ISO Cabbagetown Sushi?

[capetowngirlie]

Looking for an inexpensive take out sushi place for lunch - someplace like Sushi Delight on Danforth. I don't mind spending a more for a sit down sushi dinner but for lunch, we need to keep it under $10 per person.
Does such a sushi place exist in Cabbagetown?
thanks very much!

[basileater]

My favourite neighbourhood sushi Omi doesn't fit your criteria: lunch is $12 and I am not sure whether they do takeout.

You might try your luck with Asahi on the north side of Carleton just west of Parliament. I'm not sure about a lunch menu, but I think they're at a lower price point than Omi. I ate there once and wasn't impressed, but other people seem to like it.

[Googs]

Oh honestly, for the 2 buck difference you get sushi that's on a completely different level than anywhere else you can go. Omi is absobloodylutely worth it.

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Omi
243 Carlton St, Toronto, ON M5A, CA

[tjr]

I don't really agree with the anywhere else part, but I do think Omi is worth the extra "expense" in that area. Is this lunch good as well, Googs? I find their non-omakase dinner items aren't really that impressive, though the omakase is pretty good.

[basileater]

I completely agree that it's worth the extra $2, but I'm not going to challenge the poster's criterion. People can afford what they can afford. Whether it's worth it is immaterial if it's beyond your budget.

Can you advise whether takeout is available at Omi, Googs?

[Googs]

basileater, I agree that it was inappropriate of me to disregard the budget even if it was only a couple of dollars. Not sure if take-out is offered, but having a lunch service should make it more likely. One can always bring their own containers so they may save the food and the environment simultaneously. I recommend calling first to confirm.

tjr, if there's a better sushi establishment in Cabbagetown or the Greater Cabbagetown Area I've yet to encounter it. I doubt I ever will. If you haven't been lately, you'll find that the set menu items have markedly improved over the early weeks post-opening. I have been bored with every piece of Ebi ever offered me to the point where I always refuse it. The man has me eating Ebi again. Don't know what he did to it, just that I like it. The set meals are a remarkable value and a huge notch above other places in a similar price range.

capetowngirlie, please do let us know what you decide on and how it went will you?
http://www.torontolife.com/features/omi/

[tjr]

Yes, I've been twice since the New Year. I haven't seen marked improvements in many items, though the shari is a bit better (but still pretty bad). I find Omi's ebi is unimpressive and similar to what you'd fine at a lot of other places; I'm not sure why it would be better than the shrimp at somewhere like Zen, because it wasn't a revelatory experience for me. Omi's strength is in some of the more interesting dishes, which are worth the trip alone. The sushi hasn't been that great, sashimi a bit better (because you don't have to deal with the rice), but still not at the same level as the other mid-range sushi restaurants in the city. The salmon is usually especially bad and I request that they don't include it.

I like ordering omakase at Omi, as you usually end up getting a lot of tasty dishes that aren't really sushi. The sushi and sashimi are just passable though, and the gyoza aren't as good anymore either. The ones I had at first were incredible for Toronto, but now they are mediocre: greasy and with less filling. The teriyaki/tempura/etc. are no different than some of the Korean/Chinese owned sushi places serving NY strip teriyaki and whatnot.

I wouldn't go back if I didn't like some things, and I'm sure a $12 lunch at Omi is more than worth the difference from a $9 lunch at a crappy sushi resto. I just think there are a ton of improvements to be made still, and that it is still pretty overhyped.