Oregon Sushi Restaurant Review

Fuji Rice Time
159 High Street SE
Salem OR 97301
503-364-5512

Saturday, May 17, 2003

Tonight's mission was to review every sushi bar in Salem in one night. Fortunately, there are only two, so this was not so daunting a task as you might expect.

I arrived at Fuji Rice Time about a quarter to 5 pm, and was almost the only person there, although it did start to fill up around 5:30 when a family of eight sat at one of the three tatami booths (with cheater holes for the weak-kneed :) in the side room. The sushi bar seats seven. Decor is chiefly Western, with some Japanese scrolls.

Fuji's website (http://www.citywineanddine.com/salem/restaurants/fuji/) is a little out of date, and some prices have gone up. However, prices overall seem reasonable, both for dinners and a la carte. Nigiri range from $2 (uzura) to $5 (uni or amaebi), with most between $3 and $4. Rolls start at $3 (kappa maki) and go up to $9 (caterpillar roll); most are from $4.50 to $7. Numerous dinner options, both sushi and cooked, are available from $10 to $17.

I chose the $15.50 sushi combo, which included a California roll and eight nigiri (maguro, sake, ebi, crab stick, hamachi, and 3 others), along with miso soup and a green salad with ginger dressing. The sushi was good, but not as good as Kyoto on Lancaster Drive; none of it really "spoke" to me the way I expect from very fresh fish. The crab appears to be surimi (fake crab). The California roll seemed too cold for my tastes, too. Portions for the nigiri were fairly good, though: not very thick, but quite long.

There are three other dinner options, ranging from $14 to $17, that I'd like to try. All include miso soup, rice, gyoza, tempura (shrimp and veggie) and a roll (California or shrimp tempura), plus either pork, beef, chicken, or salmon teriyaki.

Overall, Kyoto has better sushi, but Fuji's prices are more reasonable. I haven't tried the hot items yet; that'll have to be next time.