Outside Hi Sushi salsa in London's Camden Town. The sushi bar is a fusion of Japanese and Latino cultures presented in a trendy setting. (Sean Kimmons / S&S)
Outside Hi Sushi salsa in London's Camden Town. The sushi bar is a fusion of Japanese and Latino cultures presented in a trendy setting. (Sean Kimmons / S&S)
A selection of sushi delights found at Hi Sushi salsa in London's Camden Town. (Sean Kimmons / S&S)
LONDON — A new sushi bar in Camden was fortunate to escape damage when flames torched the nearby Canal Market area last month.
And though Hi Sushi Salsa, located across Camden High Street from the market, had to shut down for a few days as firefighters extinguished the blaze, nowadays the place is back to dishing out its modern blend of food.
Opened last summer, the sushi bar is a fusion of Japanese and Latino cultures served in a trendy setting, said Geoff Leong, of CVM Communications, which handles public relations for London’s Hi Sushi restaurants.
A Japanese rock garden greets customers at the front door of the Camden’s venue, where sushi chefs can be seen slicing and dicing fish into culinary works of art.
On weekend nights, live DJs bump a playlist of Latin beats along with dance and jazz sounds to customers enjoying fresh food and specialty cocktails.
Perhaps the most unusual thing in the place is its “tatami” lowered seating, which has sunken wells for your legs. This type of seating is common in Japan and offers a more intimate dining experience, especially with groups of people, rather than being confined in chairs, Leong said.
“It’s like a modern take on traditional Japanese seating,” he said.
About 40 different types of sushi dishes, from rolls to the usual suspects, are available. Besides raw fish, less adventurous diners can choose from grilled and noodle dishes.
If a few pieces of sushi won’t satisfy your hunger, check out the venue’s all-you-can-eat buffet. The buffet costs 13.80 pounds and is served all day Sunday, and Monday through Thursday from 5:30 p.m. Children 12 years old and younger are half price.
“You can reorder as much as you want,” Leong said of the buffet.
A tip on getting your money’s worth is to skip the rice and just eat the fish, he added.
In the warmer months, the venue puts an additional 100 seats outside its front door overlooking Regents Canal. The area has a tranquil backdrop where one can relax and enjoy a meal and drinks.
“You’ll be able to sit down and absorb the atmosphere,” Leong said.
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Getting there
Location: 3a Camden Wharf, 28 Jamestown Road, London, NW1. The venue is along Regents Canal near the Camden Town Underground station.Food: A fusion of Japanese food from sushi to grilled and noodle dishes. There is also an all-you-can-eat sushi buffet all day Sunday and Monday through Thursday from 5:30 p.m.Drinks: Specialty cocktails inspired from Japanese and Latin cultures are available.Ambience: A modern Japanese sushi bar with sunken seating and live DJs on weekend nights.Hours: The kitchen closes weekdays at 10:30 p.m. and weekends at 12:30 a.m.Web site:www.hisushi.net
