Top 5 Rolls at Fuji Sushi

The myriad of specialty rolls at Fuji Sushi in Winter Park is overwhelming. Therefore, after a few visits under our belts, we want to tell you about some of our favorite rolls. Even though Fuji's specialty rolls can be pricey, they are huge, so I typically only order two rolls. I believe you get a value for your money here.

Some of our favorite rolls include:

1. Dynamite Roll: Crab, avocado & cream cheese, topped with mixed seafood. The topping is divine.
2. Black Widow Roll: Fried soft shell crab with scallion, spicy mayo and eel sauce.
3. Super Spider Roll: Fried soft shell crab, tempura batter & scallion. Topped with eel sauce and roe.
4. Ribbon Roll: crab and avocado inside, topped with raw tuna, cooked shrimp & eel sauce. Yummy!
5. 2011 Roll: Fried lobster and scallion, topped with avocado and buttery garlic sauce.

What do you think of Fuji Sushi? Let us know in the comments section below.

Sushi Pop Always Delights

If you haven't had the chance to visit Sushi Pop in Oviedo yet, you should. The restaurant is constantly at the top of "best restaurants in Orlando" lists, and has some of the best sushi around. Many people aren't aware that Sushi Pop also does a great job with Florida seafood dishes.

I had not been to the restaurant since it expanded, adding a beautiful bar area. The entire restaurant was crowded, as expected, on a Saturday night. Most of the restaurant's signature cocktails looked delicious. However, since there is no happy hour on the weekends, the cocktails are pricey and we ordered just one: Demarco. It was very light and refreshing.

Sushi Pop is also known for its unique edamames. We started with the Sichimi Pepper and Garlic Edamame - it was just the right amount of heat and tasty. We had the Triple Tail roll, a very fresh and flavorful mix of tuna, salmon, yellowtail, salmon roe and chipotle lime sauce. My husband said it is one of the best sushi rolls he has had! We also appreciate how accommodating Sushi Pop is to those with vegan and gluten-free diets.

As I mentioned, the restaurant also specializes in local seafood dishes. The Cho Chee Snapper with coconut rice, spicy Thai red curry and Thai basil was absolutely divine. The fish was cooked perfectly, and the flavor was delicious.

You must save room for dessert when you visit Sushi Pop. There were so many tempting options, but we chose the P.M.S., which features molten chocolate cake, peanut butter powder and salted caramel ice cream. Everything mixed together is the perfect bite. Except for some type of berry gelee on the dish - it was not needed.

Because of the premium prices for entrees and cocktails, we will likely only visit Sushi Pop on special occasions. But, when we do visit, we will savor every bite! What are your favorite dishes there?

Fuji Sushi is Stil One of Our Favorites

I have gotten in the habit of eating just average sushi. Sushi that is pretty good, but I only pick it up or eat out because it is close to home, such as Mikkado Sushi in Lake Mary. This is a fact I was reminded me of on our recent visit to Fuji Sushi Japanese Cuisine in Winter Park, Fla., with friends.

I savored each bite because I had not tasted sushi so fresh and delicious, with such unique flavors, for so long. I tried two rolls that were new to me: the Honolulu Roll, which featured crispy coconut shrimp, chopped peanuts and mango, with a sweet misco

sauce. It is one of my new favorites and the sauce paired perfectly with this roll. I also had the Louisiana Roll, which included cooked crawfish, avocado and sesame seed. I expected this to be spicier and more flavorful, but I still really liked it.

Friends tried the Alaska Roll, a delicous combination of raw salmon and cream cheese and the Black Widow Roll, which has soft shell crab, scallions, spicy mayo and eel sauce. This is another really tasty roll. The Volcano Roll is another one of our favorites - especially that delicous sauce on top. 

Let us know your favorite sushi spot in Central Florida!

Avenue Thai and Sushi Gets Both Right

When I was craving Thai food the other night, I decided to visit a place I have been wanting to try for months: Avenue Thai and Sushi on Park Ave. in Winter Park, Fla. I am really glad I did! It was surprising to see an affordably-priced restaurant with a great atmosphere and food on Park Ave.

I tried the Green Curry, which featured the perfect mix of sweetness from the coconut milk and hot spice: not overdone, but not too little. The chicken was slightly overcooked, but I liked the flavor so much that I didn't mind too much. The dish was $12.95, and I had leftovers for lunch.

I have heard great things about Avenue Thai and Sushi's many sushi rolls, too. My friends love

Photo Courtesy Avenue Thai & Sushi

the Mango, Soft Shell Crab and Tempura Shrimp roll, along with the Spring Rolls and Chicken Satay dish. Next time I visit, I will try more sushi rolls, and let you know how they are.

If you have been dying to try Avenue Thai and Sushi, now is the time! There is a Refer Local deal that is $10 for $20 worth at the restaurant for a limited time only. Here is the link: https://referlocal.com/offers/winter-park/10-for-20-to-avenue-thai-and-sushi.

