Stereotypes always help. Logical and irrational. Even in our country, that’s plagued with exaggeration. Various things have been heard about sushi. Expensive, exotic, too minimal to satiate, raw, and more. Until the recent years, that new business ventures democratised it and launched it to the top of our preferences. Sushi has become part of our daily lives and the only stereotype that applies is that sushi is not just cooking, it is a ritual. Each piece of rice condenses a philosophy of centuries and one of the shops to which we owe our pleasant taste acquaintance with it in recent years is Shisan Sushi Bar.
When the first Shisan opened in the suburbs of Athens, namely Holargos in 2015, its fame spread like a bulletin board to the ubiquitous lovers of our favourite Japanese delicacy. And this, because from the first moment (and from the first bite) it became clear that on the shores of the Mesogion highway something very good was being rolled – both in quality, taste, imagination and price. A unique marriage of a tradition that goes back centuries from the Yayoi period (Western Bronze Age) to the present day – international gastronomic influences, fusion creations with sophisticated techniques and imaginative combinations – conditions that all apply in Shisan.
So it was a natural consequence, for the restaurant to open its wings and become 5 Shisan Sushi Bars in total, continuing to enchant us with their offerings in the most enjoyable way – without at any stage of their expansion dropping the quality that established them or raising their prices.
At each Shisan Sushi Bar the experienced teams of sushi chefs transform the fresh treasures of the sea into dishes that excite – sometimes for the explosive handmade sauce, sometimes for the execution, sometimes for the combinations – always for the taste. Makis, nigiris, sashimi and their rolls contain rice ideally boiled, ideally mixed with vinegar, ideally wrapped in nori seaweed, with absolute mastery. A party in the mouth!
From fish we find salmon fillet, sea bass, tuna, eel. Dominant vegetables are avocado, chives, cucumber, carrot, which dominate in many signature rolls (the so-called “wrapped”). The eponymous Shisan Roll for example consists of marinated salmon, fried shrimp, chives and shisan sauce and is a revelation, the “overproduction” Spicy Tuna includes tuna, crab surimi, cucumber, spicy mayo, chives, crispy onions and caramel icing on the palate. A lot of food. Classic flavors are Tempura Rolls with fried shrimp and Philadelphia cheese, as well as our timeless California favorites, with crab surimi, avocado and swallow eggs. Fried rolls are a category in themselves and an excellent choice for those who are new to sushi,
The variety in textures, colors and ideas is also reflected in Shisan salads, with options such as the refreshing Crab Salad, with crab surimi and sweet chilly mayo dressing or the Sashimi Salad, with tuna fillets and shisan dressing. In their palmare you will find cool tartare and carpaccio, finely chopped, with a velvety texture, well-balanced herbs and sauce, fresh like the first day of spring! Tune in to their social media and website for their brave offers every day (Thursday & Sunday 3 dishes from the menu for just 12 euros, Wednesdays 4 dishes & 2 drinks of your choice for 19 euros), visit them every Sunday for the buffet at 18 euros (soon again with us) and inform about the happy hours with combos and boxes to enjoy their goodies always and everywhere.
Who said sushi is not for everyone?
Shisan Sushi Bar
204 Mesogeion Ave., Cholargos, tel. 2106510011
25 Kalamiotou, Psyrri, tel. 2103231230
28th of October 44, Argyroupoli, tel. 2114110077
Em. Veaki 36, Peristeri, tel. 2105757880
Pl. World Peace 4, Korydallos, tel. 2104949584
www.shisan.gr | Facebook | Instagram
