Sushi Hotaru, Bathurst Street, Sydney

Sushi Hotaru is a sushi train in Sydney CBD. Most people would be more familiar with its other branch in the Galleries of Victoria with its long queues. This branch is a much quieter one. We did not have to book or queue for a dinner seating.

Setting

Like with most Sushi Trains, Sushi Hotaru is mainly counter seating - where there are bar chairs along a counter. You can chose to pay individually at each chair or pay as a group.

Sushi Hotaru has its menu on its electronic ordering system which is based on an iOS system. Everything from sushi, to hot food, to drinks even to tap water has to be ordered through its electronic ordering platform. The beauty of the system is that you get a picture for every dish to know what exactly you are ordering.

The downside to the system is the inability to customise orders. For example, if you have a certain allergy an require something to be left out for you, you would still have to get a wait staff to assist you with your order.

Drinks
There are plenty of drinks at this sushi train. The range consists of soft drinks, beers, wines (including sake), juices, cocktails and teas. We were adventurous and went for a sake tasting plate and a Japanese beer - Sapporo.

Sapporo is a full bodied Japanese larger beer which originated from Sapporo, Japan. Its origins were strongly influenced by German brewers.

The sake tasting plate consisted of 3 different types of sake. Each had its unique palate. It was definitely worth trying as an educational experience if you haven't had much sake.

Food
Sushi
Most sushi was available around the sushi train. However, if you were after something on the menu you haven't seen on the train, you can order it through the electronic ordering system.

The sushi was very fresh, well constructed and appropriately flavoured. There was a very good variety of sushi - nigiri, roll, hand roll and gunkan. There was also a good range of toppings/ fillings.

We had (clockwise in picture) beef tataki nigiri, spicy tuna roll, chicken cutlet avacado roll, scallops nigiri, top shell nigiri, grilled engawa nigiri.

We also had (clockwise in picture) spicy tuna hand roll, eel hand roll, mackerel nigiri, and waygu beef hand roll.

All sushi were at a flat $3 per plate.


Hot food
Hot food had to be ordered through the electronic ordering system.

Crispy salmon skin - A top layer of salmon with its skin on, deep fried. Like pork crackling, this is salmon skin crackled by deep frying. Instead of crunchy, this is crispy. Interesting.

Chicken karaage - Deep fried chicken pieces. Juicy!

Waygu beef steak - Medium beef steak pieces served on a hot plate with a side of vegetables and topped off with scallions and sesame seeds and a soy dressing. The beef was juicy and tender and the subtle dressing made it even more tasty.


Dessert

Chocolate mochi with a red bean filling -This is an morden twist of a traditional dessert. A Japanese rice cake with a coat of chocolate powder and filled with sweet red bean. The great part of this was it wasn't excessively sweet.


Price
All sushi was $3. Some hot dishes was $3, other were more expensive. All sashimi was $7.90. Prices were very comparable to most other sushi trains in the area.


Overall
The service at this joint was very prompt. Once an order was made on the electronic system, the food same very promptly. I guess an electronic ordering system would help free up time for wait staff to deliver food, and they won't have to communicate the order to the kitchen. The food was great. The drinks selection was excellent. Will be back!

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