M Sushi: Great Food at a Great Price

The dull and quiet feel of this restaurant doesn’t take away from the wide variety of good food at a great price.

When I first walked up to M Sushi, the dull, beige exterior of the building naturally brought my eyes to the brightly colored posters showcasing the menu prices hung on the many large windows. At a first glance, what immediately piqued my interest was the $14.99 price tag for the lunch menu, which gave me one question: Is this restaurant a great budget choice or will the food only disappoint?

As soon as I stepped into the restaurant, the quiet feel of a mostly empty restaurant immediately caught my eye. I looked around, noticing that only a few of the many tables filling the restaurant were seated. A server waiting by the entrance quickly walked over, bringing me across the restaurant to the far corner of a row of tiny booths. Sitting down, I glanced down at the menu, which I noticed had a surprisingly wide variety of sushi choices, as well as Japanese appetizers and entrees.

After giving me a chance to look over the menu, the server returned, asking if I wanted any drinks. I decided to order a pot of Jasmine tea, which came back at a good temperature. This helped bring out the tea’s flavor, making it a soothing drink. I started my meal with the shrimp tempura and eel sushi roll, which the server brought after around 10 to 15 minutes. 

When biting into the shrimp tempura, the crunch of the fried exterior as well as the shrimp inside helped add to the feel of this dish. Also, the dipping sauce the dish came out with helped add more flavor. The eel roll didn’t disappoint either and was also surprisingly good, and the taste of the eel was added to by the texture of the perfectly ripe avocado as well as the wasabi mixed with soy sauce I dipped it into.

Shortly after my appetizers had arrived, the entrees I had ordered, medium rare hibachi steak and chicken fried rice, were brought to my table. While the steak was somewhat lacking in juiciness, the light sauce and vegetables that came with it really helped make up for this, as well as the great taste and texture. The chicken fried rice also hit the spot, as the very flavorful rice complimented the chicken well. 

While it may not be the fanciest restaurant in town, when you go to M Sushi in Charlottesville, you’re getting a lot for your money. For a price of just $14.99 for adults, the all-you-can-eat lunch menu includes a wide range appetizers, entrees, and sushi rolls. During my visit there, my personal favorite was the hibachi steak, which exceeded my expectations. The wide variety of food choices and quick service make this restaurant a great choice you won’t regret if you’re craving Japanese food, but on a budget.

M Sushi

171 Seminole Ct, Charlottesville, VA 22901 (msushiva.com).

Lunch All-You-Can-Eat $14.99 for Adults, Kids aged 7-11 $8.99, Kids aged 3-6 $5.99;

Dinner All-You-Can-Eat $21.99 for Adults, Kids aged 7-11 $13.99, Kids aged 3-6 $8.99,

Hours:

Lunch: Monday to Friday: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Dinner: Monday to Thursday: 5 – 9:30 p.m., Friday: 5 – 10 p.m., Saturday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday: 12 – 9 p.m.