Pasadena: O2 Sushi
Whenever I hear about a new sushi place in Pasadena, I cautiously approach it. I have had my heart broken so many times in Pasadena. The closest I’ve come to decent sushi is not even a sushi place, but a shabu shabu place.
Enter O2.
We found it between Old Town and near Paseo Colorado. They give you a voucher for parking though we found this out belatedly after paying for parking. I tend to be shy the first time I’m at a new sushi place. I want a sampling but I don’t go omakase since I figure you have to establish that trust with a sushi master. So I went with the deluxe sushi combo. That’s 7 pieces of nigiri and your choice of spicy tuna or California rolls (I went with the spicy tuna, duh). I kept the sushi a la carte sheet just in case I wanted more.
We shared the 5-mushrooms appetizer to start. I was really excited about this since I love mushrooms but the dish was too buttery. I felt it clouded the taste of some of the more delicate mushrooms.
The sushi arrived looking very fresh. I thought the spicy tuna roll was not at all spicy. It was all fine. I did wish for warmer, slightly more vinegared rice (a la Sugarfish). My favorite was the unagi which wasn’t dripping with eel sauce which I was glad about since I hate oversauced fish.
Yet was O2 great in comparison to a lot of other sushi places in Pasadena? Was it the best? I’ll reserve that judgment after another visit or two.
O2 Sushi
245 East Colorado Boulevard Pasadena, CA 91101-1903 – (626) 844-0239
I agree about Pasadena being disappointing over and over again. It’s too bad since i live so close, but I’m tired of getting my hopes up over new Pas restaurants. I’m particularly picky about sushi (it just has to be GOOD and fresh and not the size of the Titanic!) so I’m not sure about O2 but your plate of sushi looks pretty good. I remain hopeful and am looking forward to your next report!
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Yes! It’s so crazy that the sushi tends to be disappointing in Pasadena. I am glad Little Tokyo is close.
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