Visit Mikado Japanese in Lake Mary

I have finally found a sushi place in Lake Mary, Fla., that I am pretty happy with. I was sad when Fuji closed its Lake Mary location, and have been looking for a replacement. It just so happens that Mikado Japanese Cuisine took over the spot where Fuji used to be.

Mikado offers a huge selection of sushi rolls, hibachi and bento boxes. I have had both hibachi and sushi, and deem them to be "pretty good", or around 4 out of 5 stars. It depends on which rolls you order. Mikado's signature rolls are pricey, but they are more flavorful than many of their standard rolls. Of the signature rolls, the Volcano Roll has been our favorite so far. Nice kick of spice and beautiful presentation. The Drama Queen roll is also very interesting and different, with jalapeno slices adorning the outside. 

You can still get some good standard rolls for half the price, though. My favorite so far is the Voodoo Roll, which has spicy crawfish, tempura flakes and cucumber. I love the spice in this dish. The Spicy Crispy Roll with fried shrimp, avocado and spicy sauce is also delicious.

Mikado has a nice atmosphere, but it is much faster for me to pick up my order to go. Especially on a Friday or Saturday evening. The wait for our meal on one recent Friday night was a half hour! However, if you don't visit in person, you miss some really great happy hour specials. 

Where: 3899 W. Lake Mary Blvd., #117, Lake Mary

Amura: Does Good Value & Food Offset Horrible Customer Service?

For Sunday brunch at Amura in Lake Mary, you can enjoy pretty good sushi and other Japanese-style dishes for a reasonable price. You can choose from a long list of the restaurant's high quality rolls at $12.99 for two rolls. And, $12.99 can get you a variety of entrees such as Spicy Garlic Shrimp, Chicken Cashew and Top Sirloin Delight. When I arrived, seeing all the choices on the menu made me happy. I enjoy Amura's sushi but find that it is over-priced and not as good as Fuji Sushi and other restaurants in town.

On the recent Sunday I visited Amura Lake Mary with a friend from out of town, the restaurant must have been understaffed. That is the only reason I can think of for the slow service and the customer service fiasco that ensued. Because of an allergy to gluten (and therefore, vinegar that is included in most sushi rolls), I asked that my sushi be made with plain rice or rice paper. Although there was only one roll wrapped in rice paper on the menu, our waitress assured us that the chefs could make any of the rolls on the menu with rice paper instead of rice. It turns out they couldn't. The plate was brought out with one roll made with rice paper, and the other with regular rice. The roll with rice paper had sauce on top, which I asked to be left off. 

Before I sound too bitchy, know that I am always understanding that some restaurants are not used to dealing with food allergies. I am very patient and explain why I can't have a sauce or a particular ingredient. However, when the waitress tried to take the rolls back to the kitchen - after what had already been a half hour wait - the manager came to the table and asked what was wrong. I explained the situation and he said there was nothing they could do to help or to alter the dish. I felt like he was begging me to leave. His attitude was so rude and careless. In fact, I did decide to forgo ordering a different dish - because he said there was nothing they could do to help me - and leave the restaurant.

At the same time, I was embarrassed that my friend from out of town, whom I was trying to show off Lake Mary's great restaurants to, had to leave as well. Fortunately for her, the Hurricane Roll and Bubble Roll she ordered were very well made and delicious.

Many readers believe that Amura has the best sushi in town. I disagree. I have experienced - and heard about - so many other great sushi eateries. One of my favorites - for the sushi rolls, Chili Garlic Edamame, and eclectic atmosphere - is Sushi Pop in Oviedo. Where do you go for sushi?

Golden China Buffet: Decent Food, Great Prices!

I never expect to get the best Chinese food of my life when I visit a Chinese buffet. But I do know that I will have a chance to try a wide array of apps, entrees, and desserts for a great price. Instead of ordering take-out, next time I would suggest having a night out at Golden China Buffet. We recently visited the company's Lake Mary location for dinner. 

I was surprised and impressed by the variety offered at this fairly small restaurant, but was most happy with the prices. $10.95 for all you can eat dinner for adults and $3.99 for kids? Perfect for families!

We wanted to try everything, but settled on a few options including the traditional fried rice (very good!), sushi (pretty yummy!), and Shrimp with Onions and Bell peppers, which was also very tasty. Our crab rangoon was just okay, but I wouldn't expect this restaurant to have the best crab rangoon ever; that distinction goes to Imperial Dynasty in Longwood. The French fries were actually pretty good, as well as the pigs in a blanket-style hot dogs for kids.

Because I have food allergies, my favorite offering at this location is the made-to-order Hibachi grill. You can choose rice, rice noodles, or Soba noodles along with pork, shrimp, or chicken. Then you can choose from a wide variety of veggies. Give your plate to the chef and he will grill a fresh meal in front of you. This is a great way for people on special diets - including vegan or vegetarian - to eat out with friends.

Have you tried Golden China Buffet? If so, I want to hear from you. Please leave your comments below!

Where: 4225 W. Lake Mary Blvd., Lake Mary, Fla.

