In Melbourne, the sushi burrito has been around for a while. In San Francisco and N.Y.C., people have been enamoured for at least a year. But in Toronto, this trend is just getting its legs out. Enter Sushitto On the Road, the 6’s brand new food truck hawking the hybrid baby of the ever-popular burrito and sushi.
The hunt
This item is for the serious eater only. Those interested in getting their paws on a sushi burrito are bound to encounter a number of roadblocks. Downloading the Toronto Food Trucks app is one way to get a head start: it’ll show you where to head for the day. Following @sushittontheroad on Instagram is a safer bet: they provide daily updates on where the truck can be found. Regardless, sushi burrito hunters are likely to find themselves lining up in queues 30 deep in the sweltering midday sun. This is hard core.
Getting the toes wet
Owner Kiwon Kim dreamed of opening a Japanese and Korean style sushi place. A trained sushi chef, Kim didn’t want to go full restaurant, instead looking for something more manageable. After some initial research, Kim noted the popularity of sushi burritos elsewhere and saw a void in the T.O. market. Realizing that the item was basically modified Korean kimbap rolls, Kim’s truck plan began unfolding.
Talk of the town
Unsurprisingly, the majority of the truck offerings place the filling focus on fish and seafood. In terms of size, think an uncut roll of maki sushi that’s been blown up to a burrito’s dimensions.
The chef’s special sees nori-wrapped rice enrobing a vibrant centre: tuna is paired with salmon along with shredded crabmeat, cuke and avocado. A sprinkling of roe adds crunch while pieces of juicy mango add just the right amount of sweet. Before eating, douse with soy or add spicy mayo for a drop of heat.
Other eats
Other popular picks include the spicy salmon and the lobster (giving new meaning to the term “lobster roll”). For those uninterested in the ocean’s offerings, bulgogi beef comes with brown beech ’shrooms, red cabbage, tomato and cuke. Available by the half or full burrito ($8 to $16), each sushitto comes wrapped in a paper holder enabling easy eating. (Well, until you get to the end, which is when things start to unravel.) Judging by the looks of it, the sushi burrito is here to stay.
Sushitto On the Road, @sushittontheroad
