Great Flying Sushi Smackdown

Sushiden & Ryo Asian Fusion

2009-02-28-IMG_0834
Originally uploaded by martin_kalfatovic

I've never been to Japan, but I have had sushi, so when I was in Japan, I felt I should have sushi. Even if the only part of Japan I was in was the international terminal at Narita airport.

So, on my way back from Taipei, I had just enough of a layover to make a quick stop at Sushiden and get a little something to go.

Would authentic Japanese sushi, even if it was airport sushi, be a magnitude of better than even the best American sushi? Well?

Not quite yet, a week or so later and I found myself at Logan Airport in Boston. While waiting for a colleague who was arriving on another flight, I spied, Ryo Asian Fusion. Would it be better, the same, worse, than it's Narita counterpart?

Well...

Sushiden had a nice layout and a couple of sushi chefs making fresh sushi. I stayed basic, avocado rolls and a bit of salmon. To go. Served in the rectangluar plastic box, ginger and wasabi on the side, soy sauce in little packets, and a bit of the fake green grass. Chopsticks. Perfect. I headed over to the gate, popped the top and did the whole soy sauce, wasabi chopstick swizzle and ... well, not quite yet.

Back in Boston, again, stayed basic, avocado roll, no salmon. The sushi chef was busy with a person in front with a complicated order, me, and one behind. She did a good job, but ...

Well. At Ryo Asian Fusion, the rice was just a little too sticky, and obviously a bit hard to spread, appearing unevenly in the roll. The avocado, a bit unripe, was sliced to order and also a bit uneven. Same rectangular box, wasabi, a nice strong ginger, soy sauce. But darn it, couldn't find chopsticks - though I saw someone with some later.

Verdict?

Sushiden. I don't think it was being in Japan that made it better, but just a little more care on the part of the restaurant to make sure staffing was sufficient and that the ingredients were all ready.

Now, for the next trip, I need to get out of the airport and into some real sushi!

Sushiden
Meal: Sushi
Rating: ***
Date: 28 February 2009
Address: Narita Airport, Terminal 4
Website: http://www.narita-airport.jp/en/guide/rest_shop/rest/floor_list/shop_page/t2_1_02_susid.html

Ryo Asian Fusion
Meal: Sushi
Rating: ***
Date: 8 March 2009
Address: Logan Airport, Terminal C
Website: http://www.ryoasianfusion.com/about-us.html