I have been coming here since 2016 at least. This is my absolute FAVORITE restaurant in all of Orlando. (And I have lived here for about 20 years). If someone asks me for a recommendation? Sushi Tomi. If someone asks me where I want to celebrate (birthday, event, etc.)? SUSHI TOMI!!!
I am genuinely shocked I have not reviewed this place, but when I say that this place deserves more than 5 stars, I MEAN IT. Be warned, I have a lot to say about this place.
Ambiance - calm, homely, cozy, and a great place to relax after work or getting a drink with friends (beer of course). The color palette is just so lovely and makes you feel so welcomed. It's a bit of a small space, but I feel like that adds to the cozy feeling. Very clean as well! (Probably the most clean place in all of Orlando.) Their bathroom also has one of those high tech toilets. Thought I would mention it because I don't think I have seen a place in Orlando with it.
Service - TOP NOTCH. In all the years I have gone, NOT ONCE have I had a bad experience with servers. They are all super sweet, check in with you, and quick with bringing water and meals. The owner is super sweet as well and is probably one of the best parts of the restaurant that makes it stand out so much. She is so lovely and hard working. I have been going for almost 9 years (crazy to think about), but not once have I had anything less than a stellar experience.
Food - OH MY GOD. You want some of the best food in Orlando? Go to Sushi Tomi. I am a Katsudon fan (I have tried other restaurants and NONE compare), but when I tried my friend's dishes, I have never been disappointed. I watched one of my more talkative friends go silent as he devoured the curry he ordered, only stopping to say how good it was. My friend ordered sushi (I believe she got the Orlando roll) and it was top tier.
My personal favorites (as mentioned above) are the Chicken Katsudon (the pork is incredible as well, but I am more of a chicken gal) and the fried pumpkin. The Chicken Katsudon is so flavorful and balanced. The sauce is a little salty, little sweet, and a little tangy. The sauce is embedded into the egg and the breaded chicken as it cooks so each bite is a tender flavorful bite. The rice is plain, but that's so the sauce can seep into it and not have something overpowering underneath the flavorful meats. You can choose between a miso or a salad to go with it. I always choose the miso because it's so light and well flavored. The salad is not something to sleep on though. It's incredibly refreshing and perfect to have in the summer! The fried pumpkin is to die for. The pumpkin itself is a more mellow flavor and has the perfect fluffy texture of a cooked pumpkin with a nice crisp crust. When paired with the salty, slightly sweet sauce, IT'S TO DIE FOR.
I want to add points to the flavor as well because I don't have a sense of smell, so sometimes the Umami flavors are missed on me, but I have experienced that flavor and it was here. If you have a sense of smell or not, this place is the best and so amazing with balancing flavors.
I also want to mention that I have recommended it to several friends and not one has come back with a negative review, only rave reviews about how they love it. If I ask friends if they want to go to Sushi Tomi, I will always get an excited yes and a "I'm so excited" as we build up to the moment they open at 5:30 pm. We will actually fast throughout the day so we can devour their food.
I have probably wrote a novel here, but out of any place I have ever been, I would say this is my number one spot for a reason. If you are in Orlando, YOU MUST GO HERE. Don't waste time on tourist traps or whatever the influences are saying is hot now. This is a tried and true restaurant that has been consistently incredible since the day I started going here in 2016. 100000/5
(Pardon my photos, I'm not the photographer of the group and the pumpkin photo was after we started taking pumpkin off the plate and eating.) read more