Sushi Spots in the Square

Sushi, a time-honored Japanese art, is now a dietary staple for any college epicurean.  With a sea of options to choose from, what’s a globally-minded gastronome to do?  This week, FM navigates Harvard Square to demystify that age-old staple: the spicy tuna roll, known to insiders as maguro.

Takemura

Price: $6.95 for six

Ambience:  Subterranean.  Basic “Chinese restaurant” theme, Japanese-style.

The Goods: Takemura delivers a rich roll. Without any avocado or cucumber, the focus is on the fish: creamy tuna mixed with tangy, but not spicy, sauce. Contrast with the chewy, vaguely fragrant rice and pleasantly rubbery seaweed is subtle at best. Plus: a compact roll, this sushi doesn’t fall apart in soy sauce.

The Verdict: Three stars out of five—deductions for the ho-hum sauce, lack of crisp contrasting textures, and steep price.

Shabu-Ya

Price:  $6.50 for eight

Ambience:  Fun, colorful aesthetic reminiscent of many a bubble-tea chain.

The Goods: Large and a bit unstable, with well-cooked rice. Unique blend of textures: crisp, fresh julienned cucumber; rich, creamy avocado; chewy rice and seaweed; soft fish; and spicy sauce on top that adds a nice sizzle.

The Verdict: Four and a half stars out of five—major points for a big portion, nice texture and (comparatively) cheap price; minuses include slight unmanageability.

Cafe Sushi

Price: $5.75 for six

Ambience:  Wood-backed chairs and dark enamel—not to mention the smooth jazz—point to classy aspirations.

The Goods: The roll is messy, rice loose, less chewy and with a tendency to crumple into the soy sauce. Though the fish is mild and sauce lightly spicy, the one chunk of cucumber irritates.

The Verdict: Two out of five—docked points for the unwieldy roll and annoying cucumber, but at least it’s affordable.

While nobody’s perfect, Shabu-Ya takes it this round.

Alternatively, the cheap and studious can get their sushi fix without even leaving Lamont.  Who cares what it tastes like when it’s on Board Plus.