Finally, an article I can do without any need for research, when it comes to Sushi in Brighton I’ve really tried everywhere. It’s a wonder how a cuisine, often offering the exact same flavours and ingredients as rival places, can differ so intensely in quality and taste.
When I first started enjoying sushi, I thought there were only really good places and really bad places, and that beyond that the atmosphere made up for the rest of the quality, but I was sorely mistaken. With my sushi knowledge maturing, I’m painstakingly aware, after spending too much money on sub-par/ average Sushi, that more often than not you’ll find yourself underwhelmed by Sushi not as good as that one great place you found that’s a little too pricey.
That is the secondary factor most important to me, and most other Sushi enjoyers. If you’re a student or recently graduated like myself, it’s tough to find the money to enjoy Sushi, without spending your weekly food budget in one night.
Worse still, is when the Sushi wasn’t actually that good. I find the lesser places end up costing me more, as I become desperate for that perfect hidden plate that makes it all worthwhile, over-eating and spending only to find more disappointment at the bottom of my finished plates piled high.
It’s an experience, a cycle of sushi self- loathing, that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. L;Luckily, for my worst enemy and everyone in between, I present my pick of the best Sushi restaurants across all occasions. Whether you want it for takeaway, or prefer a dining experience, please enjoy my list of where to go for sushi, Omakase style!
Moshimo
The absolute must got to for a sit in experience, the ever so chic Moshimo has been voted among the best Sushi places in England multiple years running. I’ve talked about it in previous articles, but they offer the added benefit of sustainable eating.
As a lover of Fish as food, and being an Itchyophile, My enjoyment of fish often comes at the cost of guilt, knowing the horrific un-sustainable fishing practises many restaurants fund, and in some cases rely on. Moshimo is different, in that it only uses sustainably caught fish, and has even been carbon neutral for the last few years.
The global ‘FishLove’ campaign to raise awareness of fishing and the impact of overfishing was conceptualised by the restaurant’s owner. It’s one of the few meals out you can have totally guilt free!
Of course, it’s not just about environmental pledges and marine conservation. It’s about Food. Luckily, Moshimo cares about taste and quality just as much as it cares about sustainability. Everything about the food here, from the menu, to the Rice quality, is top drawer.
The perfect selection of hot and cold starters and sides, Larger hot mains and a gloriously varied menu of Sushi, you wouldn’t know the restaurant avoids endangered fish, with such a great array of choice.
Plenty of choice cuts make for great Sashimi and Nigiri, and the delightful selection of Futomaki make for a wonderful infusion of flavours. The fried Salmon-skin, with fried onions, is a treat to be savoured, and the Katsu Salmon with a light mustard is utterly divine.
Finally, if the food is great, the guilt is free and the atmosphere is stylish yet comforting, there’s still one final key factor: How’s the price? Whilst at first glance certain parts of the menu may seem pricey, Moshimo has a Membership available for just £24.00 a year.
“Great, a membership, what does that get me 10% off?” I appreciate your corporate cynicism, but with all members eating half price on Mondays and Tuesdays, and all Vegan dishes 50% off on Wednesdays for Members, you literally only need to go once a year to make your money back.
You’ll need to book ahead for these days, but I’d highly recommend a membership and a £60 Sushi boat. That’s £60 of Sushi, masterfully curated by the Chef to share for 2, for £30.
I can spout compliments about Moshimo all day, I haven’t even mentioned how fantastic their vegan range is, and how perfectly they recreate the textures and flavours of non-vegan Sushi. The only way to test my opinion is to see for yourself.
I’m not one to shill for businesses, but there’s almost nothing bad I could even think of to say about Moshimo. It’s too far away from me would be my one criticism. They should move it for me.
Website: www.moshimo.co.uk
Address: Bartholomew Square, MOSHIMO, Brighton BN1 1JS
O’Shio
Ok so, Moshimo is an admittedly tough act to follow, but make no mistake, O’Shio, and it’s compatriots on here, are just as worthy as a place on this list. By far the largest menu, O’Shio is the go to for all Japanese cravings, combined in a high-class dining package. It may be on the pricier side, but what it lacks in savings, it makes up for in authentic , top-quality food.
Fish has never tasted fresher, the Rice is sticky, but each individual grain is there to be savoured. It’s not dense or mushed together like you often find at certain chain Sushi restaurants.
