Take a chance on loving Itto Sushi
The Love Rolls are served at Itto Sushi, located at 547 E. University Parkway in Orem.
The Firebird roll is wrapped in foil and served on a flaming plate at Itto Sushi, located at 547 E. University Parkway in Orem.
The Firebird is unwrapped from its foil at Itto Sushi, located at 547 E. University Parkway in Orem.
A starter plate of Gyoza is served at Itto Sushi, located at 547 E. University Parkway in Orem.
A starter plate of Pepper Jacks is served at Itto Sushi, located at 547 E. University Parkway in Orem.
The Romeo and Juliet roll is served at Itto Sushi, located at 547 E. University Parkway in Orem.
The Lion King roll is served at Itto Sushi, located at 547 E. University Parkway in Orem.
The exterior of Itto Sushi, located at 547 E. University Parkway in Orem.
A bevy of sushi selections are available across Utah County — from Tsunami at the Point of the Mountain to Red 8 Asian Bistro and Sushi Bar — with a few dozen options scattered from the north to south ends of the valley.
Needless to say, there are options for sushi lovers, which can be a double-edged sword, as not all sushi is made with quality ingredients and finding the favorable few sushi bars can be difficult.
But I believe Itto Sushi, now open on the south side of University Place in Orem, is a remarkable offering — creating an effortless marriage between fine fare and an enjoyable, gratifying experience from opening the door to signing the check.
Upon entering the new eatery, the first item of décor my wife and I noticed was the traditional Japanese art adorning the walls, with an aesthetic resembling a Japanese fishing hut of the feudal era. The hanging lights are encased in shades resembling antique fishing baskets, adding to the ambiance that feels from another time and place.
But don’t let the mood fool you; Itto Sushi is anything but traditional. As my wife and I came to find out, Itto Sushi goes out of its way to distinguish itself as an innovator from the pack of other sushi bars and restaurants.
We started our meal with two appetizers: Gyoza and Pepper Jacks. Gyoza, or pot stickers, are always safe, solid starters at many Asian restaurants, and Itto Sushi is no exception. But it was the novel Pepper Jacks that were the first hint to us that our dining experience would be unique. Itto Sushi’s Pepper Jacks are deep-fried, quartered jalapeno peppers, stuffed with cream cheese and tuna, with eel sauce drizzled atop. It’s as if a jalapeno popper and a slice of sashimi had a love child — and it is beautiful.
When it came time to order our sushi, my wife and I elected to not order any traditional rolls, sashimi or nigiri. I’d had quality Caterpillar Rolls and superb Sun Rolls elsewhere and frankly every other one of the myriad sushi bars offer similar selections — I needed something unique.
My wife ordered the “Lion King” roll, a house special roll, filled with tempura shrimp, jalapeno, cilantro and tuna, then topped with spicy crab, a paper-thin lime slice and mango and eel sauces. She commonly sticks to a more traditional sushi order, and the Lion King sounded bizarre at first. But the sweet Hakuna Matata tones of the mango paired beautifully with the crunchy tang of the tempura shrimp. The lime wedge packed a delayed zest — a satisfying finishing touch after each bite.
I too must have had a sweet tooth that night, because I ordered the “Romeo and Juliet” roll. The roll contained coconut shrimp, a thin spread of cream cheese and crab, topped with ebi. Half of the rolls are then wrapped in avocado, the other half in mango, composing a colorful creation indicative of its namesake. The roll is then drizzled with mango and eel sauces, a pairing I did not initially think would be as appetizing as it was. It was delightful and added a hint of tropical taste in an unexpected way.
A few items still caught our eye, so we ordered another round. Next up was the Love Rolls, small heart-shaped rolls stuffed with tuna, spicy crab and avocado, topped with tobiko and chili powder, wrapped tightly in albacore. It was a romantic, charming twist on an otherwise traditional sushi item.
Throughout our night, servers passed by with platters literally ablaze, with a foil-encased roll in the middle. It captivated us and our appetites — we knew we couldn’t leave without trying it.
The aptly named Firebird is served on a skillet with flames lapping against the foil cradling the sushi roll. No doubt it’s mostly for show, but it is another reminder how Itto Sushi distinguishes itself from its competitors. When the flames die, we unearth the sushi from its foil covering. To say the Firebird was both the literal and figurative hidden treasure of the night is no exaggeration. It’s stuffed with cream cheese, tempura shrimp and crab, topped with avocado, special sauce and smoked salmon.
I relished every bite of this indulgently exquisite sushi roll, especially the smoky smack of the salmon topping. The creamy avocado seemed to melt together with the house sauce and the cream cheese added a mild, salty savor to the sharp bite of the smoked salmon. By far, the Firebird took the show as my favorite roll of the evening.
Throughout our meal, my wife and I made constant, delighted remarks along the lines of, “Huh, that’s interesting.” From the flaming sushi to a literal wooden boat — we’re talking a few feet long by about a foot high — loaded with nigiri and sashimi, Itto Sushi evokes the motif of vicissitude paired with traditionalism. If your sushi of choice is more conventional, like a spicy tuna roll or a Las Vegas roll, treat yourself. Likewise, if you choose to branch out and enjoy what would be typically considered a more bizarre or peculiar sushi night, Itto Sushi has you covered.
Itto Sushi offers countless lunch and daily specials and bento boxes, enticing you to incorporate its fare into every meal possible.
Our trip to Itto Sushi kindled a fire (literally and metaphorically) that made us fall in love with sushi all over again, as I would hope it does for you.
ITTO SUSHI
Where: 547 E. University Parkway, Orem
Price: $5-$50
Hours: Monday through Wednesday 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5-9 p.m.; Thursday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday noon to 10 p.m.; Sunday closed.
Info: facebook.com/ittosushiutah/