Just when you thought you heard it all, the fusion of Mexican cuisine and Japanese sushi is slowly, but surely making its mark on the Phoenix foodscape.
Mexican sushi (or Mex-sushi, as enthusiasts like to call it) spots have been popping up in Phoenix, mostly in the city’s west side around 35th and 43rd avenues. If you’re looking to celebrate the union between two very different cultures, these Phoenix restaurants promise to show you the best of both worlds.
Proving that even the most head-scratching food trends can survive (and thrive!) is Sushi Sonora, a family-owned restaurant with several locations. Owner Hernan Rivera opened the first location about six years ago, challenging daring sushi lovers to try a new style that fuses Mexican and Japanese ingredients.
On the menu, you’ll find standard rolls, like the Vegas and spicy tuna. But why go with the norm when you can try the Sushi Dog (sausage, bacon, cream cheese and avocado) or the Sushiles (deep-fried chile pepper stuffed with shrimp, cream and crab).
For the ultimate Mexican sushi experience, have the Cielo, Mar y Tierra, a sushi roll stuffed with chicken, steak, shrimp, cream cheese and avocado.
1400 N. 32nd St., Phoenix
(602) 267-1697
3555 W McDowell Rd, Phoenix
(602) 278-9355
6544 W. Thomas Road, Phoenix
(623) 466-6436
Señor Sushi
From the outside, Señor Sushi, a little Mexican sushi joint in west Phoenix, looks like your typical strip-mall restaurant. But once you step inside, you immediately find yourself in isakaya-inspired dining room adorned in blacks and reds, and emanating an almost club-like vibe.
The menu offers a vast array of apps, salads, fried rice and noodles, but the real star of the show are the Latino rolls, many of which are breaded and deep fried. For the more adventurous diner is the Bomba, a deep fried rice ball filled with shrimp, chicken, bacon, avocado, cucumber, Chihuahua cheese and cream cheese.
4324 W. Indian School Road, Phoenix
(623) 849-9312
Part taco joint, part sushi spot, Tacos Kissi—located in northwest Central Phoenix—is guaranteed to satisfy your cravings for both.
On the taco side, they have everything from carne asada (grilled steak) and pastor (marinated pork), to chicharron, chicken and shrimp.
On the sushi side, they offer six unique rolls, including the Kissi roll, made with breaded shrimp, tampico (imitation crab salad made with spicy mayonnaise), avocado and cream cheese.
To make things even more interesting, Tacos Kissi also has burgers, hot dogs and fries on the menu—because, well, why not?
2720 W. Bethany Home Road, Phoenix
(602) 296-4936
Tucked in the corner of a sprawling strip mall in west Phoenix, is a restaurant that lives up to its name thanks to its unique offerings of Mexican sushi rolls and Japanese-inspired noodles, rice and teriyaki dishes.
The sushi menu features Sinaloan-style specialties, such as the Guamuchilito, made with crab and cucumber, rolled with octopus, shrimp, cream cheese, tampico, avocado and eel sauce; and the Rollo Carne Asada, filled with roast beef, cream cheese, avocado and jalapenos, and covered with Chihuahua cheese.
And for something on the fiery side, try the aptly-named Extreme, a breaded shrimp roll smothered in a spicy chipotle eel sauce.
4434 W. Thomas Road, Phoenix
(602) 269-5005
Sushi Loco
In west Phoenix, a homerun’s hit away from Maryvale Baseball park, Sushi Loco is sushi-bar-meets-discotheque-meets-concert-venue. Housed in a former all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet, the expansive space is filled with a spacious dining room, wrap-around bar, big-screen TVs, dance floor and stage.
And just as vast as the space is, so, too, is the sushi menu. Standouts include the Sushi Loco roll, a seafood lover’s delight made with lobster meat, salmon tempura, shrimp, crab meat, cream cheese and cucumber; and the Mango Loco roll, filled with refreshing mango, shrimp tempura, avocado, cucumber and crab meat wrapped in soy paper.
5301 W. Indian School Road, Phoenix
(623) 873-8168
