Sushi Musashi (San Leandro)

1275 Washington Ave
(between E. 14th St & Callan Ave)
San Leandro

The quick and dirty: This sushi restaurant is good for a fix or take out. There are better places where the fish is fresher, but the desperate and hungry will approve. Good for sushi rookies.

The good: Cooked entres are good. Prices are affordable. Location is convenient. Good California rolls and fantastic korokke. Everything is available for take-out. Good salad dressing, but watery salad.

The bad: Service is iffy. Fish isn’t as fresh as other places. Spicy tuna is too spicy. Stingy with curry sauce. Oh, and I've had ants on my table before.

The expanded version: Both Nancy and I have eaten here a couple of times. My first experience with this place was early in my sushi eating experience, and I was introduced by my surrogate Japanese grandfather (aka my co-worker). I used to like Musashi more than I do now, but I’ve also developed my sushi palette. I would say that this place is good for sushi beginners since their basic rolls are okay, but their nigiri needs help.

I have also eaten lunch here a few times with a former colleague and we found their bento boxes affordable and delicious. Because of this, I’m going to say that their cooked entres are better than their sushi. I like their gyoza and their chicken katsu curry is nice. This is place also has the best korokke we’ve found. So far.

On this last visit, Nancy mentioned that the fish at Sushiya (Oakland) is better and fresher. She generally gets a nigiri combo plate of some sort, so if you’re more interested in nigiri style, skip this place. I’m more into maki and find it acceptable. Their spicy tuna is much spicer than I’ve had anywhere else. Almost painfully spicy. The California rolls here are good – not too wet or too dry. So far, I’ve like most maki rolls I’ve had, but they haven’t blown my socks off. Their salad is a little watery, but the dressing is good. It’s that creamy ginger type dressing that I get so excited about. I haven’t had the miso soup for a long time, but it’s pretty damn salty if I remember correctly.

My biggest gripe is the service. It’s not bad, but it’s not great. It’s not consistent either. It’s either too much attention or not enough. And this time, our waitress jumped the gun on taking stuff away. She didn’t ask if we were done with things first, which is a major no-no in my book. How do you know that I’m done with my half eaten salad, lady?

I’m sure Nancy and I will eat here again because it’s so convenient and we get cravings for their korokke. Sushi Musashi isn’t fantastic, but it isn’t bad either. There is definitely room for improvement at this establishment, but sushi rookies won’t know better and sushi cravers should overlook it if other options are available.

Kind of related, but not super directly: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sushi