Wasabi Sushi & Bento

I came back from Brighton today and had to change trains at Victoria - I decided to check out the Wasabi Sushi & Bento place at the station. To be honest I've seen this place on a number of occasions and given it a wide berth, it just looks a bit nasty. The sushi is on shelves wastefully wrapped in individual portions while wasabi, soy and ginger is available in tiny sachets for 5p a pop. Today I decided to give it a go.

I opted for a couple of salmon nigiri ("2 sushis for £1" as the billboard announces) and some avocado hosomaki. It was predictably disappointing. Despite the name of the place, wasabi is not used in the construction of the sushi, the fish was small and unimpressive (although it was fresh) and the avocado too young and hard. I was pleased not to have bought more and to have avoided the specially for the UK varities such as red pepper rolled sushi. And, as well the excess packaging of each portion, to add insult to injury, they also give away disposable chopsticks with every purchase too.


At the counter, as well as offering wasabi peas, there are a few hot dishes available such as the very greasy looking chicken yakisoba, a Chinese looking tofu or chicken "jahang" and a couple of other shiny MSG concoctions.


It has been hard to find out much about this chain except that it is Japanese-owned and the website claims to have some sort of health mission pronouncing that sushi should be fresh and affordable. Hear hear. Apparently it is doing quite well too having 11 branches listed on the website, and having opened only in 2002. Reportedly, its Oxford street branch attracts almost 7,500 people per week visit with an average spend of £8.00. It is also pioneering contactless paying technology. At least it stands a chance of giving people like Pret a run for its money. Shame about the food.