Where to Buy Fish for DIY Sashmi/Sushi

I recently got a "how to make sushi & sashimi" book as a gift and have been DYING to try it out ... I'm just a little leary about buying fish and eating it raw.

I was wondering where and how I can get fish that is "good enough" to eat as sashimi & sushi? Do japanese restaurants do anything special to the fish?!? Can I just pickup some Salmon fillets from Longo's / Sobey's and slice it up for eating?!?!

I live in the West End (Mississauga) and would appreciate any advice / locations to get some good fish for eating raw!

Thanks!

The fish has grades too. The one you want is sushi grade, basically the freshest of all. The ones that regular grocers carry are not sushi grade so it's not recommended to eat those raw.

Since I'm not much of a sushi person (well, for making it anyway), I don't know where you can buy sushi grade fish. I'm kinda interested to know too since I've been wanting to locate some good tuna

Make sure you get sushi grade, dont buy anything else.

Don't buy the crap fish from a grocery store, go a specialized seafood place that gets fresh fish daily.

Fresh is the most important thing. Previously frozen doesn't taste nearly as good as fresh.

You need to buy Sushi/Sashimi grade fish. Places like St.Lawrence market will offer you what you want, but be prepared to pay $$$ for what you're getting.

Originally Posted by ferkel

You need to buy Sushi/Sashimi grade fish. Places like St.Lawrence market will offer you what you want, but be prepared to pay $$$ for what you're getting.

thanks for the info guys ...

so is the St.Lawrence Market the only place to find this? I'm just curious as I'm in the West End ... I can't think of any fish markets around here...

I know a few Japanese restaurants sells raw fish by pound (about $10-15/lb for salmon, and they also sells tuna, hamachi...) However, they are in North Toronto....but probably you can call Japanese restaurant in your area to find out.

sushi.sashimi centre in Thornhill
Senbazuru Sushi Bar in Richmond Hill
There is one in 1st Markham place too...but I forgot the name

Originally Posted by njchan

Can I just pickup some Salmon fillets from Longo's / Sobey's and slice it up for eating?!?!

Nope.

I live in the West End (Mississauga) and would appreciate any advice / locations to get some good fish for eating raw!

At Hurontario & Eglinton, in the plaza with Emerald Chinese Restaurant, the north side of the plaza has a store called "Japan Mart". They have fresh sushi/sashimi on Saturdays and Sundays (according to the sign on the front window). The phone number is 905-712-4447, if you want to phone them and ask for more details.

If your ever in the Markham/Scarborough area, check out Japanese Town north on Steeles E, inbetween woodbine and victoria park...

Only had one experience with getting sushi grade fish.

Wife and I once asked for sushi grade salmon at Loblaws. The man said he had it, went back into the freezer and came out with a chunk. Was the best tasting salmon sashimi we've ever had. It was definitely fresh because we had leftovers and it was not the same the next day.

Went back to the same Loblaws and a different Loblaws months after and both said they didn't sell sushi grade salmon. I asked "what about the ones you guys use yourself to make sushi?". They said it came from a different supplier and they couldn't sell that one.

Originally Posted by Rehan

At Hurontario & Eglinton, in the plaza with Emerald Chinese Restaurant, the north side of the plaza has a store called "Japan Mart". They have fresh sushi/sashimi on Saturdays and Sundays (according to the sign on the front window). The phone number is 905-712-4447, if you want to phone them and ask for more details.

I will give this a shot next time I'm in the area ... hopefully on Sat. instead of Sun.

I tried Loblaws as well ... - asked them for sushi grade fish ... but the guy behind the counter just laughed. Makes me think twice about buying fish from there.

some chinese supermarkets sell sushi salmon, but i wouldn't trust them.
yup there are a few sushi restaurants in markham/richmond hill that sell by the pound, cut or uncut.

There are a couple of other places you can try in Mississauga:

Sora Sushi Bar - Central Parkway & Confederation Parkway. It's mostly a take-out restaurant, but they also sell sushi-making supplies and probably sell the fish, too.

Tony's Cawthra Fish Market - Burnhamthorpe & Cawthra. I had a co-worker that used to buy fresh fish from there for sushi...but I'm not sure if it's actually "sushi grade".

I went to Japan Mart (mentioned above) this afternoon to finally get some sushi fish, but the store has closed down.

Last night, I googled my way to the website for Seafood Depot in Woodbridge:
http://www.seacoreseafood.com/seafood.html

Has anyone ever been there?

Originally Posted by Rehan

I went to Japan Mart (mentioned above) this afternoon to finally get some sushi fish, but the store has closed down.

Last night, I googled my way to the website for Seafood Depot in Woodbridge:
http://www.seacoreseafood.com/seafood.html

Has anyone ever been there?

What? J-Town (Steeles/Woodbine) was closed? For good, or just because of the bad weather? I was there 2 weekends ago and they seemed to be doing fine. No sign of out-of-business sale or alike. If they are gone for good, that's sad. They have so much Japanese goodies there, not just sushi/sashimi stuff

Originally Posted by NDman

What? J-Town (Steeles/Woodbine) was closed? For good, or just because of the bad weather? I was there 2 weekends ago and they seemed to be doing fine. No sign of out-of-business sale or alike. If they are gone for good, that's sad. They have so much Japanese goodies there, not just sushi/sashimi stuff

No, not J-Town. Japan Mart. Read the thread....