Fujiyama Sushi

When you're such a gay fish that fishsticks don't do it for you anymore

Sushi is the gateway drug of food that would seem either exotic or unnerving to the average American. Too many innocents have never gotten hooked on this candy from the deep simply because eating raw meat is unthinkable to them. In their defense, their Biology professors probably told them about some dingbat that decided gas station sushi was the way to go.

For those of us who crave sushi or are otherwise willing to try it and find ourselves near the University of Central Florida I am pleased to report that we have another place to quench this desire. Fujiyama Sushi offers a delightful, fresh, dysentery-free selection for decent prices, which become truly college-student-affordable if you hit them up for their happy hour specials available every day from 3:00-6:00 pm. I know, sushi at 9:00 at night is way sexy but trust me-- do the late lunch/early dinner thing.

The interior of Fujiyama will please cave dwellers like myself with its dim lighting, heavy curtains, and comfortable seating. For starters, I recommend going with the Vegetable Tempura. Hey, I love Gyoza (pot stickers) as much as the next guy but I never realized how badly I wanted a fried salad until I burned the roof of my mouth on a tempura zucchini and onion ring. The beer selection is unremarkable (though I like Kirin Ichiban) but I am an American plebian who isn't into sake so you might have more luck there.

Moving to Fujiyama's main course, if you are sampling something new or otherwise want good, traditional sushi I recommend going with the nigiri (fish on rice) over the maki (seaweed wrap). The fish-to-rice ratio of the nigiri is simply what God intended and it gives you a much more satisfying bite of fish. All the fish offered is of high quality which should encourage a variety on the part of the patron. Come on, don't stop at salmon and tuna (though they are two of my dearest friends). Get yourself some octopus, conch, mackerel, eel, or something you've never tried before! The salmon and tuna nigiri are as sweet and mild as you remember and should always be invited at sushi night but again, get another step out of your comfort zone! The octopus nigiri, for example, is in my top three favorites because of its well-muscled texture. Wait, don't leave! I promise, after the fourth bite in a row melts in your mouth, it's nice to have something a bit denser to chew. Something new I tried and loved was the mackerel nigiri which had a more potent flavor like a really good mullet.

No, not that mullet.

Inevitably, at some point in each of my sushi experiences I feel there needs to be more 'Murica in my food so I order the deep fried cream cheese and eel sauce hand rolls that have spread throughout the nation like Herpes and make traditionally trained sushi chefs quiver with fury and swear vengeance against you for disrespecting their families. I love these rolls with a dirty passion and Fujiyama has a wide selection of these guilty pleasures. I'm am ashamed to say that I did not have their "Sex on Fire" roll, electing instead for their "Dynamite, Kamikaze, and Japanese Bagel" rolls. Despite the deep frying and the extra condiments, the rolls were still prepared in such a way as not to detract from the fish--a feat not easily achieved with these bastardized rolls.

All in all, I want some more and I'm going back! Remember fellow gluttons: go during happy hour, go with the nigiri, and embrace your inner white trash with the surprising quality of their various fried rolls. Now go get some food--I'll just be here masturbating ferociously.