Local Eats: Sushi Bistro 24th Street, The Mission

Some weeknight pre-Labor Day we visited Sushi Bistro.  Its facade is non-descript from the front, the darkness inside is visible outside.  The service was prompt and friendly from the start and we got a nice dark table in the corner.  Pretty good contrast to 24th streets plethora of florescent and neon lighting.  A slight problem for the pictures - my apologies in advance.  Its a big menu, sushi-specialty rolls, apps, fishy entrees, salads, sashimi, I may have even seen some soup / udon bowls.  I have to say I was relatively thrilled lots of the menu had a hawaiian theme (waikiki, aloha, big island etc).  Overall, it was solid.  Not exceptional but in no way bad.  It strikes me as a neighborhood place where you find a few favorites and stick to the script when you return - only trying one new thing per visit.  Its a resto that def needs another try so consider this a prequel to the true review. 

What is nice is that they start you out with a lil bowl of pickled thin sliced cukes.  We paired that with some  pints of Sapporo and started the meal added and abetted by the diversified reggae soundtrack that easily could have been ripped from my own ipod.  We're off to a great start.

The Poke - Fresh but not delicious.  Sexy scallops Top Left - not that spicy or sexy.
Aloha 101 Top Right, "garlic" sauce in the middle.  On the right track but misses the mark.

We ordered:
ALOHA 101 9.95                                            

AHI TUNA, MANGO & CUCUMBER WRAPPED IN SEAWEED, FLASH- FRIED, SERVED WITH SPICY GARLIC SAUCE

SEXY SCALLOP 11.75

SPICY WHITE TUNA, SALMON, AVOCADO AND TOPPED WITH SPICY CHOPPED 


SCALLOP, TOBIKO AND SCALLIONS.

AHI TUNA POKE SPECIAL 13.5

CUBES OF FRESH AHI TUNA MARINATED IN SPICY SAUCE, SERVED WITH ORGANIC


 BABY GREENS

We also got the Agedashi Tofu.  Its was technically ordered as an appetizer but it came as the last course in the meal.  As I mentioned it was good, but it wasn't outstanding in any particular fashion.  The poke was fresh but missing the sesame oil to make it as rich and delicious as it can and should be.  Perhaps I dont like raw scallops as much as I thought, but the sexy scallop was sort of too soft and non-descript.  I really liked the idea of the Aloha 101 with Ahi and Mango but the sauce was not as garlicky as expected, for something called "Spicy Garlic Sauce."  Hey, I ate it, all but the last sexy scallop, however I've had fresher, funner and fruiter sushi elsewhere.    Sushi Bistro, thanks for moving to the 24th Street corridor.  I truly appreciate your presence.  But the truth is I would travel to eat here if I didnt live in the hood.   Despite the cutesy hawaii names that I want to love.


I'll be back, no doubt. But if you are searching for sushi in the Mission AND have read this far - well, I'm sorry you must be really lost and bored by now.  Maybe try Blowfish?  [Disclaimer -I've yet to try Blowfish myself but I've had food from former Blowfish chefs and loved it - if that counts]


On a Kau Kau Hotel rating scale this place gets 2.5 mangoes.