🇨🇦 Saskatoon’s Japanese Comfort Food Oasi

🇨🇦 Saskatoon’s Japanese Comfort Food Oasis: October Asian Cuisine – A Prairie Compromise When landlocked Saskatoon craves sushi-grade fish, we make do with what flights (and freezers) can provide. October Asian Cuisine, one of the city’s few dedicated Japanese spots, walks the line between authentic aspirations and prairie realities – delivering solid ramen, passable sashimi, and shockingly good tempura despite being 1,500km from the nearest ocean. After multiple visits (including to their new Rosewood ramen-centric sibling), here’s how to navigate their menu like a seasoned sushi survivor. First Impressions: Suburban Izakaya Vibes🥰 October’s original location feels like a small-town Japanese restaurant teleported to Saskatchewan: The Space: • Decor: Dark wood + paper lanterns + a sad koi mural • Seating: Tightly packed tables (weekday lunch = 20-min wait) • Smells: Toasted sesame oil + dashi + faint fryer grease The Service: • Lunch Rush: Efficient but rushed (dishes arrive haphazardly) • Dinner Pace: Leisurely (ideal for sake sipping) • Owner Sightings: Occasionally emerges to scold the kitchen in Japanese Pro Tip: The sushi counter seats (3 total) offer glimpses of knife work. The Menu: Hits, Misses & "It’s Fine" 🍔🍔😊 1. Sashimi Moriawase ($28) ⭐️⭐️⭐️ A geography-defying platter: • Salmon: Decent fat lines (likely Norwegian farmed) • Tuna: Oddly tough (suspect frozen-thawed texture) • Surprise Star: Scallops (sweet, barely seared) • Garnish: Real wasabi root ($2 extra, worth it) Best Consumed: With lowered expectations + extra soy sauce. 2. Unagi Don ($22) ⭐️⭐️⭐️½ The pre-made eel debate: • Sauce: Sticky-sweet (identical to T&T frozen aisle) • Rice: Properly seasoned, but clumpy • Texture: Soft without charred crispness Hack: Ask for sanshō pepper to cut the sweetness. 3. Tempura Udon ($18) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The unsung hero: • Broth: Kelp + bonito (no MSG aftertaste) • Noodles: Chewy, likely Sun Noodle brand • Tempura: Shrimp + sweet potato = grease-free crunch Pro Move: Dip tempura in broth + grated daikon. 4. Ramen (Rosewood Location) ⭐️⭐️⭐️ A tonkotsu pretender: • Broth: Creamy but lacks collagen depth 💕💕💕 • Chashu: Overcooked (no pink center) • Egg: Molten yolk (their one perfection) Skip Unless: You’re desperate for noodles. Why October Survives in Saskatoon 1. The Tempura Exception Their fry game outshines coastal rivals: • Batter: Ice-cold + sparkling water lift ❤️👍👍 • Oil: Changed daily (no fishy aftertaste) • Dipping Sauce: Real tentsuyu (not just soy) 2. Lunchtime Loyalty 12-15 bento boxes with: • Miso Soup: Actual tofu + wakame • Salad: Ginger dressing that doesn’t suck • 4-Piece California Roll: Basic but fresh 3. Sake Selection For Saskatoon, shockingly decent: • Hakutsuru Draft: $8/glass • Yamahai Junmai: $12 (earthy, funky) The Verdict: A Compromise Worth Making? Rating (10-point scale): Category Score Notes Fish Freshness 6 Better than grocery store Tempura 9 Prairie miracle Value 7.5 Lunch > dinner Ambiance 6.5 Cozy but dated Who Should Visit: • Tempura addicts • Ramen seekers (when Japa Bowl is closed) • Sake newbies wanting affordable tastings Who Should Wait: • Sushi snobs (Edmonton’s Sushi Akira is 5hrs away) • Vegetarians (limited options beyond agedashi tofu) Pro Tips: 1. Order Tempura à La Carte (shrimp + kabocha) 2. Avoid Fridays – their fish delivery day is Thursday 3. Parking: Rosewood location has more spaces 📍 Original Location: 123 8th St E 📍 Rosewood Ramen: 456 McOrmond Dr ⏰ Hours: 11am-2pm, 5pm-9pm (closed Sundays) 📞 Reservations: Only for 6+ people #JapaneseFood #TempuraLovers #LandlockedSushi