It was a reader who pointed me in the direction of a new takeaway just up the road from Sneinton Market. After visiting Sosu with her husband, Natalie Walker said: "I wanted to bring it to your attention as it is a very new place which needs bigging up, the food is fantastic and very reasonably priced.
"I think you need to check it out and let foodies of Nottingham know through your articles and own social media." Always happy to oblige I jumped in my car and made the 30-minute trip to Carlton Road, the main road between Nottingham and Carlton.
I pass Lidl, Indian supermarket Falcon, the Blissful Asian Massage salon and an off-licence named Exotic Booze before I reach Sosu, which describes itself as a Japanese takeaway. Takeaways are tricky to review if you don't live nearby. Eating in your car isn't the best experience.
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But it isn't just a takeaway - there's seats. Not many mind you, just four up against the counter and another four looking out on to Carlton Road.
I'm the first one in, arriving just after 12pm for lunch, so I have my pick of seats. I take a perch on one of the high wooden stools overlooking the March Hare pub. With a concrete tower block in the distance it's hardly a stunning panorama but I'm not here for the views. Inside the decor is simple but authentic - a pretty pink blossom tree painted onto the wall and traditional Japanese panelling over the counter and open kitchen.
The menu kicks off with starters of chicken yakatori, gyozas, tempura and chicken karaage. Eel, tuna, prawn and vegetarian sushi, from as little as £3, is another option.
For mains there's katsu curry, veggie curry, steak with wasabi mushroom sauce and teriyaki chicken or salmon. Ramen lovers can opt for a bowl of homemade noodles in a broth with pork, chicken or beef.
Bento boxes, served between noon and 5pm, seem a good all-rounder so I order the katsu box and, rather than a can of Sprite or Fanta, I go for a pot of green tea.
The chef, smartly attired in a black uniform and red bandana, disappears through a traditional noren - the fabric divider hung between rooms. It's decorated with Japanese good luck symbols, koi carp and maneki-neko, more commonly known as the waving cat. He returns with a steaming hot glass pot, filled not with the usual loose leaf tea but full-sized leaves.
It's an acquired taste that I've become accustomed to. As a dedicated tea drinker I sometimes swap my many cups of PG Tips for the occasional green one that's said to have a host of health benefits. Whether it really does improves brain function and increases fat burning, the jury's out.
The liquids are coming fast and furious as next a bowl of miso soups arrives. It's so steamy it's going to do my pores a wealth of good. The first spoonful is salty, the next has a hint of fishiness, then as I dig down into the bowl I find silky tofu and and greens. All the while, the finely sliced rings of spring onion keep their crunch.
As it's fermented miso is a supposedly good detox for the gut. So far I'm basking in the virtuousness of everything that's passed my lips. While I'm polishing off the soup, there's a sizzling sound going on behind me as the chef starts frying... there goes my halo of healthiness.
Bento boxes remind me of those plastic school dinner trays with nuggets in one compartment and veg in another and pudding in a third, except this one comes with chopsticks.
I start with two sushi rolls, with surimi (crab stick) and chunks of cucumber and ripe avocado, expertly wrapped up in rice and topped with gem-like orange fish eggs. Thinly sliced red cabbage provides colour and crunch while the sesame dressing adds a nutty flavour.
It takes a while to get round to the gyozas as they're so hot. The dumplings are some of the best I've ever had. The wrapper is soft, slightly chewy but crispy too with a satisfying filling of minced chicken.
The star of the show is the katsu chicken, served sticky steamed white rice. The sizeable chicken breast, overlapping its compartment, is coated in golden breadcrumbs, so deliciously crispy that every single mouthful is a joy.
The chicken is beautifully moist and good quality. A bold claim but I'd say it beats Wagamama hands down. Instead of the usual tangy curry sauce, a drizzle of mayo adds sweetness and spicy heat.
Eating with chopsticks is not an elegant sight, so I apologise to any passers-by and passengers on the stream of lilac buses destined for Carlton who looked in and witnessed my clumsy chomping.
In the congenial surroundings, it's easy to strike up conservation with another customer. She's been before and this time has ordered a salmon box with broccoli. "It's so fresh," she tells me.
Sosu has served me some of the best food I've eaten recently. It's a double win as the price is unbeatable at £8.50 for this very filling lunch box. When I reminded the owner he hadn't charged me for the tea, he said it was free.
By the time I come to pay the bill there's another three people in the takeaway. I'd love to be there on an evening when all eight seats are taken. I should imagine it's loud, dynamic and lots of fun.
It's always a thrill to discover somewhere new, especially a modest-looking business that turns out to be a real gem. It would be easy to miss it on the busy main road, especially when the shutters are down on neighbouring properties, but keep an eye for it.
I'm envious of the locals who have this on their doorstep. It's too far away for me to be a regular but if I'm in the area and have time for lunch, in the words of the Terminator: "I'll be back."
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