Sushi Nara

Straight and to the point dear readers, I've alot of papers to mark. But it's a bit of serendipity when I come across a place that exceeds my own snobby expectations, specifically a sushi joint that labels itself Korean/Japanese- usually that's a red flag right there; but not for Sushi Nara: a hole in an afterbirth of a stripmall in a plaza with nothing but old videostores and pet shops. But don't let that fool you; because its low tables, green padded and steel legged chairs, Hokusai-en knock off fabrics stapled to canvases and Korean speaking owners may denote lack of taste, but its food connotes so much more. Honestly. Today after the banterings of a fatheaded grad-student telling me how she'd never eat fish anywhere in this town because it wasn't fresh, I was almost ready to believe her. But the romantic, My Sassy Girl, black bean noodle loving voice in my head said to give it a shot. And it was the best I took in a long while. The menu was extensive, the sushi pricey, not expensive, pricey, and main dishes, pleasing to both tastes for real, genuine Korean and my own frugal wallet (not me, no way- I love spending money. My wallet says no, but my stomach says yes).


So, after an unconventional starter of salad with glass noodle and iceberg lettuce, and the proverbial miso soup, I was shocked by my small, yet savoury appetizer of 7.95 sushi pizza. Something I never ventured to try because of my purest roots. I was, however, in good company. And in the end, my 6.95 bowl of Jja Jang Myun noodles, as well as multiple condiments (kimchi, pickled radish, jelly among others) more than made up for it. Yes, I was part of a movement. The condiments were such a refreshing change from the other small portions I received from other places in town, not to mention creative. If it's a side dish I've never come across, you better believe the place is worth trying. Either I've been living under a rock, or this place is on to something. What else is there to say? This place exudes humility. Tables for Korean barbecue in the centre (pits and all), intimate booths surrounding the parameter (with seats that aren't bolted down and a little too far from the thin tables), and the usual soju advertisement with ambiguous Japanese race queen to appease my own post-colonial desires. The space was cool, lit with (what I consider) beautiful florescent lighting, and trimmed with the strangest charred wood along its walls. I'm sure it implies barbecue somehow. Regardless, it played well to the character of the urban Asian kitchen of the everyman. Wong Kar Wai would approve. Even the saki was cheap, sweet, and a small enough for two. It was probably heated in a microwave- but I didn't care, not with a flavour like that. Good Lord. Sushi Nara. Good food, good space, good service (even though they refused to serve me their cold beet soup in the winter). I'll be going back again. Just try and stop me.



Sushi Nara
347 Erb St. W-Unit
Waterloo, ON,
N2L 1W4

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