California Grill (aka do we try the Sushi?)

[Ziggie]

We'll be dining at the California Grill on our next trip but have never, ever eaten Sushi. I'd love to see what all the fuss is about and was wondering if someone can give me some recommendations on what to try? I'm not into wasabi or really spicy. I'd probably have to attempt the most simple combo the first time out.

What are some of your suggestions for a Sushi newbie?

 

[Chaoticsweetness]

I love California Grill and their sushi! The best sushi for beginners is the California Roll - usually has crab meat, cucumber and avocado. So delicious! I would also ask the waiter what their recommendation would be. I hope that helps.

 

[Mousetopia]

Don't get the Kazan Roll!!! You will be ruined for any other sushi!! Sigh! I still remember every bite! Seriously GET IT!!!! It is also like cali roll in
that it doesnt have raw fish like say one with salmon. This was the best sushi Ive ever had. I also love raw fish but this is a great starter. Sushi by the way does not mean raw fish...the name is about the specially prepared rice used. **Also it is a short ride over to the POLY where they have sushi walk up in the lobby less expensive and from what I hear just as good.

 

[Ziggie]

I love California Grill and their sushi! The best sushi for beginners is the California Roll - usually has crab meat, cucumber and avocado. So delicious! I would also ask the waiter what their recommendation would be. I hope that helps.

Thanks for rec CS I love crab and avocado. Cukes don't always agree with me but I'm not adverse to trying them again

 

[Ziggie]

Don't get the Kazan Roll!!! You will be ruined for any other sushi!! Sigh! I still remember every bite! Seriously GET IT!!!! It is also like cali roll in
that it doesnt have raw fish like say one with salmon. This was the best sushi Ive ever had. I also love raw fish but this is a great starter. Sushi by the way does not mean raw fish...the name is about the specially prepared rice used. **Also it is a short ride over to the POLY where they have sushi walk up in the lobby less expensive and from what I hear just as good.

Wow, I had no idea the Poly had a sushi walk up ~ learned something new! The Kazan has something called "Fireball Sauce" on it tho (Yikes!)

 

[SillySallySews]

Ditto to what others have said! The spicy kazan roll is amazing! IMO it's not super spicy. I like heat, but I don't like things so spicy that I can't really taste them, if that makes sense. The kazan roll is just spicy enough with amazing flavor. I also really like their pork belly sushi. If you like pork and/or bacon it's worth a try, and very unique. California rolls are probably the sushi most people try first. They have a very mild refreshing sort of flavor. If you try them and you think they're too boring (my husband thinks they are boring on their own lol) try dipping them in soy or soy with just a tiny bit of wasabi mixed in. Whatever kind of sushi you order there, I don't think you can go wrong!

 

[cutigerlady]

I didn't like sushi, until I had it at California Grill recently! I'm not a huge fan of the seaweed paper, but they can make any of the items on the menu with rice paper instead if you ask.

 

[Serenebean]

Thanks for rec CS I love crab and avocado. Cukes don't always agree with me but I'm not adverse to trying them again

I'm a pretty tame eater and have been trying sushi lately. I like the California Roll because of no raw fish. I also don't like cucumbers, so I usually just push it out of the sushi lol. I also like shrimp tempura (cooked). I have started to eat spicy tuna rolls - I guess it depends on where you get it from, but the one I get from Wegmans isn't too spicy. I'm not a fan of spicy food.

 

[Minnesota!]

Splitzville has (shockingly!) very good sushi, too. I daydream about it....

21 days!!

 

[shortnsassy730]

Splitzville has (shockingly!) very good sushi, too. I daydream about it....

21 days!!

Splittsville has excellent sushi!!

 

[Ziggie]

Ditto to what others have said! The spicy kazan roll is amazing! IMO it's not super spicy. I like heat, but I don't like things so spicy that I can't really taste them, if that makes sense. The kazan roll is just spicy enough with amazing flavor. I also really like their pork belly sushi. If you like pork and/or bacon it's worth a try, and very unique. California rolls are probably the sushi most people try first. They have a very mild refreshing sort of flavor. If you try them and you think they're too boring (my husband thinks they are boring on their own lol) try dipping them in soy or soy with just a tiny bit of wasabi mixed in. Whatever kind of sushi you order there, I don't think you can go wrong!

I love pork + bacon lol! I'm not really sure about the Kazan roll but the accolades here make it tempting!

I didn't like sushi, until I had it at California Grill recently! I'm not a huge fan of the seaweed paper, but they can make any of the items on the menu with rice paper instead if you ask.

Do you eat the seaweed paper (asked the sushi newbie) ?

I'm a pretty tame eater and have been trying sushi lately. I like the California Roll because of no raw fish. I also don't like cucumbers, so I usually just push it out of the sushi lol. I also like shrimp tempura (cooked). I have started to eat spicy tuna rolls - I guess it depends on where you get it from, but the one I get from Wegmans isn't too spicy. I'm not a fan of spicy food.

I just might have to push it to one side too lol

Splitzville has (shockingly!) very good sushi, too. I daydream about it....

21 days!!

