Bbq sushi

So Mrs. Dude and I had a weekend alone in Los Angeles recently.  (Bbq Jr. was home with Grandma Dude).  And of course, we have to check out the local restaurant scene.  First night up?  Kiriko Sushi.  We were a little concerned when we found the place.  It's in a dying conference/banquet center, where half the businesses are empty, and from the ground floor, it looks like Kiriko will be seeing the grim reaper soon.  But when you walk in, it's hopping inside.

This is one of those sushi joints where you sit down at the bar, and the conveyer belt in front of you brings fresh sushi by.  You grab a roll, or a piece of sushi, and eat it, and at the end of the meal they count the number and colour of the plates in front of you, and tabulate your bill.  I've only been to such a place once before, and it wasn't that good.  You can imagine, if not properly done, the sushi can age on the belt.  It's not conducive to making the freshest product.

At Kiriko, even at 6:30 p.m., the place was hopping, and food was moving off and onto the belt at a pretty decent clip.  Everything was fresh and delicious.  The various deep-fried offerings were still warm, and so delicately seasoned.  Even the spicy tuna roll, often used as a way to hide old tuna, was sweet and delicate.

This was an enjoyable meal, and we stuffed ourselves silly.  (Yes, we got a bit out of hand.  It's been quite some time since we had sushi that compared favourably to Kiriko).

Just when I thought I was done, I see the sushi-maestro going all Pulp Fiction on a piece of halibut with a blowtorch.  Awesome.  Bbq sushi.  Well, you just know I had to try it.  It was a basically a California roll, wrapped with caramelized halibut, with a wee bit of Kirik Secret Sauce, also caramelized.  It tasted of smoke and fish and rice and sauce and YUM!  The perfect way to end the meal.

If you find yourself in L.A., and are looking for a place to have excellent sushi, keep Kiriko on your list.


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