Maki Bento Box @ Piranha Killer Sushi

Full disclosure: Before becoming a writer, I worked at this restaurant briefly in 2002 about a year after it opened. It was my first and last stint as a waitress. I (as it turns out) was not very good at it. Anyway, the restaurant was named Blowfish back then and was really good. I have no “kitchen horror” story whatsoever to share. I’ve been back a few times since, but because of the fast-paced nature of the industry, it is like an entirely new restaurant when I go in now—a new name even! All new faces, new sushi chefs, new menu items. So, I write this review as a once-but-no-longer semi-insider.

On sunny afternoons, there are few things I love as much as sushi. I can probably count the times I’ve eaten sushi during the winter on both hands. Whether it’s the fresh taste or light texture, there is just something about sushi that makes it more fitting for warmer weather. Today was lovely, so I decided to swing by Piranha Killer Sushi because it’s been a small eternity since I’ve eaten there. (If you talk to people who like sushi without all of the fuss of fancy dining, they’re bound to mention this place.)

I picked up the lunch Maki Bento Box (to go!) and was, in a word, delighted. It’s a lot of food for 9.95: miso soup, tuna roll, cucumber roll, 1/2 california roll, and a tuna sashimi side salad. It’s not the finest sushi I’ve ever had, but it’s a definite solid standard that tasted very fresh. The miso soup had a great flavor, but was the weakest part of the meal for two reasons. One, the tofu squares were almost non-existent. I think I got two. Also, the seaweed pieces were cut very large and were really chewy. I dodged them and enjoyed just the broth.

The basic rolls were great and simply prepared. The nori wrapping was fresh (I hate chewy ones!) and the rice had a great texture. The tuna in the rolls was rich–beautiful in color and texture. The highlight for me was the tuna sashimi salad. The (generously portioned) tuna pieces were laid upon a bed of mixed greens and then drizzled with a spicy red chili sauce and some sort of creamy aioli (maybe with a hint of ginger?). Roe and sesame seeds were sprinkled on top to finish it off. Beautiful.

Price: 9.95

Piranha Killer Sushi
851 N.E. Green Oaks Blvd.
Arlington, TX 76006
817.261.1636

(Second Ft. Worth location)
335 W. 3rd St.
Fort Worth, TX 76102
817.348.0200

Tags: aioli, bento box, california roll, chili sauce, cucumber roll, maki, miso soup, nori, Piranha Killer Sushi, sashimi, side salad, sushi, tuna, tuna roll