Sushi Grade Salmon

[SusanB]

Any idea where I can buy sushi grade salmon in Toronto? I want to make salmon tartare. We're east end, Leslieville area, maybe T&T? (never been there)

Thanks.

[Charles Yu]

'Taro Fish' on Sheppard and Leslie. Japanese run and operated fish monger and sushi place!

[sumashi]

Ok, I will probably go to Taro's Fish then thanks! btw, childofthestorm, I did see your post about Diana's before , I assume, it got deleted by CH..? Those good reviews are why I was interested in them but I have never been there myself. Thanks for your rec as well Sadistick, but it's a little too out of the way for me!

[Sadistick]

Not to mention absurdly over priced.

If you can cut fish yourself (which essentially is what they are doing for you at Taro, along with good quality, which you can attain elsewhere) save some cash for a nice bottle of wine to accompany your meal.

[sumashi]

So...I was just at T&T warden today and they were also charging $20/lb at their sushi counter for salmon. Kind of surprised to find it was the same as Taro's. If I had time I would go back to SLM for salmon, which is where I've gotten it before.

[Charles Yu]

Yes the price might be a bit steep but at least you know what you are getting due to Taro's background and reputation!!
In other places, I'm really not sure how the fish was being handled. eg., Whether they have separate knife and cutting board specifically for cutting the 'sushi' grade fish! Afterall, one will be accepting the product as is unless one disinfect the fish with 'food rinse' just to be safe?!! Ha!!

[Royaljelly]

Taro's has both a regular salmon as well as an organic version. Any taste difference? Not much that I could discern. But we usually order the latter when we have our company lunch sashimi platters. No idea how much the organic goes for per lb.

[sumashi]

I'm looking for sushi-grade salmon and tuna to buy for this weekend. I called up Taro's Fish and they have salmon for ~ $20/lb. I also called up T&T at Promenade and Galleria but they couldn't give me much information. The lady at Galleria told me I have to come in to see their packages.. and the lady at T&T just said she thinks they have it, but I have to check with the fish dept (she put me through but it didn't pick up).

Which place would you recommend I get sushi-grade salmon/tuna from out of these three? thanks!

[childofthestorm]

Taro's, no contest.

[sumashi]

Oh, I just called up Diana's Seafood too... so including Diana's now, which is $10/lb, would you still pick Taro's? ... How can it be double the price at Taro's?

-----
Diana's Seafood
2101 Lawrence Ave E, Toronto, ON M1R, CA

[Sadistick]

City Fish

On Dufferin South of Lawrence.

They sell to many sushi restaurants in the city.

Their 'Sushi salmon' I believe runs $15/lb

[snoobie]

I second City Fish.... We buy shshi grade salmon there all of the time and it is delicious and fresh.

[kimmich]

I know that Galleria Supermarket (7171 Yonge Street) has sushi salmon as well as sushi maguro tuna ready to be sliced and served.

[SusanB]

Thanks everyone! We had salmon tartare at a French restaurant in Montreal last October, and I've been craving it lately. It was featured on a cooking show the other day (French Food at Home) and it seems I should be able to make it. Thanks again.

[sbug206]

Definitely T&T. There's a sign at the sushi counter that says they sell sushi grade salmon by the pound. $16 per pound. Half pound minimum.

[BokChoi]

I usually get my salmon from St. Lawrence (if you can get to the Cherry St. T&T, then St. Lawrence is pretty close-by). Other options I have tried are T&T (you would have to get their sliced sashimi and dice them up yourself – so you pay a premium for the prepared sashimi - but they are cheap to begin with), or you can try Diana’s seafood. They have organic salmon, which they state is sushi grade. I still find St. Lawrence to have the tastiest fish – I frequent Seafront, or Mike’s Seafood while I am there. I find that T&T sometimes has a strangely textured sashimi, so you just have to keep your nose open and your senses hightened before buying. Usually they are okay though. I made my tartare using T&T and it tasted great. I was impressed that I tried buying from one T&T store and they actually refused to sell me their fish because they said it was not fresh that day.

Homemade tartare using T&T salmon: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28531775...

[Snarf]

I haven't tried their fish yet, but T and T's counter looked fantastic, with no smell.

There's also a place on Nassau in Kensington that has great looking fish. There's a main counter and a cooler with sushi cuts packaged. I'm sure they'd cut it in front of you if you asked, too. Can't remember the name of the place, but you'll be able to separate it from the others by the lack of smell.

[Mila]

Here is the odd thing. Whenever I ask for sushi grade salmon I am always directed to the farm raised Atlantic Salmon. One day at Bill's Lobster I asked if I could use the organic Pacific and they gravely shook their heads "no", but couldn't tell me why.

I'm sorry this isn't very helpful but maybe another hound knows more.

Cherry Street T & T is awesome, fabulous fresh fish, often still kicking, very clean and they will cut what you need to order.

[aser]

Salmon is a freshwater fish mostly, and freshwater fish has inherently more parasites than saltwater fish. That is why salmon is rarely eaten as sushi in Japan. This can be countered by deep freezing the fish to kill the parasites. Most salmon you purchase has been previously frozen as a result.

Perhaps the organic salmon is wild and thus never frozen.

For the best quality, with high prices to match, I would suggest you check out Taro or Sakane-ya.

[The Chowhound Team]

A discussion about parasites in fish has been split to the General Topics board:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/548596

Please keep the discussion here focused on where to buy salmon/fish locally.

Thanks!

[BokChoi]

Sakane-ya photos:
horse mackeral: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28531775@N06/2743152850/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28531775@N06/2743152710/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28531775@N06/2742315277/

And finally, the Kensington fishmonger:
Fish Display looks fresh: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28531775@N06/2763622967/
Monk fish: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28531775@N06/2763623017/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28531775...