I came here with a friend to try the all-you-can-eat sushi, and overall, we had an enjoyable meal…read more I'd say it's a decent option if you're looking for a casual AYCE sushi spot, but there were a few things that kept it from being a higher-rated experience for me.
Parking was easy, at least. The lot had plenty of space, and when we arrived around 1 PM, it didn't seem all that busy. They offer both lunch and dinner AYCE options. If I remember correctly, lunch is around $27, with dinner being about $10 more. I do like that everyone in the party doesn't have to order the same AYCE option. For example, if two people are dining together and one wants lunch while the other wants dinner, you can each pay for the option you choose as long as you're not sharing. I've been to other AYCE sushi restaurants where everyone has to choose the same AYCE menu option, so I thought that was pretty cool.
The menu itself did feel pretty small compared to some of the AYCE sushi places I've been to in California. It feels like maybe half the size of some of those menus, but Trapper's Sushi also has more of a smaller, casual AYCE vibe, so I wasn't expecting an enormous selection.
The biggest thing that affected my rating was the rice. I actually liked the flavor/texture in this instance and thought it paired well with the nigiri, (and it holds together really well). However, it is definitely on the softer, mushier, and stickier side. As someone who really enjoys sushi, I generally prefer rice with a little more structure and I think others could agree with me, because overly mushy rice can affect the overall taste and texture. Buuut this time, I personally still enjoyed it with the nigiri, so I think this will really come down to preference.
Our sushi chef was great, though. We sat at the bar, and he was really nice, conversational, and made our sushi in a timely manner. Our server was also friendly, but service was a little sparse. I believe she came by about three times: once in the beginning for our drinks and appetizers, near the end when we wanted drink refills, and then when we asked for the check. It didn't really bother me personally, although I probably would have ordered more tempura shrimp and miso soup if we'd been checked on more often. Instead, I ended up just stuffing myself with sushi.
As for the sushi itself, most of the nigiri and regular rolls didn't particularly stand out to me, but the specialty rolls were satisfactory so I wasn't super disappointed.
The Vader Roll was definitely our favorite. If you like creamy sushi rolls, I'd recommend giving this one a try. That was easily the highlight of the meal for us.
I also enjoyed the Magnificent Roll, which is supposed to be their spiciest roll. Obviously, it can't be *too* spicy unless they want everyone signing waivers, but I'd put it around a 5/10 for heat. It had a nice kick while still having decent flavor, and I really liked the crunchy texture in the roll.
I will say, I think the pricing is fair for what you get, especially if you're someone who likes ordering a lot of nigiri like I do. We left full and had a good time, so I don't regret coming here.
Would I recommend it? If you're just looking for some casual sushi and an AYCE option, sure. But if you're really hardcore about sushi and particular about things like rice texture and variety, I don't think this would be a restaurant I would bring up to people.