Sushispotting: ‘Rolls & Rolls + Sushi’ and ‘Sushi Maru’

Sushispotting is a multipart series to review all 15 sushi restaurants in Downtown Bellevue.
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#1 Sushispotting: Rolls & Rolls + Sushi

My first venture on my Sushispotting quest took me to Rolls & Rolls + Sushi, a neighborhood gem across the street from the Bellevue Downtown Library.

Now, I have been a fan of this teeny sushi joint for years. It was my regular go-to lunch sushi spot when I worked in nearby Kirkland. I loved the family-owned warmth of it, the delicious sushi, and the shockingly cheap prices on the menu. In fact, the first time I visited, I assumed the prices reflected tiny portions and accidentally ordered enough for 4 people. (FYI, that doesn’t mean I didn’t eat it all) Rolls & Rolls’ creative roll menu was so extensive that it became my mission to try everything, at least once. I failed, but only because I got stuck on the Red Dragon Roll (spicy crab meat, cucumber, and avocado, topped with spicy tuna).

So given this, my return to Rolls & Rolls after several years was put at the top of my Sushispotting list. I happily ordered the 5-Piece Sashimi + Spicy Tuna Roll Combo, and noted 1 sad, tragic detail: their prices. In the intervening years, Rolls & Rolls have increased their prices about 25% – this combo, which used to cost $9.95, is now $13.95. Granted, it was severely underpriced before, but being a cheapskate, paying more never makes me happy.

But what did make me happy was the deliciousness of the sushi. That remained unchanged. So did the funky, let’s-make-a-sushi-joint-out-of-a-7-11-interior vibe. I didn’t recognize any of the staff, so I don’t know where the sweet family is that used to ever so lovingly make my sushi. But overall, I say grab a book at the library, and chow down at Rolls & Rolls. See how far you can get through their menu before you get stuck on a favorite….

Freshness: 4 fishies
Roll/Menu Variety: 4 fishies
Value/Cost: 3 fishies
Downtown Bellevue Core Walking Distance: 3 fishies
Proper Sushi Ambience: 2 fishies
Overall Deliciousness: 4 fishies
TOTAL: 20 fishies

Rolls & Rolls + Sushi
http://www.rollsandrolls.blogspot.com/
11011 NE 12th St
Monday – Saturday 11am – 9pm

#2 Sushispotting: Sushi Maru

So what’s better than just sushi? KAITEN sushi! If you’re like me, lying in wait like a leopard on the savannah, watching the sushi float by, waiting for the perfect moment to strike your prey…then kaiten (conveyor belt) is the most optimal sushi delivery system. And in Downtown Bellevue, we have not 1, not 2, but 4 of them. Seriously. Apparently there are a lot of leopards in the Downtown core.

My favorite kaiten tends to waiver, but lately my fave has been Sushi Maru. Sushi Maru moved in over the winter to the former Kohana Mongolian Grill space (formerly the Shakey’s Pizza space, for us long-timers) behind the ginormous Bellevue Way Safeway. I dig its crazy conveyor belt shape, as well as the extensive, well-priced menu.

I’m not going to detail all that I ate – that would be patently embarrassing, given the volume – but I devoured a variety of plates including spicy tuna rolls, salmon nigiri, orange chicken, edamame, scallop nigiri, hamachi nigiri, and even chocolate-covered strawberries. Each plate is color-coded by price, ranging from $1.50 – $3.50. If you eat less than voraciously, it’s a pretty sweet deal (note: kaiten can also painfully damage your pocketbook if you confuse it with an all-you-can-eat buffet. I’m just sayin’).

Sushi Maru also features a flashy teppanyaki-style grill and a full bar, but given that I had to head back to work, I skipped the bar (honestly). I like to order green tea with my sushi, and Sushi Maru upholds the sacred value of Not Charging for Green Tea. Good sushi and free tea makes me a happy girl.

Freshness: 4 fishies
Roll/Menu Variety: 4 fishies
Value/Cost: 5 fishies
Downtown Bellevue Core Walking Distance: 5 fishies
Proper Sushi Ambience: 3 fishies
Overall Deliciousness: 4 fishies
TOTAL: 25 fishies

Sushi Maru
http://www.sushimarubellevue.com/
205 105th Ave NE
425-452-0100

Monday – Thursday: 11am – 2:30pm, 5pm – 9:30pm
Friday – Saturday: 11am – 10pm
Sunday: 12pm – 9pm