Take a Trip to Modern Tokyo at Sushi Pop

Making Peanut Butter & Jelly Sorbet

Sushi Pop restaurant in Oviedo is different than any other sushi restaurant I have been in. First, the decor: it's kind of pop-art-ish and I love the modern furniture and lighting. The hostesses and wait staff are dressed up kind of funky, with bright colors and purses slung across their shoulders. If you don't know the story behind it, it may seem very odd. However, Sushi Pop's executive chef and owner, Chau Trinh, was inspired by the "crazy clothes" that the young people in a certain area of Tokyo, Japan, were wearing when he visited a few years ago. 

After gazing at the surroundings, I wanted to get to the best part: the food. I have heard so much about this place from fellow foodies, in part because of Chef Chau's leaning towards molecular gastronomy. For example, one of the popular desserts at Sushi Pop is its Peanut Butter and Jelly Sorbet. This is a frozen concoction, made table-side using liquid nitrogen and topped with peanut butter powder and marshmallow foam. It is quite a show! In addition to the entertainment, I was blown away by how much this dessert tastes exactly like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Lobster & Almond Roll

Since this place obviously focuses on sushi, we were ready to be critical of each sushi roll. Fortunately, almost everything we ordered was delicious. I would highly recommend the Hot Mess, Gravlax, and Lobster & Almonds rolls. Red Hot's, which features spicy tuna, avocado, jalapenos and Siracha hot sauce, is ddecadent for those who like very spicy foods. The Butterfish roll was not one of the best - it just seemed like an odd fish to put in a roll. Even though this is a sushi place, it's other small plate dinners are delicious. I tried the Florida Snapper over rice and curry sauce. The crispy-skin snapper was moist and had an excellent flavor, as did the sauce. 

Florida Snapper 

Don't forget about appetizers: there are so many delicious hot and cold tastings to choose from. My favorite - so far - is the Sauteed Schichimi Pepper and Garlic Edamame. The pepper and garlic give the traditional soybean dish a nice kick. Overall, I would recommend eating at Sushi Pop, again and again. With its expansive menu, you can try something new and different every time.

Where: 310 West Mitchell Hammock Rd., Suite 900, Oviedo, Fla.

Try Fast-Food Sushi. Really.

I was definitely skeptical as I walked up to the small restaurant located in a mini-mall near UCF. I had looked over Sus Hi's (pronounced High) web site and I could not tell whether the food would be good by the funny ninja anime character on the screen.

When I walked in the restaurant, though, it was clean and had a fun Ninja painting across one wall. I noticed that the food ingredients are set up like a Subway for sushi: you can see all of the proteins (including vegan options), veggies, and fun toppings that you would like to have made into a sushi roll, a rice bowl, or a wrap. We ordered the Spicy Chicken and Loaded Shrimp Sushi and the Fried Chicken and Fried Shrimp Wrap.

The sushi comes with a spicy sauce, but we kicked it up a notch with Sriracha sauce. The sushi was moist and flavorful, and really didn't taste like fast food-style sushi. The fried chicken and shrimp in my wrap had a light, crispy breading and I was surprised it was not greasy. I also opted to add lettuce, avocado, and asparagus, and everything came together to make a fresh, flavorful wrap. And the prices were reasonable at $5.99 for a roll (check out the photo for the size of one roll!), wrap, or bowl.

I love Sus Hi's Japanese sodas too. They may be somewhat sweeter than American sodas, but have a lot less carbonation. The only draw-back to this place? Making decisions. You can't just say, "I want the California Roll". The staff want you to pick what goes inside your roll. If you are indecisive, this is not the place for you.

Where: 4498 N. Alafaya Trail, Orlando.

Sushi, Paella, & More This Thanksgiving

This year, I am excited about eating seafood paella and sushi on Thanksgiving Day. I realize that does not sound like the traditional Thanksgiving dinner. But wait – I still get turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and all the standard pilgrim yummy-ness. That’s because I am eating at Orlando’s Rosen Shingle Creek’sThanksgiving Brunch, which runs from 11:30 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.

This extensive buffet features a Seafood Station, a Dim Sum and Sushi Station, a Make Your Own Pasta Station, a Carving Station, an Omelet and Waffle Station, Amuses, a Dessert Station, and all the Thanksgiving favorites. Among the many gourmet dishes featured are: Foie Gras Profiterole with Port Wine Reduction and Candied Orange Zest, Veal & Root Vegetable Cassoulet, and Haricot Vert with Baked Apple and Cranberries. It will be fun to try foods that I get to have….well, never. I am a dessert girl, so I am excited to see the Crème Brulee Action Station, and try the Kahlua Flan and Cheesecake Shots in several flavors, including Peppermint Schnapps and Hazelnut & Turtle.

Rosen Shingle Creek’s Thanksgiving brunch is somewhat pricey, but friends have told me it is well worth it. Prices are $55.95 for adults and $24.95 for children ages 4 to 12, and kids 3 and younger eat free. Florida residents receive a 25 percent discount. For reservations, call 407-996-3663. This beautiful hotel – complete with a creek and nature trails – is located at 9939 Universal Blvd., Orlando, Fla., 32819.