A few months ago, a Japanese friend told me that SenZushi in Victoria was a great spot for a good Japanese meal. I was spending the winter holidays on the island, so I decided to check it out and get my monthly Japanese food fix.
The Atmosphere
SenZushi is located on Fort street. As you approach, the red lanterns hanging from the roof and the wood fences covering up the windows really give a Japanese vibe.
Inside, the décor was a bit cliché, but not cringeworthy. There were countless pictures of geisha and mount Fuji, as well as fans and umbrellas.
The Food
It had been a month since my last Japanese meal and I was fully planning on making the most of SenZushi‘s extensive menu.
Assorted Tempura ($13.50)
My boyfriend and I started off with the Assorted Tempura platter. It came with 2 prawns, 2 pieces of white fish, and 4 vegetable tempura. The deep-fried layer was slightly thicker than what I like, but it was not too oily or greasy so I enjoyed it anyway. All the ingredients tasted good, and I truly enjoyed the big and juicy prawns. I have definitely had worse tempura in Japan, so I was overall very satisfied.
Nigiri sushi platter (à la carte)
Next we ordered a few of our favorite nigiri sushi à la carte. We had eel, salmon roe, scallop and spotted prawn. I was extremely pleased. Everything was very fresh and authentically presented. As a matter of fact, it was the first legit sushi platter that I have had since I came to Canada.
Ranch Roll ($16)
We would have gladly eaten a few more nigiri, but they were not exactly cheap, so we decided to be reasonable and ordered some rolls instead. Authenticity left aside, the Ranch Roll was delicious. The slices of beef were really thin and they blended very well with the Japanese-style omelette, the cream cheese, the avocado, the cucumber and the flying fish roe. This roll was rather well-balanced and not overloaded with rice.
Hojicha Tiramisu (left- $7) and Taiyaki (right- $5)
We decided to end the meal on a sweet note. I had the seasonal Hojicha Tiramisu, which was a wonder. The layer of mascarpone was very creamy yet not too heavy. The usual cocoa powder had been traded for hojicha powder and it gave this tiramisu a very nice flavor.
The Taiyaki was on the oily side, but overall it was good. There was a generous amount of azuki, which brought a good natural sweetness to this dessert.
Overall
I had a great meal at SenZushi. Except for the rolls, the menu was pretty authentic, and the food was really good. They have a good selection of Japanese dishes and the service was also nice and pleasant.
The décor was a little cliché, but the ambiance was nice. I would not recommend SenZushi for a special date, but it is a great spot for a nice dinner with friends or family.
Keeping in mind that SenZushi is a casual Japanese bistro, it ticked all the boxes. I would gladly go back to indulge in more Japanese food next time I am in Victoria.
SenZushi
Opening hours: open from Tuesday to Saturday from 11:30am to 2pm for lunch and from 5pm to 8.30pm for dinner
Website: click here
Address: 940 Fort St, Victoria, BC V8V 3K2
Telephone: 250-385-4320
Note that prices and information featured in this article are subject to change.