Have fun in 21 days! Enjoy your trip!

Splittsville has excellent sushi!!

Something else I'm just learning now!

 

[peteykirch]

Get the Pork Belly Nigiri not sushi in the traditional sense, but it's delicious.

 

[TinkLoverSam]

I love pork + bacon lol! I'm not really sure about the Kazan roll but the accolades here make it tempting!



Do you eat the seaweed paper (asked the sushi newbie) ?



I just might have to push it to one side too lol



Have fun in 21 days! Enjoy your trip!



Something else I'm just learning now!

You do eat the seaweed paper its wrapped into or around the roll

You'd have to push it out of the roll as noted as its all wrapped together in seaweed paper and rice

Also the Kazan roll is AMAZING! It's been 5 years since our wedding trip and I still remember every bite of that roll!

 

[Lisa F]

don't they prepare it to order and couldn't you just order a california roll, hold the cucumber if you don't like cucumber?

 

[TiggerTrigger]

If you're willing to try raw, the sashimi is wonderful and has been my fave of what I've had there. I don't always need the rice and sometimes just want the fresh fish. It was served with wasabi when I last got it, which has been a few years, but you don't have to eat it or you can ask them to omit it from the plate. This is what it looked like when I had it. All of the fish on the plate are very mild.

 

[Lisa F]

sashimi is not good beginner sushi imo

first you start with the cooked stuff and get a taste for the seaweed and vinegared rice etc
then you graduate to raw fish in a roll
then you graduate to raw fish ontoppa roll
and then you do sashimi

unless you are not squeamish about such things

 

[alexce]

I second Lisa F's advice on how to progress with sushi.
We also enjoyed the Kazan roll - I don't recall it being very spicy (and I can be a baby about that).

And yes, they can hold off an ingredient if you ask.

 

[Ziggie]

Oh my peteykirch, that does look tasty!

 

[Ziggie]

You do eat the seaweed paper its wrapped into or around the roll

You'd have to push it out of the roll as noted as its all wrapped together in seaweed paper and rice

Also the Kazan roll is AMAZING! It's been 5 years since our wedding trip and I still remember every bite of that roll!

Hmm, not sure about the seaweed, to be honest. Is it chewy? Does it have a distinct ocean-water taste?

don't they prepare it to order and couldn't you just order a california roll, hold the cucumber if you don't like cucumber?

There's an idea! I wonder if they'd replace the cucumber with something else?

If you're willing to try raw, the sashimi is wonderful and has been my fave of what I've had there. I don't always need the rice and sometimes just want the fresh fish. It was served with wasabi when I last got it, which has been a few years, but you don't have to eat it or you can ask them to omit it from the plate. This is what it looked like when I had it. All of the fish on the plate are very mild.

I can eat raw oysters with the best of them but I don't think I'm ready for sashimi (love your photo tho!)

sashimi is not good beginner sushi imo

first you start with the cooked stuff and get a taste for the seaweed and vinegared rice etc
then you graduate to raw fish in a roll
then you graduate to raw fish ontoppa roll
and then you do sashimi

unless you are not squeamish about such things

Actually, I don't even really like fish. I'll eat salmon and seafood every now and then, but raw fish doesn't seem to be something I'd enjoy.

I second Lisa F's advice on how to progress with sushi.
We also enjoyed the Kazan roll - I don't recall it being very spicy (and I can be a baby about that).

And yes, they can hold off an ingredient if you ask.

Another vote for the Kazan roll I see lol! You're all making it sound tempting! Right now, I'm leaning towards the California roll as I think I need to take baby steps.

 

[Lisa F]

Hmm, not sure about the seaweed, to be honest. Is it chewy? Does it have a distinct ocean-water taste?



There's an idea! I wonder if they'd replace the cucumber with something else?



I can eat raw oysters with the best of them but I don't think I'm ready for sashimi (love your photo tho!)



Actually, I don't even really like fish. I'll eat salmon and seafood every now and then, but raw fish doesn't seem to be something I'd enjoy.



Another vote for the Kazan roll I see lol! You're all making it sound tempting! Right now, I'm leaning towards the California roll as I think I need to take baby steps.

"spicy" sauce on sushi is usually mayo mixed with sriracha or other chili type sauce. The mayo pretty much cuts the heat of whatever chili sauce they use and it's creamy with just a tad of heat. Sushi flavors are pretty mild in general so it would be kind of a waste to blast your tastebuds with strong heat. I've had onion ring dips that were way spicier than anything I've had on sushi. I do add a bit of wasabi because I like the bite but that is optional.

I love the spicy kazan roll too. It DOES have raw fish in it but if you like raw oysters you might actually like raw fish in sushi... it has a similar fresh and slightly briny taste to it and is not fishy AT ALL, but minus the snot texture of oysters (I live in a place with lots of local oysters lol.) I love raw oysters but don't care for them cooked and I like raw fish in sushi but I like it combined with the other flavors and textures in a roll and am not a fan of it by itself in sashimi (so alas I am not a sushi grand master). Honestly if you are ok with oysters I'd go straight to spicy kazan. no joke.