Sushi-Hiro (Japanese) – London, England (8.5/10)
Jul 22nd, 2009 by admin
Background:
Sushi-Hiro is a popular destination for Japanese diners, West London locals and all sushi lovers willing to trek across London for some of the freshest sushi and sashimi. One of my Japanese friends is always reminding me that it’s her favourite in the city for sushi. So when another friend (who lives locally and has been a regular for well over a decade) suggested dinner at Sushi-Hiro, I decided not to put the journey off any longer.
When I spotted the restaurant directly over the road from Ealing Common tube station, I wasn’t even sure whether it was open. The glass front is frosted so that you can’t see in to the interior from outside, and there was no displayed menu either. There were some great plastic replicas of the sushi displayed in the window though, as you would find outside many restaurants in Japan.
Upon entering, there was an enthusiastic Japanese welcome from the staff (the sushi chef and his assistant behind the sushi counter and a friendly waitress). Although I’d been warned, I was still quite surprised by the basic decor and small size of the restaurant. Apart from the seats around the sushi counter, all of which were reserved, there were just four small tables. It became busier at around 8pm, but at 7pm mid-week, it was rather quiet for most of the time we were eating.
Menu:
We were handed the menu, which was also printed on a single sheet attached to a clipboard and used to mark one’s order. Sushi-Hiro isn’t for vegetarians or those who aren’t fans of raw fish, and the menu lists just sushi and sashimi. There are no noodle, rice or little starter dishes either, unlike at other Japanese restaurants. For those who are fans, it’s sushi heaven!
As a Sushi-Hiro ‘virgin’, I wanted to try one of the nigiri sushi sets before ordering à la carte (priced individually). After settling on set A superior nigiri (£18.00 for 13 pieces – tuna belly, sea bass, salmon, turbot, sea bream, eel, surf clam, scallop, sweet shrimp, spotted sardine, yellowtail, crab and salmon roe), I was told that they didn’t have it that evening. So I had to go for set B instead (£12.00 for 10 pieces – tuna, turbot, salmon, sea bass, sea bream, eel, surf clam, spotted sardine, sweet shrimp and salmon roe). My friend always orders set C, which I think is £10.00. We also ordered the scallop sushi (£2.00), tuna roll, salmon roll and miso soup.
I won’t describe every single piece of sushi to you, as you should go and find out for yourself! But I have to mention the scallop, which was superbly fresh and melty and probably the best I’ve had in London so far (on the left in the above photo). Everything I tried was extremely fresh.
A point to note, there are no dollops of wasabi, customarily to be found next to the gari (pickled ginger). I don’t know how offended Sushi-Hiro’s sushi chef would be if you asked for it, but I have learned from Japanese friends that sushi chefs generally don’t like it if you add extra wasabi to the soy sauce because it overwhelms the flavour of the fish. With sashimi, it’s different – a tiny blob of wasabi can be added to the fish, which is then rolled up using chopsticks and dipped into the soy sauce. I’ll be extra observant in Japan this November when eating sushi and sashimi and try to follow etiquette – eating sushi with fingers, dipping only the fish part in the soy sauce, but eating sashimi with chopsticks!
The verdict:
Definitely worth the trip to west London! The total came to less than £40 for two, including sake and tea, but not service charge. I’m looking forward to the next meal, when I’ll probably order sushi à la carte and try the sashimi as well. There are no frills at Sushi-Hiro, but who needs them when there is such fresh fish and seafood on offer?
Tip:
The restaurant only accepts cash. I’m not familiar with the area, so I don’t know where the nearest cash point would be. I nearly forgot until I re-read a review online and was reminded to take plenty of cash with me. And if you like sitting at the sushi counter, you should request this when making the booking. I would estimate that there are around ten seats around the counter.
10 – Perfection, 9.5 – Sensational, 9 – Outstanding, 8.5 – Superb,
8 – Excellent, 7.5 – Very Good, 7 - Good, 6.5 - Above Average, 6 – Average
All the London restaurant reviews on World Foodie Guide
Contact details:
Sushi-Hiro
1 Station Parade (directly opposite Ealing Common underground station)
Uxbridge Road
London W5 3LD
Tel: 020 8896 3175
Opening hours:
Tuesday to Saturday 11:00 – 13:30, 16:30 to 21:00
Helen Yuet Ling Pang @ World Foodie Guide
All the reviews I have read of this place have been really positive. Have you been to Pham Sushi? Also really good. All great inspiration for your trip to Japan.
