Sushi, a time-honored Japanese art, is now a dietary staple for any college epicurean. With a sea of options to choose from, what’s a globally-minded gastronome to do? This week, FM navigates Harvard Square to demystify that age-old staple: the spicy tuna roll, known to insiders as maguro.
Takemura
Price: $6.95 for six
Ambience: Subterranean. Basic “Chinese restaurant” theme, Japanese-style.
The Goods: Takemura delivers a rich roll. Without any avocado or cucumber, the focus is on the fish: creamy tuna mixed with tangy, but not spicy, sauce. Contrast with the chewy, vaguely fragrant rice and pleasantly rubbery seaweed is subtle at best. Plus: a compact roll, this sushi doesn’t fall apart in soy sauce.
The Verdict: Three stars out of five—deductions for the ho-hum sauce, lack of crisp contrasting textures, and steep price.
Shabu-Ya
Price: $6.50 for eight
Ambience: Fun, colorful aesthetic reminiscent of many a bubble-tea chain.
The Goods: Large and a bit unstable, with well-cooked rice. Unique blend of textures: crisp, fresh julienned cucumber; rich, creamy avocado; chewy rice and seaweed; soft fish; and spicy sauce on top that adds a nice sizzle.
The Verdict: Four and a half stars out of five—major points for a big portion, nice texture and (comparatively) cheap price; minuses include slight unmanageability.
Cafe Sushi
Price: $5.75 for six
Ambience: Wood-backed chairs and dark enamel—not to mention the smooth jazz—point to classy aspirations.
The Goods: The roll is messy, rice loose, less chewy and with a tendency to crumple into the soy sauce. Though the fish is mild and sauce lightly spicy, the one chunk of cucumber irritates.
The Verdict: Two out of five—docked points for the unwieldy roll and annoying cucumber, but at least it’s affordable.
While nobody’s perfect, Shabu-Ya takes it this round.
Alternatively, the cheap and studious can get their sushi fix without even leaving Lamont. Who cares what it tastes like when it’s on Board Plus.
