By Brett Callwood
The most important thing about any restaurant serving sushi and sashimi is, how fresh is the fish? Regardless of what dish you’re having – what roll or combination plate – the quality of the food all comes down to the quality of the fish.
Thankfully, Sushi Sumo delivers. Like the wrestlers that the restaurant is named after, the owners appear to be dedicated to making something exceptional. Unlike the wrestlers, sushi is unlikely to pack on an extraordinary amount of pounds.
We chose a few different dishes from the extensive and impressive menu, starting with the Assorted Tempura Appetizer. A variety of vegetables and some shrimp, all battered to an impeccable crisp and served with a teriyaki dipping sauce – the dish is superb.
The shrimp is plump and juicy, and full of flavor. The vegetables, meanwhile, include broccoli, potato, carrot and green bean. How healthy they are when fried in breading is questionable, but the flavor is perfect, especially with the broccoli.
The vegan in the family had some vegetable and avocado rolls. The rice is cooked perfectly and the ratio of veg to rice is perfect.
The star dish, however, was the Sashimi Salad. Assorted leaves, cucumber and carrot are topped with a generous helping of sashimi, including hearty tuna and exquisite salmon. The whole thing is sprinkled with sesame seeds, and you can add soy dressing and wasabi to your own taste.
The combination of salad veg and fish works magnificently, even without the heaviness of the rice. It’s a salad that simultaneously feels light and filling, while teasing the senses with aromatic delights and playing with the taste buds.
When dining in, the strip mall restaurant allows you to either tick off items from their menu, or to simply sit at the sushi bar in front of a conveyor belt and pull off items as they pass. The plates are color-coded, making it simple to add up your own bill as you eat.
That’s a fairly common practice in sushi restaurants, and it works perfectly well here. The staff are helpful and fun, and the decor is in keeping with the food. Overall, Sushi Sumo is well worth a visit.
Sushi Sumo is located at 1831 W. Redondo Beach Blvd., Gardena 90247. Call 310-516-0499.
