More than 50 sushi options are on the menu at new Nottingham restaurant Sushi Yoka. Tucked away on a side street, just off Clumber Street, the business has opened in the former Age UK charity shop.
The city centre has seen a sushi explosion since Skinny Sumo opened in Hockley in 1998 - the first sushi bar outside London with a conveyor belt to serve customers. YO! Sushi came along soon afterwards - and as they say the rest is history.
Chino Latino, Bonzai, Wagamama, Sushimania, and more recently itsu and KOKORO followed, bringing rice, nori and raw fish to the masses. Now it's the turn of newcomer Sushi Yoka to showcase its mouth-watering freshly made sushi.
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Charlie Zhuang, 33, is behind the new venture, where sushi lovers can eat in or takeaway, in Lincoln Street. The premises have been given a minimalistic Asian-style makeover with seating for ten - four stools at the window and a long wooden table with space for six.
He said: "Everything is freshly handmade on the day. Whether a quick lunch, dinner or a night out with friends, Sushi Yoka has something for everyone."
Customers can grab-and-go from a selection of ready made packs in the fridge or order off the menu to eat in. Eight types of sushi are on sale, including maki (rolls) sashimi (slices of raw fish) and temaki (cone shaped rolls).
Fillings include salmon, tuna, shrimp and egg. Diners can also take their chopsticks to spicy rolls and crunch rolls topped with fried unions, mayo and unagi sauce.
Prices start from £2.95 for six cucumber maki rising to £11.34 to dine in on eight rainbow rolls, one of the chef's specials made with surimi, salmon, tuna, avocado and topped with tiny orange pearls of tobiko fish roe.
Veggie and vegan rolls with avocado, cucumber and tofu are available, along spicy rolls for those who like a kick. You don't have to like raw fish though to enjoy some of the rolls in the Chef's Choice section. Tempura prawn and katsu chicken are an alternative.
Charlie, who came to the UK in 2012 from China to study, said: "Sushi is getting popular across the UK. More and more people are trying it. I think it's healthy. We are passionate about providing our customers with the freshest and most delicious sushi in town.
"Our menu features a variety of traditional and modern sushi rolls, nigiri, sashimi, and other Japanese dishes that are expertly crafted by our experienced chefs. We pride ourselves on using only the highest-quality ingredients, sourced locally whenever possible, to create dishes that are both flavourful and visually stunning."
Some of the favourites are combined as a set menu for those who want variety. For groups to share, party platters are on the menu with 48 pieces up to the 59-piece 'party wonderland' for £58.20.
Miso soup, gyozas, ramen noodles with salmon and octopus and crispy fish skin complete the menu, while there's Japanese sweet and savoury snacks to take home such as mochi, crispy seaweed, hot and sour flavoured konjac and Hello Panda biscuits.
Sushi Yoka is currently open every day from 11am to 9pm.
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