E Sushi: A West End Hidden Gem

It’s no secret that Glasgow can put on a spread. With TripAdvisor touting a staggering 200-odd Asian restaurant in the city, you can be spoiled for choice when it comes to oriental cuisine alone – and it can be hard to whittle down the choices. Taking some time out on a busy weekday, City Live ventured into the West End of Glasgow and into a sushi-roll cocoon of great taste and tranquillity – E Sushi on Byres Road.

*Source: Google Maps, E Sushi on Byres Road, West End*

The unassuming shopfront leads you into a modern twist on traditional Japanese décor and the low-lit comforting embrace of the restaurant. Welcomed by friendly staff anytime between 12 and 10 pm, seven days a week, any visitor is in for a treat.

Their extensive menu caters to all areas of Japanese cuisine and has plenty of options for vegetarians, vegans and those requiring gluten-free alternatives. City Live chose a range of dishes across the impressive offering – spanning go-to favourites and unique takes on other dishes; we tried to get the best overall experience possible.

Some stand-outs from the smaller starter plates were: The Chicken Yaki Tori skewers (skewers of grilled chicken with a homemade sweet sauce) getting two of these skewers packed with chicken for £5.20 is a great deal; the Ebi Popcorn (deep fried prawn in Japanese light and crispy batter drizzled with homemade sweet chilli sauce) the sweetness of these prawns was a delight and a nice change from heavier flavours; the Takoyaki (A Japanese snack in the shape of a ball crispy outside and gooey inside with octopus in) which was some of the best we’ve tried in the city; and the Beef Tataki (seared steak with homemade dressing and sesame seeds) at £7.80 for this perfectly rare steak you can’t complain, and the dressing is sublime.

It’s hard to pick a favourite out of any of the dishes – a true sign of a great and diverse menu. This didn’t get easier as the larger plates were brought out; some spectacular presentations accompanied another addition of tantalising tastes.

Shrouded in a haze of dry ice, the Salmon Platter emerged from the kitchen and engulfed the table before us. Six maki, three nigiri and three sashimi pieces were in one of the most impressive-looking presentations you’ll get. The taste mirrored the impressive layout providing some of the best-tasting nigiri in Glasgow, both finely sliced and mouth-wateringly fresh. The maki and sashimi were also superb and allowed a standout sushi experience.

Overall, E Suhsi is outstanding. They have crafted an expansive menu full of flavour and a complete experience via their excellent service, stunning décor and impressive presentation. As the city centre’s bright lights are adorned with sushi restaurants aplenty, if you are looking for your Japanese cuisine fix in the West End – you should look no further than 130 Byres Road.

★★★★★ – 5/5 – arguably some of the best sushi in Glasgow, definitely the best on Byres Road.