Genki Sushi v. Octo Sushi

Genki Sushi the word "convenient" comes to mind. The new location at the corner of Broadway and Pine is conveniently close to campus. The little green, yellow and red plates floating past on a noiseless conveyor belt are both priced and presented conveniently. The menus at every table, complete with full color photos and detailed descriptions of anything you may want to try, remove the chance element of the sushi-eating experience and make it easy to decide exactly what you want.

But if you consider for a moment other foods which are deemed convenient —Twinkies, Lunchables, Hot Pockets—you'll notice that it might not be a quality you hope for in a sushi restaurant. Genki Sushi may have relied a little too heavily on convenience. The decor is sparse, though not in an attractive minimalist way.

The bright white and electric orange walls paired with intense fluorescent lighting are a shock to the eyes and give you the vague inclination that you're in a hospital cafeteria. The wooden booths are a tad uncomfortable and a bit snug for two people. Kesha pounds out of the speakers, making conversation nearly impossible.

The sushi, too, has been influenced by this notion of convenience. It's not that it's bad, worse sushi certainly exists. But, it's also not good. The rolls are heavy on the rice, the fish is a little too fishy. The other ingredients and flavors are mostly just bland. The California roll, an extremely popular choice for the sushi-hesitant, was totally lackluster and, dare I say it, hardly better than its prepackaged counterpart offered at QFC. Kakiage, think tempura, was a grease-soaked nest of stringy vegetables.

The one element of Genki Sushi that isn't influenced by convenience is the service. You may think that you will sit down and watch the conveyor belt speedily deliver everything you could desire. This is not necessarily the case. Depending on where you sit, you may be waiting several turns of the belt for something you actually want to come your way.

Convenience does not come to mind when I think of Octo Sushi. That's not to say that it is inconvenient. On the contrary, the service at Octo Sushi is stellar; you'll be seated and served before you can say domo arigato. But all it takes is one look around the artfully renovated restaurant to know that the designer was not limited by strict functionality.  

The warm reds, oranges and yellows and soft, glowing light are easy on the eyes, like fall leaves on a shinto shrine. The seating is spacious and comfortable. The music, though not authentic Japanese, is not too loud.

The prices are not bad. Especially when you realize that you're getting six pieces instead of three––and the flavors are definitely worth a little extra money. The Dragon roll, beautifully laid out like a slumbering version of its namesake, is delicious with its perfect combination of smoky eel and sweet sauce. The veggie tempura roll is subtle, yet interesting and unique. For non-sushi options, the tempura is light, crunchy and not at all greasy. And the miso is salty and soothing with its cute little cubes of tofu.

WINNER: Octo Sushi

While the open atmosphere and and generous portions make Octo Sushi a great place to come with a group, the classy presentation and pleasing ambiance also make it a great place for a first date. The only major downside of Octo Sushi? No giant octopus in sight.

Kira may be reached at copy@su-spectator.com