I have been writing so many crummy reviews about the local area lately. You might even say I'm making an enemy out of Volusia County dining. But you'd be wrong. Stop saying wrong things, cheese brain. My only enemies are mediocre food and dog water service. They're the eternal foes I have sworn to fight. And Volusia County, despite itself, CAN live without them. They're a cowardly, superstitious lot.
That's why I'm really pleased to recommend Ocean Sushi. Port Orange is a bit of a sushi desert. Sure, we HAVE sushi, but none of it's really any good. Or at least it wasn't. And then along came Ocean.
I haven't dined in yet (only takeout), so please read what I have to say that context only. But there's very little to complain about here. The place is clean, quiet, and pretty adorable. The staff (at least the front desk) is extremely friendly. And, most importantly, the food is excellent. Sometimes people say you can tell whether or not a Japanese place means business or based on whether or not they carry Asahi. If they'e only got Sapporo, they might not mean business, but if Asahi is on the menu (and especially if it's on tap), the place might just be shooting high. Well, Ocean's got Asahi, and they've got some goooood sushi to back it up. And they're receptive, too. I mentioned to then that they didn't have a Doordash option to order side sauces when I got takeout during the grand opening and... KABLAM O BLAM O MCALAKAZAMO -- side sauces options were front and center on DD the next time I checked.
I have really only two recommendations. One of them is important, one of them isn't (and you can decide which is which).
1. The prices are a smidge too high (this is the important one; tricked you, GRANDMA). 9+ bucks for a spicy tuna roll. Bring that down to the 7 dollar area and I imagine you'll be much more competitive with the other (admittedly bog standard) sushi joints in the area. Hey, you can make better food than the turkeys, but if you want to fly with the eagles, you still have to kill some gobble-gobble-gobblers on the way up, BABY. I think, were the prices a little lower, this would be a 5 star review (as things stand, this SHOULD be 4.5 star review, but Yelp doesn't allow that -- and as a professional flower, I round down, sweet thang).
2. This is a real nitpick. But nobody likes ground/minced tuna. If they tell you they do, they're lying (and liars belong further south than central Florida, get what I meeeeean?) So get that minced tuna out of the spicy tuna rolls and sub in that lovely, fresh, un-eviscerated tuna you've got in the regular tuna rolls. You'll thank me later when adoring fans are asking you to sign their chubby-bubby stomach rolls.
Listen, Ocean Sushi -- I, Peter Periwinkle, am glad you're here. I like your food, I like your people, I like your space. I've given you a couple of recommendations, but if there's anything else I can ever do for you, you know how to get in touch -- just shine my light in the sky. No, you don't have to thank me... And you'll never have to...
*Speeds away in the Perwinkle-mobile, gunning the engine and blasting "Something in the Way" and wearing eyeshadow and brooding and eating a phat tuna roll with phat spicy mayo on the side BECAUSE IT WAS MADE AN OPTION* read more