Ami Sushi – El Cajon

Yep, you found mmm-yoso!!!  Kirk and His Missus are vacationing.  ed(from Yuma) is working. Cathy is here today.  

Hi again.  Kirk and The Missus are safe and very much enjoying their vacation in two countries, one which has a name that is a homonym and the other which has a name that is a homophone.

A long time ago, when I first started participating on this blog,  FOY (friend of Yoso) Trent commented to me that to find good restaurants, look for parked mail trucks.  I have taken his advice and that is why you see so many 'hole in the wall' places which I post about.  

Ami Sushi is in the same location which used to be named  Tokyo, just one block West of Parkway Plaza.  Tokyo was so disappointing that I posted how much I did not like it. I also titled my post about Tokyo Loha Sushi to distinguish it from this location called Tokyo. Tokyo silently went out of business.  

One day about a month ago, I was driving and saw four or five El Cajon Police vehicles parked in front of Ami Sushi.  Even though one part of me was telling myself that there may be some sort of Police Action going on and I should avoid the area, another part of me knew all of those Law Enforcement people may be enjoying a lunch break here…because I remembered Trent's wise advice.  

Ami Sushi is family owned and operated.  I think that may be why it is so efficiently run.  The people working are happy, the food has always been fresh, the prices are very good. Consistency is good.  

The Ami Bento ($6.50), above,  is a large and filling Bento box.  The salmon teriyaki and fried salmon are quite large pieces. The fish is fresh, the teriyaki tastes home made and the frying is done right, not greasy and a good deep fried crispy.   The California roll is fresh, made with fake crab with tasty sushi rice. A nice touch is the slice of fish cake and tamago (sweet egg).  The salad sides are very good. 

 
I put this photograph of  the Special  Bento ($11.95) so you could compare the two. Again, the teriyaki salmon was a good size, fresh and cooked nicely.  This piece also  had crispy skin attached.  I like that. This Bento comes with two pieces of fried shumai as well as a small piece of fried snapper and a fried shrimp…and the 5 pieces of sushi as well as the California maki, fish cake and tamago and the salads, rice and a very good miso soup.   

Edamame ($2.50), is a good size portion, fresh beans steamed and salted and on the Appetizer section of the menu.
Also on the Appetizer part of the menu,  the Sashimi Salad ($9.95) is a meal in itself. The 'greens' are mostly seaweed and cucumber, not lettuce.  There is a lot of sashimi, in not terribly odd cuts interspersed on the plate.  A very fresh sesame oil based dressing is slightly tossed in. 

 
 Ami stamina noodles ($6.50) Udon noodles with chicken, fish cake, vegetables and egg, served with two fried gyoza and a tempura shrimp.  This also came with a small green salad. The fried items are done properly; you can taste what is inside and the frying of the exterior is there to add texture and not flavor. The udon have a nice 'tooth', the broth is not salty and slightly sweet, the gyoza are nice and meaty and does have some cabbage in the mix.

 Though we have only been here twice, we have noticed most people ordering rolls.  In fact, the table of ECPD only ordered rolls for their meals.  There are daily specials of rolls as well as platters posted on white boards at both doors and the regular prices on the menu are very good.  

Ami Sushi 755 Arnele Avenue El Cajon CA 92020 Mon-Sat 11-9:30, Sun 1 p.m.-8:30 p.m. (619)593-7691 Website