NO LONGER AYCE - California Roll (Japanese)

 

Update: 2021-Aug-20 - There is no more AYCE at this location post-lockdown, 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.

California Roll is located at 1634 Bayview Avenue, south of Eglinton. It is a small and pleasant place (I loved the full-height potted money tree at the front) which appears to only have about nine tables, however it is larger than it appears as both has an upstairs area, which is usually closed to customers, and a patio. Unfortunately disposable chopsticks are used which is why I bring my own. Soy sauce was rather salty, but low sodium is available and it was noticeably less salty. Orders are placed directly to the waiter from the menu. Pop is $1.50 per can and not AYCD. Green tea is $1, and there was no warning of this. At least there are free refills.

Miso soup was rather watery, lacking in dashi savour unfortunately; it got better and more savoury towards the bottom showing this was due to dilution. Green salad was good and fresh with reasonably good original dressing, not Thousand Islands. Tofu salad was just a green salad with plain white tofu added. Kimchi was good, spicy and with no odour. Steak teriyaki was excellent and savoury in a black pepper sauce and I loved it; a welcome addition to the lunch menu, but of course is a small portion compared to the chicken given its value. Beware portion sizes: the chicken teriyaki and chicken cutlet were several times larger then normal. Chicken teriyaki was very good, with a nice sauce and savour, and not too sweet. Breaded chicken cutlet was good and had a nice sauce. Shrimp tempura was excellent, light and flaky but the sauce was dilute and missing tang. Chicken curry was very tasty Thai style like a thick stew in a bowl and I enjoyed it. Yam tempura was good but a bit oily, however most are. California roll was quite good… had to try their signature dish of course! Avocado cucumber roll was similarly good; the avocado was at the proper temperature and ripeness so was tasty. Salmon nigiri was okay but unfortunately the salmon was at the edge of not being fresh; I hope that this was a one-off. Beef fried rice was good but it needed a little added soy sauce to really wake it up.

For dessert, Japanese ice cream is the only option available, and it's green tea of course... at least it was fresh enough. Lunch is from 11 to 3, and I went on a weekday when it was $15.50. In these gentrified days, this is actually pretty good. I was impressed by steak teriyaki being available on the lunch menu, but few of the items were underwhelming and a few more dessert options would be nice. I still think that California Roll was a reasonable deal and a nice option for a casual lunch.

Rating: 7-7.5/10