Update: Ginza's AYCE menu is back on ($28 weekend lunch, $37 dinner) so happy to return Gizna to the list!Update: 2021-Aug-20 - Ginza is currently only open for take-out/delivery, so there is no buffet/AYCE at this location post-lockdown even though it is permitted to open again, and it is unknown if and when it will ever return. I am therefore removing it from the active list, and will follow up periodically and restore it should it return to AYCE status.
Ginza Sushi is located at 8401 Weston Road in Woodbridge, at Langstaff. Ginza has a nice interior which is larger than it appears outside, and there were a sufficient number of other customers, about half-full. Free Wi-Fi is available. Chopsticks are unfortunately disposable, so I brought my own as always. Pop is $1.95 canned, yet AYCD, which is wonderful and rare. Ginger is not dyed pink. Soy sauce at table was very fresh, flavorful and not salty at all. We went for weekend lunch.
Mishy loved the wakame salad, saying it was very well-seasoned and well-balanced. Green salad was good in a house mandarin orange-ginger dressing. Miso soup was excellent, rich and savory, and clumped well. Spicy miso soup had enoki mushrooms in it which are not my favorite, but after those it was quite good. We both thought the steak teriyaki was fantastic, very savory wonderful moist cubes of succulent beef with an excellent sauce. Gyoza were excellent, slightly crisp on the outside with a delicious filling and we both enjoyed them. Mishy loved the broccoli tempura indicating it was at the perfect al dente consistency and ended up ordering seconds; although the sauce was a bit dilute it was quite good.
Shrimp tempura was light and flaky, although slightly oily it was still very tasty and went well with the sauce. Chicken teriyaki was excellent in thin strips which brought out the flavor, and an excellent sauce. Mishy loved the chicken Pad Thai, saying it was delicious and unlike many other places did not have excessive sauce. Teppanyaki vegetables were very good, and Mishy ended up finishing it even though she had not originally ordered it; the sauce was a sweet chicken broth but I did not mind. Deep-fried scallops AKA surimi were very good with a nice dipping sauce. Beef udon soup was delicious with a broth that included basil.
California roll was extremely fresh with a wonderful sauce and we both enjoyed it very much. Salmon nigiri was excellent, very fresh with very good rice. Butterfish nigiri was almost certainly escolar, but was equally fresh and good, as was the "red snapper" AKA tilapia. Surf clam nigiri was very good and fresh with good texture.
For dessert, chocolate ice cream was very rich and creamy; Mishy loved it so much she ordered thirds. Red bean ice cream was good and fresh but did not have that superlative flavor that is found it a few places. Green tea ice cream was good but Mishy said it was slightly freezer-burned. Both of us thought the banana tempura was very good but just the right amount of sauce. Mango ice cream was very good and very fresh. Ginger ice cream was very slightly freezer-burned with tiny ice crystals but was very tasty nonetheless and is always welcome. Mishy also agreed. Weekend lunch was $15.95 and this was an excellent price and value for a very good lunch, especially with the AYCD canned pop. We both enjoyed it very much and would happily return.
Rating: 9-9.5/10
Mishy loved the wakame salad, saying it was very well-seasoned and well-balanced. Green salad was good in a house mandarin orange-ginger dressing. Miso soup was excellent, rich and savory, and clumped well. Spicy miso soup had enoki mushrooms in it which are not my favorite, but after those it was quite good. We both thought the steak teriyaki was fantastic, very savory wonderful moist cubes of succulent beef with an excellent sauce. Gyoza were excellent, slightly crisp on the outside with a delicious filling and we both enjoyed them. Mishy loved the broccoli tempura indicating it was at the perfect al dente consistency and ended up ordering seconds; although the sauce was a bit dilute it was quite good.
Shrimp tempura was light and flaky, although slightly oily it was still very tasty and went well with the sauce. Chicken teriyaki was excellent in thin strips which brought out the flavor, and an excellent sauce. Mishy loved the chicken Pad Thai, saying it was delicious and unlike many other places did not have excessive sauce. Teppanyaki vegetables were very good, and Mishy ended up finishing it even though she had not originally ordered it; the sauce was a sweet chicken broth but I did not mind. Deep-fried scallops AKA surimi were very good with a nice dipping sauce. Beef udon soup was delicious with a broth that included basil.
For dessert, chocolate ice cream was very rich and creamy; Mishy loved it so much she ordered thirds. Red bean ice cream was good and fresh but did not have that superlative flavor that is found it a few places. Green tea ice cream was good but Mishy said it was slightly freezer-burned. Both of us thought the banana tempura was very good but just the right amount of sauce. Mango ice cream was very good and very fresh. Ginger ice cream was very slightly freezer-burned with tiny ice crystals but was very tasty nonetheless and is always welcome. Mishy also agreed. Weekend lunch was $15.95 and this was an excellent price and value for a very good lunch, especially with the AYCD canned pop. We both enjoyed it very much and would happily return.Rating: 9-9.5/10
