Sushi Smackdown – SUSHI FEVER v. ISLAND SUSHI

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Admittedly, Sushi Fever is one of those fake crab, deep–fried, mayonnaise-laden sushi joints we love to hate. Always crowded, always charmless, and always slinging fish and rice with the subtlety of Chris Christie at a buffet line; it is to true sushi what professional wrestling is to the sweet science.

ELV ascribes its popularity to the Immutable Mayonnaise Rule: Put enough mayonnaise on anything, and Americans will beat a path to your door.* The specialty rolls that keep Sushi Fever in business are enduring proof of this sacrosanct, alimentary axiom.

We like mayo as much as the next  raw fish-hating customer, but our main objection to SF is how ugly the food is. From the plastic wrap sitting atop the sushi bar to the dried out cheap, pickled ginger to the sloppy sauces they drench everything in, this place screams “ersatz and overwrought” from the minute you sit down. It is the antithesis of all things Japanese and exists only so people who don’t like Japanese food can pretend they do. In that respect it pulses with the same bastardized, slapdash vibe that drives I Love Sushi across town.

Newly opened Island Sushi downtown ain’t exactly Bar Masa, Blue Ribbon, Shibuya or Yellowtail, but at least sushi-master Ernie creates rolls and platters that don’t look like a ten-year-old was given a squirt bottle, and he doesn’t hide his ingredients by smothering them in sauce.

Bottom line: If you want to actually taste the seafood you ordered in your sushi, maki or specialty rolls, head downtown to Island Sushi. If you hate such tastes, or abhor real Japanese food (or are in love with rivers of ponzu and spicy mayonnaise),  Sushi Fever will be right up your alley.

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ELV’s lunch for two at Sushi Fever came to $45 including tip, and his rolls at Island Sushi above came to $38 including tip.

SUSHI FEVER

7985 West Sahara Avenue

Las Vegas, NV 89117

702.838.2927

www.sushifevervegas.com/

ISLAND SUSHI & HAWAIIAN GRILL

In The Plaza Hotel and Casino

1 Main Street

Las Vegas, NV 89101

702.386.2110

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* A kissing cousin to the Perpetual Cheese Postulate: The more cheese you melt on an American restaurant meal, the better.

7 thoughts on “Sushi Smackdown – SUSHI FEVER v. ISLAND SUSHI

  1. Both of those places make sushi catered for haku jin.

    Remember John, Japanese sushi is all in the preparation of the rice. It takes 5 years alone to master the art of making sushi rice. Anyone can buy excellent quality fish and call it outstanding sushi.

    Cream cheese and avocado, yuck!!!

  2. My sweet peroxide treated hair dear DC! Did it take you the whole five years to master the Kobyashi Maru? And really John, When was the last time you chugged a bottle of Admiral Horatio’s fish sauce neat. It gave me the Tribbles.
    .
    Loves and Kisses,
    TRCK

  3. Lr: KTNV aired and posted online a correction and apology to their Dirty Dining segment as their original piece was inaccurate. The restaurant was never closed, and the issue mostly had to do with an unanticipated leak that occurred in a prep kitchen (not the main kitchen) after it had rained and which was immediately fixed.

  4. Love Island Sushi and Hawaiian Grill! Ernie is an AMAZING Sushi Chef that has decades of experience in true Japanese cuisine! Yes, the dirty dining segment on channel 13 was completely incorrect. The restaurant has a great atmosphere and the food is excellent!

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