Bossa Nova Sushi

70 Bourke St
Melbourne, VIC 3000

Up on the Paris end of Bourke Street, nestled incongruously between Italian stalwarts Florentino and Pellegrini’s, is a little South American-themed sushi train. Yes, you heard me. But as awful you would expect that combination to be, Bossa Nova Sushi is actually an adorable little date spot, with excellent service, a laid-back speakeasy vibe, and sushi that’s a cut above the other sushi trains both in terms of quality and creativity. Would recommend; just make sure you don’t accidentally end up at Bossa Nova Café instead like I almost did.

Rating: 13.5/20 – better sushi train.
Hidden gems: egg sando, potato salad, inari.

Grilled Scallop ($9)

I always gun for scallop at sushi train, and the Grilled Scallop ($9) here is a cut above the rest – super sweet, plump, and fresh.

Salmon Avocado Futomaki ($8)

I love Bossa Nova’s take on the Salmon Avocado Futomaki ($8), which is buffed with textural and flavour additions of sweet fried tofu, crunchy yellow pickle, and popping roe.

Inari ($5.8)

If you think Inari ($5.8) is nothing but filler, you should try this one. Not only is the fried tofu pouch perfectly seasoned, the fluffy rice in the middle is mixed with spinach, making for a deliciously light and fresh bite.

Grilled Salmon ($10)

Like the scallop, the Grilled Salmon ($10) is another simple one done well, and had a delightfully bright twist in the form of a dab of zesty yuzu kosho.

Spicy Tuna Roll ($10)

The Spicy Tuna Roll ($10) is another tasty one, the seafood mixture creamy without overwhelming the fish, and the toragashi provided just the right amount of smokiness.

Chicken Katsu ($8)

I was not the one who ordered the Chicken Katsu ($8), but honestly, it’s not nearly as bad as it could be. Though predictably soggy from spinning around on the conveyer belt, it wasn’t overly dry or greasy, and I appreciated the relatively minimal rice, which prevented it from getting too stodgy.

Kingfish Nigiri ($8)

To wrap up, I got a light bit of Kingfish Nigiri ($8), which was simple and fresh.

Daikon Pickle Hosomaki ($4.8)

Ok to actually wrap up, I got a Daikon Pickle Hosomaki ($4.8). What can I say, I’m a big fan of the yellow crunch, and it serves me right for watching all the pickles on the conveyer belt go around without actually getting any for myself.

Japanese Potato Salad ($6.8)

I’m always a sucker for Japanese Potato Salad ($6.8), but this one is exceptionally good, the chunky mashed potatoes mixed through with thinly sliced pickled veggies for crunch, and just the right amount of kewpie mayo. It’s creamy and moreish, rather than stodgy and cloying.

Egg Sando ($10)

There are a few izakaya-styled snacks on the a la carte menu, but I would strongly recommend the Egg Sando ($10), which is the closest I’ve had to the kind you get in Japan. Made with fluffy shokupan and plenty of creamy soft-boiled egg, this is such a simple comfort.

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