They also offer a secondary, full Korean menu. Usually Restaurants with two menus, or massive menus are a Red Flag, but O’Shio is one of the few culinary establishments that not only pulls it off, but maintains a high level of authenticity and a high standard.
For consistently delectable food, sating that Umami itch, a calming typically Japanese atmosphere and great service, O’Shio is comfortably in my top 3 Japanese restaurants.
Website: www.oshio.co.uk
Address: 87-88 Trafalgar St, Brighton BN1 4ER
Happy Maki
Happy Maki is every vegan Sushi lover’s go to establishment. Exclusively vegan, they incorporate a medley of crunchy vegetables, meat substitutes and big flavours. Coming to festivals near you, they ironically don’t serve traditional Maki, opting instead for a more hands on experience, with Sushi Burritos.
Fear not, there’s no cooking where not required or Cheese involved, these are simply large, Temaki style Hand Rolls. Think Maki, just before they cut it up.
With a choose your own adventure approach to their Sushi bowls, you can craft your perfect Poke bowl, no nasty surprises. Only your favourite ingredients. The Hand Roll selection is plentiful, with everything from crunchy vegetable rolls, an array of accurate fake meat, to sweet potato to choose from.
Website: www.happymaki.co.uk
Address: 8 Pool Valley, Brighton BN1 1NJ
Tropical Sushi
When I first came across the menu here it’s safe to say I was very sceptical. Sushi very rarely works when combined with other cultures, America introduced cream cheese to the mix, and I can’t even get behind that despite its ubiquity in western Sushi. But, I Have to say, Tropical Sushi offers something different, without straying too far from Sushi heritage.
One of the few Sushi places to successfully incorporate other cultures successfully into Sushi, Tropical Sushi includes some tasteful Latin flair with your rolls. Latin cuisine is a natural compatriot to Sushi, Ceviche is eaten widely across South America, which is essentially Sashimi cured in Citrus juices.
The Latin influence is not at all overpowering, The classic Japanese archetype is all there, the Latin flavours are there only to enhance and are tastefully incorporated.
If you are doubtful of the combination, they have plenty of standard plates you might expect, but the inclusion of zesty and even sweeter flavours, such as Mango, Citrus, Picadillo. I can’t genius addition of Plantain to the Veggie Sushi rolls, making for something a little different without straying too far from tradition.
This is not just taking Sushi and bombing it with other cultures. The dishes have delicate influences that are designed not to detract from the original Sushi experience, but to introduce new flavours to the Sushi palette, whilst remaining respectful of Sushi’s long standing tradition.
If your searching for some new flavours and some fresh inspiration, Tropical Sushi is great for those just getting into Sushi, unburdened by Sushi snobbery; or those dare I say bored of Sushi, wanting some new flavours after years of Sushi purism.
Website: tropical-sushi.com
Address: 12 Western Rd, Hove BN3 1AE
Aji Sushi
My favourite for Takeaway Sushi, AJI has a fine range of seafood Sushi, with delightful bento boxes to boot.
It’s great Sushi like everywhere else on this list, but in a sweet and quaint Sushi bar. Aji is great to pop in for a quick bite to eat, or if you want some great Sushi but don’t want to move.
Yes, Aji features on this list, not just for its fine quality, but for the fact it’s the best place to get Sushi delivered from.
When it comes to delivering Sushi, It’s so common for the quality to rapidly diminish as soon as the Sushi is picked up. Sitting in a delivery bag, often exposes lesser quality fish, as it quickly loses its flavour, and most importantly, it’s freshness.
It’s this reason why, before Aji’s I had sworn off delivering Sushi. If the fish wasn’t the problem, it was the Rice. In the past, I’d order Sushi and the rice would be hard, or mushed and dense, clearly once frozen.
However, despite my previous trepidation, on a whim, in a celebratory mood I ordered a delivery form Aji’s, remembering the regret I’d experienced at the hand of previous Sushi places.
To my joyful surprise, the delivered Sushi was not only of great quality, but was still nice and cold, and came with soy sauce, wasabi and ginger.
I think it’s criminal when Sushi deliveries don’t include an integral part of the Sushi experience in your order, and thankfully, Aji’s provided and ample supply of the accoutrements, that are so often left out by other establishments.
Most importantly, was the great quality food I enjoyed, the lack of degradation in transit, proof, if the taste wasn’t already, of great quality ingredients.
Website: www.ajisushi.co.uk
Address: Unit 1, 1 The Drive, Hove BN3 3JE
