Kiriri Sushi Bar

Attention sushi lovers, you are missing out if you have never tried Kiriri Japanese Cuisine and Sushi Bar. Why? Well, I'm sure you have all been to sushi restaurants with specialty rolls drenched in delicious Japanese mayo and other sauces. You probably also been to authentic sushi bars where they primary serve fresh sashimi and other small rolls. Kiriri takes authentic sushi bar to another level with their high quality and fresh specialty rolls. Without the obstruction of powerful tasty sauces, you are able to taste the full flavour of the fish and rice itself.

After a grumpy day at work, I think sushi is the best way to brighten up the rest of my evening. It was last minute decision to head over to Richmond, so we did not make any reservations for Kiriri Sushi Bar. The was a really bad idea. When we got there at 6:30pm, we noticed over half of the tables on the floor were reserved. The hostess said it will be a 45 minutes wait and she felt really bad telling us that. Luckily for us, a table was just finishing up and we were seated sooner than expected.

There are actually quite a few appealing dishes on the menu. We had to fight over which item to order. So after a long battle and bothering the waitress for recommendations, here is what was on the table:

Red Tuna Tower: chopped red tuna, avocado, and mango on sushi rice ($10)
My initial reaction: Very nicely presented and that it probably taste similar to the tower you find at Guu Otokomae. When I took my first bite: I realize there is no sauce. I took my second bite: Wow, I can actually taste the red tuna, avocado, mango, and the sushi rice. All four of the ingredients were very fresh and tasty. Often, the sauce overpowers the natural flavour of the fish itself; it is capable of hiding the stale flavour. With this delicious red tuna tower, nothing is masked. Very fresh and delicious! Recommended by Hippo!

Toro Nigiri ($3 per piece)
Not the best, but definitely one of the better toro nigiri I have had. Creamy and fatty goodness. The sushi rice itself was also very tasty.

Spicy Salmon Roll: spicy salmon, avocado, and mango wrapped in soy paper; topped with salmon sashimi and jalapeno ($10)
This was amazing. Lightly marinated spicy salmon with a jalapeno topping really brought out the fresh salmon flavour, and not simply overpower it with a pungent spice. It is a very mild roll. Nice use of the soy paper to prevent determent of natural taste. The salmon sashimi that it is topped with is actually quite a large piece. It is rolled up, but when you lay it out, it is a decent size salmon sashimi piece. Recommended by Hippo!

Dynamite Roll ($5)
Your typical dynamite roll. The highlight of this roll would be the dual jumbo prawn. It is freshly fried and the prawn was delicious. Otherwise, it is quite standard.

Age-Udon: crispy udon noodle with seafood and vegetables with soup ($10)
This was a new experience. I have had prawn tempura udon, but crispy udon was new to me. The udon is coated with a light batter and deep fried, such that it is similar to tempuras. A hot broth is served on the side, meant to be poured into the udon, then immediately consumed. I thought this was very tasty. The waitress also notified me that age-udon is actually one of their original udon on the menu.

Black Sesame Creme Brulee ($6)
Individual portion. We shared, but it is actually perfect for one. Comes in a cute little container with a lid. The black sesame creme brulee is on the lid shaped as a bowl. The remaining of the container is filled with variety of fresh fruits. Very creamy and delectable. They also have a green tea creme brulee as well for all you green tea lovers.

Kiriri Japanese Cuisine and Sushi Bar is not just another cheap Richmond sushi restaurant. You will definitely be paying the price for the high quality, fresh fish you are receiving. Come with a palate ready for natural flavours. Please do not consume strong/flavourful/salty food overwhelmed with MSG, as that may ruin your experience here.

Kiriri Japanese Cuisine and Sushi Bar

Location: In a plaza corner of Blundell Road and Garden City. A 5 minutes drive from Richmond Center. There is a small parking lot for the plaza, but it is generally full. You can also park on the streets of Blundell Road. They are closed on Mondays. Reservations recommended.

Food: Very satisfied. Traditional Japanese sushi with a slight twist. One of my favourite sushi bars, along with Ajisai Sushi Bar! Highly recommended by Hippo!
Service: Standard, attentive.
Price: The total came to $53 with tax for two people.
Recommended? If you love quality and fresh fish, then it is a must try!

- Hippo


Kiriri Japanese Cuisine & Sushi Bar
8780 Blundell Road
Richmond, B.C.
Phone: 778-297-4330