Sushi Showdown

Sushi is a beloved food in many parts of the world. Although there are many different places to get sushi, most people think the best places are usually the overpriced restaurants. There are other places to get sushi, however, mainly grocery stores. A price and taste comparison of three major sushi vendors will let people know if they truly have to make the trip, or can they skip to the grocery aisle.

First is Ralph’s. A California Roll is $6.99 for 10 rolls, about $0.70 per roll, which is middle of the pack for price. Their sushi had great flavor with an ok texture if they did not fill it with so much avocado! Half of the insides were avocado. However, the crab was nice and did have a smooth texture. The rice was sticky, but still decently cooked. The seaweed had no flavor, but did hold the roll together. To sum up, it was fine if one took out the ridiculous amount of avocado, but as is, it was barely edible.

The next competitor was Sake Sushi Bar Lounge, it was $9.50 for 8 pieces, totaling $1.90 per roll, the most expensive of them all. The rice was very sticky and not very satisfying. The rice also lacked any softness the consumer would expect from rice. There was also was not much structure; it just liquefied. The seaweed’s salty flavor added to the roll. The crab had no texture but a strong, yet great taste. The California Roll had avocado, but, unlike the assault on my taste buds that was Ralph’s, it added a fresh flavor to the sushi. The crab was the center though; it was smooth and went down well. Overall, the taste was way better than Ralph’s, but the texture was weak at best. Even with the better taste, the texture was too much to ignore.

The last vendor was Costco. The price was $10.59 for 20 pieces, so consumers pay about 50 cents per roll, a price that beats out all of the competition. Now for the flavor. The seaweed did not offer much in taste or texture. The rice was nice and fluffy, like an angelic cloud in my mouth. The crab meat was dull but noticeable. The star of the show was the cucumber, which offered a great refreshing flavor. The sushi’s texture was satisfying, with melt-in-your-mouth rice, and the structural hold of the cucumber allowed for a firm, yet soothing feel. The seaweed was a waste as it added nothing. The crab meat added little to no texture, but the texture overall easily overtook Sake Sushi. The sushi was great all around.

Out of the competitors, time to see what’s the best. Even with Ralph’s competitive $0.70 per roll price tag, it is out of the running for its painful taste. It comes down to Costco and Sake Sushi. Costco offered a better texture while Sake offered a better flavor, but overall, Costco’s was better. The extra cucumber added something extra. The price per roll was way better as well. In conclusion, for those who have a Costco card, then definitely go for Costco. If not, Sake Sushi can provide a good roll as well.