I am still a sushi-hiro virgin. The OH hates sushi and sashimi so will have to drag someone else with me at some point soon!
You can eat sushi with your fingers? That’s news to me.
I think the time we went we were given wasabi – I can’t remember that well, but I’m sure I’d have noticed if we weren’t, as I’m such a wasabi head.
I love that they pack the salmon roe sushi until it’s spilling over. When compared to my picture from Tomoe it puts it to shame!
Looks like I’ll have to go somewhere else to get my wasabi’n’sushi fix…
Glad you enjoyed it there, I don’t need any modern interior decor when the food is good.
This looks amazing, and further incentive for us to pay a visit. Is it advisable to book ahead? It would be a shame if we made the 2 hour round trip to be denied a sushi fix!
I’m glad you loved it. Interesting about not adding wasabi to the soy either – I didn’t know that. I am very, very pleased indeed to learn that you can eat sushi with your fingers because I have been laughed at more than once for doing it. Who’s laughing now huh? HUH?!
I have heard of sushi chefs that will also break out poorer quality pieces of fish if they see someone reaching for the soy sauce or wasabi as it is considered insulting especially as a lot of people automatically dip before even tasting first. I know you are probably crazy busy researching your trip, but if you have time a fun read is The Zen of fish: The Story of Sushi from Samurai to Supermarket by Trevor Corson.
Sushi heaven indeed! I am so craving sushi right now – it’s the hubs’ birthday next week and he’s already decided that’s what we’re having. Yay!
With regard to wasabi in soy sauce – it brings to mind my father, who is fully observant of proper foodways. However, everything has to be spicy for him so he unabashedly dollops wasabi into his soy sauce dish until it literally looks like a brownish paste! 8-D
Incredibly high res photos! They are so close to my mouse I could almost taste them.
I always crave for sushi when it comes to Japanese food. Ahh I really should visit this place but it’s so out of the way.
this looks so superb! I will defintely be craving for them if I am in London!
Gourmet Chick – no, I haven’t been to Pham Sushi. Must research it!
Kavey – what a shame he hates raw fish…
Lizzie – you certainly can eat sushi with your fingers, just not sashimi. With your fingers, you can turn the sushi upside down to dip just the fish part into the soy, so the rice stays untouched and won’t fall apart. And you’re right about the Tomoe salmon roe sushi. I compared the photos!
almost witty – you could ask for it! I just think the sushi chef would rather you didn’t drown his fish in wasabi, but it is down to you…
Janet – you’re so right!
coolographer – you should definitely book, as it’s tiny and you wouldn’t want to be turned away! I’d be most upset…
Helen – the ‘etiquette’ is that you can add wasabi to the sashimi, but not sushi (there’ll either be some already in the sushi, under the slice of fish or seafood, or not). But yes, eat sushi with your fingers as it’s easier to flip it upside down to dip just the fish/seafood part in the soy sauce (otherwise the rice falls apart)!
OysterCulture – thanks for the book rec, yet another to add to my growing list of food books! I need a year off work to just catch up with my reading…
Tangled Noodle – great birthday dinner then! Your father sounds like my brother. He loves making his brown paste and will take ages to create it. I’m meanwhile cringeing in my corner!
SushiTail – thanks!
pigpigscorner – it is out of the way for me too, but you should try it!
Big Boys Oven – if you ever come to London, don’t forget to visit it…
Helen Yuet Ling
That sushi looks wonderful! And nothing else but sushi? They must take their sushi very seriously. I know so many places in Japan that only do a certain dish and do it so well that they don’t need to include other items.
admin Reply:
July 27th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
Lorraine – nothing but sushi and sashimi! I’m so looking forward to going back to Japan in a few months and visiting the specialty restaurants. There’s no need to have more than one item if you excel in it!
Helen Yuet Ling
Loved it, loved it and loved it!! Such fresh fish and I echo that the scallop is really fresh…
Will definitely be back!
Andrew
(Thanks to Helen and her blog! It gives me ideas to try out different foods and restaurants!)
Andrew – so pleased you had a good meal! I’m looking forward to going back, though I hope to satisfy my sushi craving in Japan next month…