Adelaide Food Central was invited to Sushi Planet’s new menu launch. Together with other guests, we were spoilt for choice with a decadent array of beautifully presented sushi, sashimi, yakitori, as well as cocktails, wines, beers and desserts, all free of charge.

Sushi Planet looks and feels clean, contemporary and minimalist with underlying Japanese touches; even the decor itself reflects the owner’s food values. With plenty of seating both inside and out, it’s ideal for groups of any size. The open plan kitchen is a bonus as you can watch the talented chefs carefully prepare the food amidst the hustle and bustle.

The Aburi Salmon was seared to perfection resulting in great texture and release of flavour. The salmon was the star of the show and simply melted in your mouth. It worked well with the fresh avocado, snow peas and cucumber. The creamy, punchy miso aioli that glued all the elements together was also a highlight.

Like the Aburi Salmon I have nothing but praise for the sister dish: Aburi Tuna Nigiri. The tuna belly was also impeccably grilled which allowed the fatty component to melt in one’s mouth. This made the piece of tuna richer and creamier, thus emphasising the premium quality of the fish.

The fresh jumbo-sized prawn on the Prawn Nigiri with its subtly sweet taste paired well with the moist rice. It was not only tasty but a real feast for the eyes with its delicate, pretty appearance. Unlike the Aburi Nigiri varieties the prawn is not grilled in anyway but rather pre-cooked during its preparation.

The classic Salmon Nigiri is simple in its description: a piece of raw salmon topped on a small roll of rice. However, like most ‘simple’ sounding dishes the quality and freshness of the ingredients is key, which was certainly the case in this dish. This was executed well and I could taste the freshness of the salmon with its right amount of fattiness. You could even tell the salmon was fresh just by the glistening appearance and saturated colour of the salmon.

The Avocado and Cucumber Roll like the Salmon Nigiri is also simple in its description and is a classic. There is little to fault with this one and it is a general all-round crowd pleaser; all you need to do is dip it in a little soy sauce and wasabi. The pan-fried sesame seeds gave it more of a crunchy texture. Every sushi purist knows that the key to good sushi is using quality sushi rice, and cooking it so that it is moist and well-seasoned, and this was the case in this dish.

The Aburi Cheese Roll is a little different to your average Aburi Sushi roll because this one is topped with seared cheese. This sushi is a bit of an acquired taste and may be a bit strange for some, however, it’s best to keep an open mind when it comes to new ingredient combinations. The crumbed chicken was tender, crispy and full of flavour, and the mango added a lovely natural sweetness.

The Shrimp Roll with Mango is something totally new. I would never have thought adding fruit would go so well. The rice was moist and very well-seasoned, and it paired nicely with the fresh piece of mango. The slightly sweet crumbed prawn gave it a crunchy texture. The key is to eat the whole roll in one bite so you can taste all the components of the roll, which all strangely, but deliciously, worked well together.

There is genuine truth in the name! Juicy Chicken Meatballs with Yakitori Sauce was exactly that. Juicy! It was so moist, tender and delicious, I think I had 5 skewers. These meatballs packed a real flavour punch and were far from bland; absolutely full of flavour and highly recommended!

The Crumbed Pork with Tonkatsu Sauce is dish that is sure to please any meat-lover. The pork was tender, and crumbed in golden crunchy panko breadcrumbs. The dish was completed with their signature tonkatsu sauce.  It may not be the healthiest thing you can eat but it’s great comfort food.

Rest assured vegetarians and vegans, Sushi Planet has not forgotten about you. Besides the more meatier yakitori options Sushi Planet also serves up Chargrilled King Oyster Mushrooms and Asparagus with Teriyaki Sauce. The cooking process and the special mix of seasonings used ensured they were full of flavour.

The miso marinade complimented the succulent piece of salmon by creating a balance of sweet and savoury.

The highlight of the evening was the exquisitely presented sashimi on the centrally-placed barrel completed with embedded ice sculptures. The sashimi, no matter the type of fish be it kingfish or tuna, was perfect as again they stayed true to their philosophy in using only fresh, quality seafood. The key to good sashimi is not only that the fish is to be of superior quality and be fresh as possible but as well as in its preparation; it has to be filleted and skinned well as the chefs here have done.

Overall, the dishes were amazing and Sushi Planet should be praised on how fresh and carefully prepared each dish was. With vegan and gluten free options, they’re really catering for the wider market and those that are health conscious. The desserts have also had an overhaul with healthier variations of popular desserts. Last but not least, Sushi Planet are the only place that will deliver your sushi to your home or office. If that doesn’t get you, nothing will!

Words and Photos by Linh Nguyen

WHERE: 60 West Tce, Adelaide