Bakersfield provides many different options when it comes to the sushi field. Toro Sushi, behind The Marketplace and off Ming Avenue, is a hidden gem that doesn’t get half as much attention it deserves.
With so many options of places to eat in Bakersfield and many of them being big brands, a small sushi place may not be on the top of your list for places to go. Bakersfield is home to 25 sushi restaurants and Toro Sushi hidden away next to Lengthwise Brewery. With Applebee’s, Five Guys and Que Pasa all very nearby, it could be easy to forget about Toro, and go to one of the big chain restaurants, missing out on the delicious sushi that you could be indulging in.
With a menu that provides 50% off selected rolls throughout happy hour, Toro can also not hit your wallet as much as other restaurants. We ordered the rainbow roll ($6.99), 1k roll ($5.99), the three amigos roll ($6.99) and a portion of chicken teriyaki which came with rice ($13.95). We also ordered Voss sparkling water ($4.50) and a glass of Pepsi ($2.50). As we visited the restaurant during a happy hour, which runs from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. to six, the price of the drinks was also 50% off.
The rainbow roll was a classic sushi roll, filled with delicious crab meat, avocado and cucumber and wrapped in five different types of fish. Sitting on the table was a bottle of soy sauce and through using this as a dipping sauce for my sushi, it added an extra dimension to my meal plus a different burst of flavor. As I ate my chicken teriyaki, the chicken was succulent, and it came in a perfect amount of teriyaki sauce. The food was also served with a little side plate of ginger and wasabi and this is traditional in sushi restaurants. The ginger is commonly used to cleanse the pallet in between eating different types of sushi, and the wasabi is most typically used to add some spice and flavor to your food if you wish to do so.
My partner ordered the 1k roll and the three amigos roll. All of our food came out in a random order – which is common for a typical sushi restaurant. The rolls were made to perfection and my partner was delighted with the generous amount of spicy house sauce that was added to the three amigos roll. Her 1k roll was a deep-fried roll and consisted of spicy tuna, crabmeat, avocado and cream cheese. It was a very big portion for the price and the 50% off makes it even cheaper as the roll is as packed as can be.
Through the use of silver-plated chopsticks, it gives a vibe to the restaurant that is of the upper class. The black and silver color scheme for the logo is represented within the restaurant as the walls are black and the chopsticks and inner decor are silver. One of the walls has the wallpaper of a blackboard, meaning it is able to be drawn upon. This is a great touch, especially for younger children, as they are able to write upon the walls and draw pictures with chalk provided. The vibe of the restaurant is very laid back and relaxing, adding to the overall experience.
The service also adds to the experience, with enthusiastic waiters who are eager to explain what each sushi roll contains. This small sushi restaurant is one that is growing in popularity and is a firm favorite amongst the people of Bakersfield.
Toms Text 