X Sushi

High end sushi dining in Ocoee! Who would have thought?

The first thing you notice walking into X is the stunning decor, including a custom build-out, fanciful hanging lights, and bold artwork covering most of one wall.

There are an assortment of tables sizes, all elegantly set. Surprisingly, although sushi is prepared at an open counter, there is no sushi bar seating.

The quality of the fish here is what it’s all about. The menu claims it is all from the Tokyo Seafood Market, and that’s easy to believe. The Sashimi Moriawase selections were as good as any I’ve had in Orlando’s high-end expensive sushi restaurants.

Speaking of expensive, that fish comes at a cost, of course. Whether there is a market for food at this level in Ocoee is a question, but I hope so. You won’t find better.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/x-sushi-winter-garden-2

Sushi Storm

This is a nice interior and good service. There’s a good mix of standard sushi offerings, and Thai food. I found things tend to be a bit on the sweet side, through the use of a lot of Thai chili sauce, even in the spicy tuna roll and tuna tower. The Pad Thai was also was fairly sweet, and could’ve used a squeeze the lime, but I enjoyed it.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/sushi-storm-clermont-5

Kura Revolving Sushi Bar

3 Stars

This is an entertaining place to get okay sushi. It’s quite fun being able to select your items from the conveyor belt. Even more fun is ordering from the touchscreen and having your dish delivered right to your table on the upper conveyor. Even the drinks are delivered by robot (although they aren’t exactly foolproof, and beer is still delivered by hand).

You’re not going to have the best sushi of your life here, but the prices are reasonable for a tourist area, and it is entertaining.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/kura-revolving-sushi-bar-orlando-2

Sea-San Sushi Bar

4 Stars

This is a really nice upscale setting for sushi. The presentation is lovely, and the service was welcoming. There is a very limited assortment of fish: tuna, salmon, whitefish, and octopus, but the quality and preparations are excellent. There are also some creative dishes, such as the Brie Djo: rice wrapped in strips of seared salmon, cream cheese, brie cheese, and fleur de sel.

Creative cocktails and wine are available. Shout-out for the excellent wine glassware.

https://www.yelp.com/biz/sea-san-sushi-bar-orlando

Yamato Japanese Restaurant

Interior
Exterior

**** (4 stars)

This is a small restaurant in a strip mall. The sushi is well-prepared, and there were an interesting assortment of specials including kanpachi (amber jack), my favorite. We also tried the tempura, which was nice and light. Service was friendly.

Yamato Japanese Restaurant
1741 W Grand AveSte E
Grover Beach, CA
93433
(805) 481-3986
https://www.yelp.com/biz/yamato-japanese-restaurant-grover-beach

Tomodachi Restaurant

Exterior
Interior

**** (4 stars)

This is an excellent choice for a neighborhood sushi restaurant, as evidenced by its popularity. The quality and variety of the fish is excellent. Just be aware that portions are very large, so don’t over-order like we did. For example, an order of salmon sashimi included eight pieces! Service is on a tag team basis, and worked very well.

Tomodachi Restaurant
2779 Agoura Rd
Westlake Village, CA
91361
(805) 777-7578
https://www.yelp.com/biz/tomodachi-restaurant-westlake-village

Kabooki Sushi

Entry
Interior
Chef Henry Moso
Sushi bar
Sushi bar
Interior
Interior
Bar
Menu
Flounder, kanpachi, hamachi
Octopus tempura with squid ink sauce
Lobster
A5 Wagyu and hot rock
Dessert sampler
Private wine lockers

***** (5 stars)

For years I’ve been saying that Kabooki Sushi on Colonial is the best restaurant in Orlando, even surpassing Disney’s super upscale Victoria and Alberts. With this new location near Sand Lake Road’s restaurant row, Chef Henry Moso has even upped the ante.

We’ve had sushi at Nobus and Morimotos all over the world, and none of them comes close to what is happening at Kabooki Sushi. The complexity of the sashimi preparations and the extreme attention to detail, especially on the omakase are simply unsurpassed.

This new location also lets Chef Henry demonstrate his interior design skills, with a build-out that is beautiful, trendy, upscale and welcoming all at once.

We attended a soft opening and already the service is at peak levels, with everything running like clockwork in a packed restaurant on only its third day.

This place is going to be the biggest hit Orlando has seen in a long time, for both tourists and locals, so make sure you have a reservation, because word has already spread.

Kabooki Sushi
7705 Turkey Lake Rd
Orlando, FL
32819
https://www.yelp.com/biz/kabooki-sushi-orlando-3

Ploy Thai

Front table

Duck

Interior

**** (4 stars)

Terrific Thai food is served in this charming restaurant that’s been in business for 17 years. It is definitely a family run operation, from the gracious hostess to the chef. The restaurant is named after the owners’s daughter, Ploy, who has grown up with it.

All of the Thai favorites are here. The appetizers, while fried, aren’t to oily, and I’m a particular fan of the Talay.

Ploy Thai
1941 W Brandon Blvd
Brandon, FL
33511
(813) 684-5007
https://www.yelp.com/biz/ploy-thai-brandon