Aisuru Sushi

It's so refreshing to find a classic "fast food" with a twist.. And doing it extremely well! Aisuru sushi, located in the Northbridge, is one of many restaurants providing something a little edgy. Think sushi, but with rock and roll credentials.

Owed by a lovely man, it took him 2 years to make the amazing menu at Aisuru that turns sushi from fast food to fine work of art with punches of flavours.

Aisuru Sushi bar is very cool and I mean cool as in it's clean, sleek an icy (thanks to blue florescent lights - which I really hate - reminds me of those lights used in toilets to prevent IV drug use). Despite the lights it has an ambiance of sexiness, and it's so sleek and so streamlined (clean no clutter and unnecessary decorations - just the uber awesome sushi bar in the centre) and it's refreshing and the staff are friendly.

You are warmly welcomed by waitresses with iPads who show you to your seat; whether it's further inside away from the sushi bar or at the sushi bar where you can see sushi masters lightly sear the sushi plates with gas burners and create their work of art. Personally I like sitting at the bar to watch.

Watching the sushi master make the dishes.. occasionally the blow torch would lit up to sear the tuna/salmon/unagi

The waitresses also take your order on flashy iPads (which I rather like - saves trees and your order can't be mistaken)!

We were extremely impressed by the menu. So extensive (vegetarians sushi included - not just your avocado sushi but interesting varieties). We couldn't decide what to pick and wanted to try so many, so decided to stick to the "meat" and "seafood" dishes and try vego at a later date. They serve them in two sizes, but because JJ and I wanted so many things on the menu we opted for the smaller size (4 pieces of sushi). We had 4 different types of sushi, something non-sushi and a dessert, which we discovered was a little over indulgent on our behalf. But it's all because the menu is so exciting and such wonderful varieties!

Everything on their menu is made fresh - no pre-rolled sushi. Only made when they receive their order. And the presentation of each of their dishes is a work of art, so complex, mixture of elements and textures and taste, yet all finely balanced to create a taste sensation.

First off we ordered the creamy prawn popcorn. Which really was just deep fried prawn covered in wasabi  mayonnaise. Nothing too exciting and spectacular there. The prawns were crunchy and you the wasabi mayonnaise had the right amount of wasabi kick to it.

Prawn popcorn

Then there was the Torch Roll - tempura prawn, avocado & crab stick wrapped in nori and shari, topped with tuna & pickled mackerel, drizzled with spicy sauce and torched. The taste of the seared tuna with the crunchy tempura prawns with fish roe, crabstick wrapped in nori and shari with this amazing spicy sauce was just exquisite. One to definitely try.

Torch Roll (above)

Then there was the Sunset Boulevard roll. Unagi (eel), the nori flakes, prawns wrapped in nori drizzled amazing eel/bbq sauce. JJ's favourite. The unagi was well cooked the nori flakes went beautifully with it and although it was lighter in taste compared to all mayonnaise sauces, as it was less creamy, it still was filled with slightly tangy, salty flavours of the bbq sauce. 

  Sunset Boulevard Roll (on the left)

For something a little different JJ and I went for the Grilled Salmon Roll - Sundried tomato and cucumber wrapped in nori and shairi topped with salmon and grated cheddar cheese and then torched. Drizzled with Japanese mayonnaise. I’m not the biggest sundried tomato fan so I was going to be a hard sell, but I applauded the boldness of sundried tomato and also cheese in a sushi roll – definitely different! Wouldn't say it was my favourite, mainly because of the sundried tomato, but worth the try if you like it!

Grilled Salmon Roll (above)

Last but not least, the Spider Roll. - soft shell crab wrapped in crunchy lettuce, crisp nori, fluffy rice, topped with black sesame seed and drizzled with my favourite sauces - wasabi mayonnaise. The tempura-coated crab was crisp and light without a hint of grease and it was still hot as it wrapped around the lettuce, nori and rice! And of course the wasabi mayo with the right amount of bite.

 

Spider Roll (above)

To end the night, we went for the banana maki - topped with kiwi and strawberry and cream drizzled with strawberry and chocolate sauce. All this dish needed with a dab of ice cream on the side of the plate! It would have complemented the crispy tempura covering the sweet banana and would have gone so nicely with the fruits too!

Banana Maki (above)

 

Aisuru Sushi is a busy place if you are not there early, but they have such friendly service, which checks up on you. They make amazing made-to-order sushi (which means that at peak time, the artistic pieces may not look all that great and the technique a little under par) along with having sashimi and other Japanese dishes. Aisuru Sushi is single-handedly changing what it means to eat sushi. I'm loving it! and I'll be back for more!