Sushi Train united Australia with this Japanese food culture around 20 years ago. Since then we've always just associated this style of dining as Sushi Train despite this being the name of their franchise.
When you walk into Sushi Train in Neutral Bay you'll immediately notice how the decor and vibe represents a more refined and intimate dining experience as opposed to the budget Japanese dining experience it's regularly associated with.
Instead of picking off the conveyor belt, we opted to order from the menu.
Salmon Volcano Roll - Volcano rolls have always been one of the best fusion Japanese dishes to hit the market. This one was no exception. The creamy sauce blended heavenly to the fresh salmon... and then topped off with the surprisingly crunch of roe.. making it a perfect mouthful.
Miso Garlic Salmon and Scallop Ship - The dish was a beautiful balance of fresh salmon and scallop... then matched with a strong crunchy dried garlic.
Mixed Sashimi - Salmon, Tuna and Kingfish. A simple but refined sashimi platter presenting nothing but fresh, melt-in-your-mouth seafood.
I was lucky enough to have a meet and greet with Owner and Chef Ken. To top it off, he gifted us with a experimental plate of fried sushi that's not even on the menu yet.
Beautifully sculptured into little deep fried cubes of rice, topped with fresh seafood and dressed with relish and sauce to serve. They had to be eaten immediately as the crunch hardened over time. Each was a masterpiece on it's own and I for one cannot wait for this to be part of their existing menu.
Agedashi Eggplant - The eggplant was soft and well cooked but that broth was to die for. I slurped it down with pure glee in my face as the warmth of the soup soothed through the body.
Mix Tempura - A plate of well battered vegetables and prawn. Nothing exciting about this but it works well as a side to snack on while you decide what else to order.
Unagi (Eel) - As per usual the eel was tender and soaked in a blissful teriyaki sauce.
Ika Sugata (Whole Squid) - The squid was beautifully cook, slippery, not tough and so fresh.
Salmon Belly Nigiri - We really were hoping for another round of Toro but this will have to do. The salmon belly was soft, delicate and oozed a sense of creaminess about it.
Gyoza - Pork Dumplings - For some reason I though these were going to come out pan fried instead of steamed. Nonetheless it was steamed to perfection, each bite had enough meat and the flavours were all on par.
Kirin Pear Cider - The cider deceptively passes off as a Japanese branded cider but in fact not an import but a home grown cider brewed by the same makes of Tooheys 5 Seeds in Sydney. Nonetheless, it was easy to drink, refreshing and slightly dry which worked well with the sushi.
Ippin Sake - With a medium body and rich taste, nothing quite pairs more perfectly than cold sake and sushi on a warm sunny afternoon.
If you are not already a member of Washoku Lovers, and I don't know why you wouldn't be, then I definitely recommend going to their page and signing up. They offer many perks at an ever growing list of Japanese restaurants.
In the case of Sushi Train, you can enjoy a free glass of sake from the menu.
Sign Up Here
I would like to thank Washoku Lovers and Sushi Train for inviting me to dine as a guest.
Located on the busy Military Road in Cremorne, Sushi Train has no troubles packing the place out on a warm Sunday afternoon. The price tag is slightly above what you might expect compared to city pricing but you're definitely guaranteeing an fantastic experience of authentic Japanese cuisine and fun, fusion dishes that unitedly . I can't wait to come back and try their Duck Nigiri, Sea Urchin Ship and more of that drool worthy Volcano rolls. With attentive and friendly service and top notch food... this is without a doubt one of my best "Sushi Train" experiences.
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