A few short years ago in SA, sushi was an exotic idea from a foreign land. Say “wasabi”, and you’d get a blank stare and a “come again”? Today, however, driven by some spectacular sushi specials and an emphasis on Asian dining in general, sushi is as popular as hamburgers (well, almost. If however you are of the burger inclination, head this way). Words like ponzu and yuzu are all over our menus, even if we’re not always entirely sure what they mean. (Ponzu is a tart citrus-based sauce and yuzu is a little like a lemon.)

Local restaurants are even experimenting with new-style sashimi – seared on the outside – and creating proudly South African sushi recipes complete with cream cheese and smoked salmon. One catering company is even offering ‘sushi’ made with seared ostrich or boerewors.

Whether you’re a strict traditionalist, or you like your salmon rolls served with a dollop of mayo, we’ve put together a list of some of the best sushi restaurants in South Africa, along with a dish to try at each. Counting your pennies at the end of the month? Not to worry: some of them are even offering spectacular sushi specials.

Johannesburg

Sushi specials:

Adega
40% off all sushi every Monday and Tuesday (all day), Saturday lunch and Sunday dinner.

Bite
Get 20% off sushi every Monday for dinner.

The Fish and Wine Company
Every Monday get 30% off sushi when sitting down. (Not for takeaways.)

Tsunami Seafood Emporium
Enjoy discounted prices on sushi every Thursday.

Other favourites:

Koi
Try their speciality California rolls like the tempura California rolls or fashion sandwiches.

Kong Roast
Sit at the sushi bar and watch the chefs prepare the best of sushi, such as their popular California rolls.

Montego Bay Seafood, Oyster and Sushi Bar
Try their rainbow rolls and salmon roses.

Orient
Try their popular sashimi.

Yamato
Try the salmon or the tuna sushi.

Pretoria

Sushi specials:

Lotus Thai
On Thursdays enjoy all-you-can-eat sushi (excluding sashimi) for R99 per person.

Other favourites:

Koi
Try the sushi speciality menu with highlights such as salmon tartare, teriyaki sashimi, spider roll or Koi salmon roses. Prices range for R78 to R105.

Matsuya Restaurant
Try their salmon California rolls or rainbow rolls.

Durban

Sushi specials:

CZAR (now closed)
On Tuesdays ladies pay half price on sushi. Get sushi plates for R30 on Saturdays.

So! Sushi
Enjoy half price sushi every Tuesday and Thursday.

Other favourites:

Daruma
Try the popular take nigiri sushi set with 10 nigiri pieces and 6 maki pieces.

Green Mango
Try their sushi platters to share.

Oyster Bar
Try the popular platter with four California rolls, three maki and three nigiri.

Port Elizabeth

Fushin Sushi Bar
Try the New York Roll; a spicy tuna and avo roll topped with Japanese bread-crumbed prawn tempura and red bean mayonnaise or the King Crab roll; a cucumber and avo roll topped with Alaskan King Crab and spicy mayonnaise.

East London

Sushi special:

Shanghai – Quigney
Every Wednesday and Thursday there is a sushi buffet at R110 per person.

Bloemfontein

Nagoya
Try the addictive sashimi.

Cape Town

Sushi specials:

Active Sushi
Eat as much sushi as you like for R109 between Mondays to Saturdays.

Blowfish
On Wednesday between 5pm and 8pm get half price on all sushi. On Sunday between 5pm and 10pm eat as much sushi as you like for R169 per person.

Nobu
Every Sunday between 6pm and 9pm enjoy 14 pieces of the chef’s choice sushi for R150.

Sake House Restaurant & Sushi Bar
Get up to 50% off all-star sushi from Monday to Thursday, 12 noon to 3pm and 6pm to 10pm.

Salushi
Get 50% off selected sushi all day on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday and between 12 noon and 5pm from Wednesday to Saturday.

Other favourites:

1890 House Sushi
Try the sticky tuna or the prawn tempura California rolls.

Haiku
Try the well-known salmon with yuzu sauce or the rainbow rolls.

Hong Seafood Restaurant and Bar
Try the signature dish of eel.

Saigon
Try the dragon roll and the rainbow California roll.

Takumi
Try the sweet kiss dish, which is eight pieces of tuna and salmon with avocado, cucumber and sweet-chilli mayonnaise, topped with tempura rock shrimp.

Wakame
Try the sesame-crusted seared tuna.

Willoughby and Co
Try the four by four dish, which is four pieces of rainbow reloaded (rainbow roll dressed with sweet soya sauce, seven-spice sesame oil and spring onion) and four pieces of spicy, creamy rock shrimp roll.

Winelands

Genki Sushi and Tapas Bar
Try the yellowtail sashimi with jalapeno or the red Roman sushi.

By Kelly Pluke and Katharine Jacobs