in actually believing that the 1.5 litre jugs of Kressman's "table wine" taste better than any of that VQA "swill." :)

That Sushi Train place on Yonge St, between Wellesley and Bloor has pretty good sushi... The chefs make huge maki rolls (3-biters) that look pretty interesting!

Sushi Train is awful. Overly expensive and a pretty bad selection too.

"One thing that I took for granted, however (once it became the norm), was the cuisine, and it wasn't until returning to Toronto that I realized just how difficult it is to get a decent sushi meal here without noticing the wallet getting lighter every time."

I'm pretty sure this quote was lifted directly from "Stuff White People Like"

^^^ I don't get it. White people like living in Japan and then returning to Toronto to find that good sushi costs more here?

"But it goes beyond just food, all white people either have/will/or wished they had taught English in Japan. It is a dream for them to go over seas and actually live in Japan. This helps them not only because it fills their need to travel, it will enable them to gain important leverage over other white people at Sushi restaurants where they can say ?this place is pretty good, but living in Japan really spoiled me. I?ve had such a hard time finding a really authentic place.?"

#58 Japan - it instantly came to mind is all :-p

nice spot boogie, i was reminded of the exact same thing. appreciation of "finer" sushi is the latest shot in the class war. you can add in there with only liking bands that are commercially unsuccessful.

(on the other hand, i too lived in japan and do enjoy sushi, so i am wallowing in hypocrisy. i still find it amusing though.)

I don't see how having an appreciation for good, authentic ethnic food (whether it be sushi, roti, pizza, or falafel) has anything to do with being caucasian. You've lost me on this one, totally. :S

I'm dying to try Sushi Kaji one of these days. The local sushi restaurant, Sakura, at Yonge/Sheppard is pretty good and affordable. Been to a lot of sushi places aross Toronto and they simply have the best spicy tuna rolls around.

Dude, it's just from a sarcastic humor blog called stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/2008/02/07/58-japan
All the cool kids know about it.

boogie, I'm familiar with the SWPL blog. It's written by a Toronto ex-pat, and it's been all over the internet meme for a while now. Some of it is funny, but I don't think it's particularly relevant.

For the record, I know several non-white people (myself included) who spent years in Japan, speak Japanese and have developed a taste for good Japanese food. Sushi snobs come in all different colours. Good list, but I would also include Fune on Simcoe and while they don't do sushi, Kaiseki Sakura at Church and Wellesley is a must for anyone interested in dropping a couple bucks for a spectacular Japanese meal. Daisuke, the chef there, is a genius.

Tokyo Sushi, on St Joseph St, near the corner with Bay St, is also very good. Sushi is all they serve - no tempura or bento boxes in sight. The fish melts in your mouth and everything is very fresh. The price is pretty reasonable too. I've tried the sushi places on Bloor and I really can't understand why people rave about them so much...

Can't agree with you more. 8 years in Japan ruined me for the cheap stuff as well. Not on your list, but one of my favourites (and luckily just down the end of my street) is Sushi Marche in Leslieville. Takeout only but some of the best sushi i've had. Not only that but the chef was trained in Japan by the original Iron Chef!

I second Tokyo Sushi. When I tried it a few years ago it was the best sushi I'd had in the city yet. I've since had good sushi at other places, but that's one of the better ones.

"I've tried the sushi places on Bloor and I really can't understand why people rave about them so much... "

-Because it's what they know. They hear about how great these other places are and so that's where they go, but they don't always try alternatives. Or if they do, they still think that the other places are better because that's what they've been told. It's not necessarily a matter of people not thinking for themselves, but the constant messaging tricking them.

Sad that all except one of the best "Splurge sushi" places on the list are south of Queen. Where are the other good downtown quality sushi restaurants?

It's not only Japan... each sushi regularly at good places in Seattle or Vancouver, and you will recognize the cheap stuff in Toronto as the bad stuff.

An excellent sushi place north of Queen is Mochizuki. Bring your wallet, especially if you want to try the divine (and probably mercurial) bluefin toro.

Doesn't eating "good" anything ruin you for the cheap stuff?

Has anyone tried Simon Sushi on Spadina south of college?

Ematei is my favourite by Simon Sushi is a close second. I was surprised it was as good as it was.

Skip on Blowfish. My partner and I (yes gay) went there for Valentines Day, and it was the first time in my entire life I've ever had someone be bigoted towards me in a professional establishment. It was really quite offensive....