Wasabi in the Magyar capital doesn’t only mean a spicy Japanese horseradish dip, but also a chain of in-style manifestations of the sushi fever that’s been sweeping across the globe. And these places didn’t just jump on the sushi restaurant bandwagon, but have brought us the real stuff, the “running sushi and wok”.
Not being a real sushi pro, I was more than happy to learn more about these tasty bite-sized Japanese gastro-ambassadors at Podmaniczky utca’s Wasabi. At the beginning of the 1800s (How did people survive without sushi before?!), some genius realized that the preservation technique of raw meat – putting it in layers of pressed rice – was actually a great ‘fast food’ opportunity. During this preservation process, the rice took on a slightly sour taste which made it, in combination with the raw meat, a ready-to-eat bite. That’s the common bond among the numberless types of today’s sushi palette, this characteristic acidic flavor. Of course, today, this vinegary taste is brought out by a mix of vinegar seasoned with sugar and salt. The original form of the Japanese word sushi actually means ‘sour-tasting’. Gastro-history class over. Promise.
As a sushi lover, I felt like I’d arrived in Eldorado when we stepped into Wasabi’s delicately decorated dining area, where the centerpiece, a huge conveyor belt, tantalized us straight away with its sumptuous selection of Oriental cuisine. No wonder they’d used simple, natural colors for the décor; the belt was bursting with numberless shapes, colors and, as we later found out, tastes.
Spearheaded by a Japanese sushi chef (for future sushi-masters, get chopping and slicing now as a sushi chef course takes a minimum of 6 years), Wasabi has more than 100 different dishes, a selection from Korean, Japanese and Thai cuisine, snaking around the chopstick-happy diners on the belt. On the upper part of the double-decker belt, you’ll find warm tidbits, the likes of woks, noodles, rolls and balls; while you can hunt for sushi, salads and cold desserts on the lower part.
While sipping Tokaji-sweet Japanese plum wine, for a while we just admired the colorful bites running by. Then the hunt started. First up, I went for a few sea treats, the likes of grilled prawns or spicy squid rings, while my dining companion started spoiling herself with a sushi selection; pieces of raw fish tossed on rice, perfect nigiris and makis galore in both traditional and modern versions. A definite standout amongst the starters was a seaweed salad dressed in a delicate cream sauce.
For me, the Asian Pesto noodle hit the spot with an unusually thick pesto and tiny tasty chicken bites; while my friend alertly stared at the belt waiting to grasp not one but two plates of chicken teriyaki, her golden-medalist for the evening.
The cold soups in ice-cream flavors and colors looked particularly scrumptious and we chose coconut-tapioca and mango, not quite knowing what to expect from these almost luminous desserts. But they were divine and incredibly refreshing.
Our attentive waiter was quick to flag his favorites when asked; on his recommendation, I tried mochi, a sweet and sticky Japanese rice ball with poppy seeds. In Japan, there’s a saying that you either love or hate mochi. Well, I’m afraid, I managed to form a third group. It was unusual but tasty, indeed, but right after I needed a few large gulps from my Calpis, a Japanese soft drink made of vanilla-flavored yoghurt.
Opting for the all-you-can-eat buffet means we were able to sample as many as we liked, or rather, as many as we physically could. We’re the kinds who love to eat and we’ve managed quite a few XXL-sized feasts in our time. But my sushi-crazy friend, a shocking moment for both of us, turned to me at one point declaring, ‘For the first time in my life, I don’t think I can eat any more sushi for now’. Happy and full, we counted more than 30 empty plates between the two of us, just when we were informed by the staff that the usual number is 40 plates per person. Wow. Apparently, people like to stuff themselves silly here. I didn’t need more proof that the place is a gem. I’ll deffo come back to triumph those 40 plates.
From the Menu
Cold dishes
Seaweed salad
Sushi roll with prawns and caviar
Sushi roll with cream cheese
Edamame soy beans
Hot dishes
Asian Pesto Pasta – Pad Thai noodle
Chicken Teriyaki
Vegetable Tempura Sushi
Cold dessert s
Coconut-tapioca soup
Mango Cream Soup
Azuki bean mousse
Hot Desserts
Mochi
Chili Banana
Wasabi – Running Sushi & Wok Restaurant
1065 Budapest, Podmaniczky utca 21.
1037 Budapest, Szépvölgyi út 15.
1123 Budapest, Alkotás utca 53.
