CLOSED - Sushi Friends

Update 2019-Sept.-11: Sushi Friends is closed, having been replaced at the same location by "Herby Eatery and Drinkery". With the previous departure of 8 Sushi, Katsu is now the last AYCE in Greektown.

Sushi Friends is located at 397 Danforth Ave. in Toronto's Greektown restaurant district, transit-accessible as it is very close to Chester subway station. We've been to Sushi Friends many times over the years, and it was one of our first reviews, so it's time for an update given that so many Toronto AYCEs have gentrified, increased in price and quality, and changed their offerings.

The modern interior hasn't changed since our last review so no need for different photos (although I have no idea how the Bloor Prince Edward Viaduct ended up in there). There are no waitresses anymore at Sushi friends, the service appears to be done by one of the chefs, and there was no delay in service. Disposable chopsticks are used which is why I bring my own. We went for $20.99 weekend weekday dinner, it's $22.99 on weekends. Low sodium soy sauce is present on all tables, it was fresh and not too salty; about medium salinity. Included tea was quite good. Pop is $1.50 per can, not AYCD.

Green salad was alright although the lettuce was not the freshest, but the orange ginger dressing was good. Miso soup was good, not dilute and with a medium savour, but was just starting to go off as had a slightly beery aroma indicating fermentation had started up again. It also could have been warmer. Beef teppanyaki was excellent and both of us loved it; the sauce was excellent and savory and it was well cooked and spiced. Chicken teriyaki was good to very good and both of us enjoyed it. Spring rolls were good and had a nice sauce. Gyoza were also good with a nice sauce and were not too hot as they are at many other places. Salmon sashimi was fresh enough. Red snapper nigiri was good and also reasonably fresh enough. Butterfish nigiri was just the same. Salmon nigiri also that the same almost freshness, we went on Monday night so the fish was probably left over from the weekend. Anthony Bourdain actually warned about 'Monday fish" famously in some of his writings, but if this is as bad as it gets then no worries as it was still quite edible, however the crab/surimi sashimi was a little more noticeably closer to going off, but still not enough to be an issue.

Avocado cucumber roll was good, avocado was a touch overripe (Monday avocado perhaps?) Tempura sauce was a bit dilute but otherwise good. Shrimp tempura were good, light, and flaky enough though had a touch of oil. Beef teriyaki was good in a good sauce, though not exemplary, but no complaints. Spicy chicken however was all heat and almost no flavor; I did not care for this dish before on a few visits and unfortunately it hasn't improved. Mishy could not finish her portion of it so I had to eat both of them. Chicken cutlet katsu was good with good sauce and spicing. Japanese potato pancake was also good with a nice sauce.  Philly roll was good with large pieces of salmon.

For dessert there was no sauce on the banana tempura, but the upside of this is that it ensures the banana is not green as the sauce can partially mask this. Green tea, red bean and mango ice creams were good but not exemplary. Sushi Friends is a bit less expensive than most other places, and "you get what you pay for" applies; there was nothing bad, and a couple of very good items, but most were passably good.

Rating: 7/10

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The earlier review:

Toronto is inundated with great food and more and more 'All you can eats' especially Sushi  Bars are popping up everywhere in the GTA.  I must admit that years ago the sound of eating raw fish didn't turn me on much, but they say try something once and I never looked back!

Beautiful decor inside..guess whose paying? :D

Salmon sashimi is my favorite dipped in fresh soya, there's nothing like it.   

Sushi Friends at 397 Danforth is a new one and we decided to try it out this weekend.  Food is delivered fresh and fast, so when you're hungry thats what you are looking for.  Their prices are excellent only $10+ for lunch ..bathrooms are immaculate.  Marble floors, beautiful sinks and the staff is nice too!

One word of warning is their ice cream.  If you want ice cream, they will charge you $3 a scoop! The scoops are small too! Other than that no complaints.

Overall rating: 8/10
:) - Fast service, friendly staff, fresh & high quality, great price, clean bathrooms, great decor, close to subway

:( - Miso soup is inconsistent, hidden cost of overpriced ice cream