I know I've said this about plenty of other places, but it feels especially true in this case - I doubt I would've ever discovered Au Sushi if not for Yelp. Quite literally, they had a direct hand in it, as it was the YEE that was held here last year that brought me out this way. For whatever reason, I've only been out this way a handful of times over the years/decades. Although, in my defense, it's not like there's a whole lot going on in Diamond Heights either...
Tucked away in the corner of the relatively sleepy Diamond Heights Shopping Center, Au Sushi is one of the few eateries in the neighborhood. However, between their relatively late hours, wealth of parking spaces, and how they always seem to have seating available despite their modest size, it's also a cozy little gem that is super convenient whether you live in the area or you're driving in from elsewhere. Of course, that's to say nothing of the menu, which looks pretty typical on the surface (bento boxes, sashimi, sushi rolls, noodle dishes, etc.), but is rather eye catching once get deeper into what they have to offer. In particular, their nigiri and house sushi rolls not only sound good on the menu, but they look even better in the photos on Yelp!
-- NIGIRI OMAKASE - Chef's Choice Nigiri (8 Pieces)...$68
I enjoyed this both times I had it, though it was better and more unique before the menu change (see below). That time, the stand outs were the Uni, Toro, Hotate, and Wagyu. This time, the only real stars were the Toro, Sake Belly, and the Amaebi.
-- DOUBLE TORO ROLL - Salmon Belly, Mango, and Avocado Topped with Bluefin Toro and Fresh Wasabi...$21
Pretty solid, though, it'd be hard not to like a roll with two types of toro. Both the Salmon and Bluefin were equally delicious, though the latter stood out in part because of the size of the cuts. I was iffy on the mango, but these were perfectly ripe and added a nice sweetness.
-- GOLDEN GATE ROLL - Avocado and Salmon Topped with Scallop, Ikura, and Soy Paper...$19
I'm a sucker for salmon and scallops in sushi rolls, so this practically had my name on it. Thankfully, it was great! The scallops were large, fresh, and had a nice sweetness while the salmon and avocado made for a classic pairing - yum!
-- CHICKEN KARAAGE - Crispy Japanese Fried Chicken...$15
Ehh...not bad, but nothing special either. The chicken was decently crispy on the outside and somewhat moist on the inside. It could've used a little bit of seasoning, but at least they weren't all that oily and the aioli helped to add some flavor.
-- KING DRAGON ROLL - Soft Shell Crab, Imitation Crab Topped with Unagi, Avocado, Tobiko, and Unagi Sauce...$18
Cooked rolls aren't always the greatest, but this was really good. The soft shell crab was flavorful, had a nice crunch to it, and was complemented well by the imitation crab and the unagi, which was meatier than I expected.
One thing worth noting is that in the time since Au Sushi opened, the menu has been tweaked. Not significantly, as most things are listed the same as before, but since my first visit here for the YEE last year, only a half dozen or so things have been removed/altered. Unfortunately, that includes their namesake AU SUSHI ROLL, which previously had Salmon Skin, Cucumber, and Shiso topped with Imitation Crab, Monkfish Liver, Scallions, and Special Sauce, that tasted AMAZING. Now, it has Imitation Crab Sweet Cream Topped with Garlic Mayo Baked Scallop and Unagi Sauce - not horrendous by any means, but definitely not as appealing to my tastebuds.
Still, despite the loss of my favorite roll here (or almost anywhere, for that matter), Au Sushi is quite the gem. I can't really speak to their noodle dishes or bento boxes, but they seem perfectly fine based on what I've seen other tables get and how they read on the menu. Perhaps I'll try them at some point (they have a "happy hour" where many of their cooked dishes are discounted), but even if I don't, I'm happy to keep coming back for the sushi and nigiri omakase, especially considering how easy it is to come here! read more