Favourite: Yuki Sushi
McLaren Hotel (554 Main Street)
(204) 956-2849
When Mr. Lee opened his second restaurant in the McLaren Hotel, he was met with plenty of skepticism. A sushi bar taking over the greasy spoon in what’s essentially a rooming house? Few thought this was a lasting venture, but the novelty of such an experiment drew out both the adventurous and the thrifty, and they quickly discovered the charm of both the McLaren location and the Korean family behind the bar.
I started my love affair with Yuki Sushi alongside student season tickets to Manitoba Theatre Centre. Fitting as a cheap and quirky place to bring my date, Yuki Sushi became the standing location for a leisurely pre-theatre meal.
Over the years, I’ve tried most of the menu. Sushi has always been fresh and well-presented, and though we are landlocked, Yuki Sushi does a fine job of serving up tender, dewy slices of fish and seafood. The list of maki is extensive, full of fun, affordable combinations. Specialty rolls cost a fraction of the price at more upscale sushi joints, like Blufish or Wasabi, and though some of the sushi chefs aren’t as particular as Mr. Lee in presentation, it’s always tasty. The salads are quite popular, though there aren’t many on the menu, and the tempura is generally well done, if a little greasy at times.
I’ve ordered from Yuki Sushi for parties and brought all sorts of friends and newcomers to this hole in the wall. It’s always a hit - something about the diverse mix of diners and the unexpected location. At one time, you’ll have a table of young adult hipsters and another of a young family, when two construction workers from down the street walk in for their daily sushi lunch beside a couple of business types from further south on Main Street.
Service can be slow, but you can’t beat the price. In the end, there’s just something so Winnipeg about it all, you just can’t help yourself!
