TJ Fresh Sushi is a popular spot for Japanese food that’s tucked away in The Quadrant off Broadway.
Come lunch hour, a stream of office workers come in and order takeaway
This is the Medium Sushi and Sashimi ($18.00) with 6 pieces of sushi, 6 pieces of sashimi and 8 rolls.
The fish was fresh and the salmon hit the spot, but it wasn’t a satisfying experience overall. A few small but important things just weren’t quite right. The rolls weren’t uniform in shape, the tuna sashimi was sliced as to be steak thick, and the rice grains weren’t firm or separate and were under-vinegared. Then the wasabi for the nigiri was not included between the fish and the rice, but as a dollop on the side. Together with the lettuce and lime, these were reminders that the restaurant did not aim for authentic flavours.
N went for a wider selection with the Sushi & Sashimi Bento ($23.00). It came with 7 pieces of sushi, 7 pieces of sashimi, 4 rolls, tempura, salad and miso soup. She enjoyed the salmon immensely. While the tempura was crispy, the batter tasted oily both in terms of flavour and mouthfeel.
I’ve had positive experiences with the food at Japanese restaurants that are run by Koreans, like Kanzo Fresh Sushi in Parramatta. But TJ Fresh Sushi seems to adopt the general appearance of Japanese food but heavily modify it for an Anglo-Australian palate, which also reflects their lunch hour clientele. The price is decent, but I’d return to a sushi train like Sushi Rio for a wholly satisfying experience.
TJ Fresh Sushi is located at The Quadrant, 60A Mountain Street, Ultimo NSW 2007.