Sushi Time in Prague - Food review

Sushi Time. A new sushi takeaway and delivery service in Prague 8.


(( Article originally published in Beyond Adventure magazine. View the published version online: http://beyondadventuretv.com/site/index.php/dining/item/49-sushi-time-a-new-sush...

The popularity of sushi in the Czech Republic has been on the rise in recent years, and is no longer only aimed at tourists and those with money to spare.

New, more affordable sushi restaurants are appearing in Prague every year and we were excited to try out Sushi Time - a recently-opened sushi takeaway and delivery service, which promises freshly-made sushi delivered to your door for less than you’d pay in a restaurant.

The prices certainly are reasonable and the menu is extensive, also featuring dishes with Korean, Thai and Vietnamese influences. There are also desserts in sweet “sushi” roll form, a nice idea, as well as sashimi, soups, Udon noodles and fried rice and noodle dishes.

You just place your order on the website, which couldn’t be simpler to use, anytime between one day and one hour in advance and then sit back and wait for your sushi to arrive – if you live within the delivery zone shown online (between Kobylisy and Vinohrady/Malešice and Prague 1) delivery is 20kc, for anywhere beyond there you need to phone for a delivery price. Otherwise, there’s a 10% discount for takeaway orders.

Since I already happened to be in the area I decided to go and pick up my order myself. When I got there, the unlit façade of the closed takeaway counter looked unwelcoming and surely gave the impression to unknowing passers-by that the place wasn’t open for service. There were signs (written only in Czech) on the door explaining that it would soon be open for full service and telling me to ring the bell. I was buzzed into a hallway where I waited, and after a little confusion my order was produced from what I suppose was the back entrance to the kitchen. My little packages of sushi were well-presented; each box comes with a little wasabi, ginger, a cute miniature bottle of soy sauce, and you get two pairs of chopsticks with each order.

The menu featured plenty of vegetarian sushi and non-sushi items. I tried the tempura tofu (55kc) which was firm and even, with a light tempura batter and sweet chilli sauce which was pleasingly spicy and not too sweet. There were only three pieces per portion, and next time I’d definitely order more! The Inari salad (50kc) of radish, beetroot, wakame, wasabi, tofu and sesame was crunchy, well-balanced and not too heavy on the dressing.

You can select your sushi individually or in sets, and the choice can be a difficult one. As well as the usual veggie maki options of cucumber and omelette, there are also takuan, shitake mushroom and avocado rolls on offer. For fish lovers, there are classics such as the California roll (special no.11, 75kc for 4 pieces) on the menu, or more unusual creations such as the Nantai tempura roll (250kc, 8 pieces) with salmon, tuna, butterfish, chive and kim-chi paste. I chose the Maki set Yari (95kc, 9 pieces) with salmon, cucumber and tiger prawn (three of each), and special no.3 – smoked salmon, asparagus, dijon mustard and cream cheese, coated in fresh dill (110kc for 4 pieces). The quality was consistent in each piece of maki, and the special was delicious, although I could taste only the slightest hint of Dijon or cream cheese.

Sushi Time is great value and the quality of the sushi is good, it’s one more step away from the old image of good sushi in the Czech Republic being unaffordable or hard to find. However, the unique and easy ordering system is great for those in a hurry, English-speaking expats and the phone-shy, and this convenience may set Sushi Time apart from other companies in town.