WA SUSHI — Restaurant in Casselberry

Review updated 11/12/24: Wa Sushi is my most favorite Japanese restaurant in Florida so far. The Ninja appetizer is a must try foodies out there!

The following is a list of the food I have tasted or ordered from my past visits at Wa Sushi.

Ninja - It's my favorite appetizer that I do not want to share with anyone.

Corina Roll

Futomaki Roll

Fuji Roll

Nabeyaki Udon - udon cooked to a perfect balance of chewiness and softness with a well balanced flavored broth that brings back my memories of eating noodle soups back in Tokyo, Japan.

Naruto Roll - I hardly eat raw fish but have come to love Naruto Roll. It's the only roll with raw fish I would eat because it looks so pretty and I like how the fish is wrapped with cucumber instead of of sushi rice.

Dobin Mushi: A traditional Japanese savory broth, steamed and served in a dobin tea pot with shrimp, chicken, anago, and shiitake mushroom. $12 - Okay, it reminds me of my homemade broths at home and for the price of $12 for a bowl of broth and a few pieces of solids that fits in a tiny teapot the size of those stainless steel rice bowl you get at the the Korean restaurants is a bit pricey. Nothing really stands out but I was curious so I had to try it. It's not bad, just reminds me of my homemade food at home.

Niki Udon: Thinly sliced beef simmered in a sweet soy sauce over a bowl of udon noodle soup. $17. The type of beef cut is called "thịt bò nạm" in Vietnamese. I don't know what you call it in English. My daughter doesn't like this particular beef cut for its chewiness. I am not much a fan of it but the udon noodle texture was cooked just right and the broth has a well balanced flavor.

Shrimp Tempura Roll - daughter likes it.

Grilled Shishito peppers - I grow my own Shishito peppers now so I can save money from not ordering this addicting sweet crispy peppers again. 😂

Ninja - Spicy tunal, Shiso and squid rolled with norinthen tempura fried. Topped with chili oil, eel sauce, masago, scallion and sesame seed. $16 Love it! It was well worth every dollar. I like how it's deep fried with a crispy outer texture without letting the oil penetrate or seeped into the food. My perfect kind of crispy fried texture.

Banana Tempura with ice cream - It's a big portion compared to other fried banana tempura served at other Japanese restaurants. Delicious! The tempura was crispy and what's most important about a good fried banana tempura is that the bananas used are ripen with a perfect sweetness, or else it would be bland if bananas hadn't ripen yet.

My friend ordered some kind of curry and the meat was so tender and flavorful. The curry tastes like my homemade curry so I won't be ordering anything that reminds me of my own cooking. It beats the purpose of eating out for me.

Con: The only item I do NOT recommend wasting money ordering is the kids chicken teriyaki meal. I ordered it once for my son. He took a bite and spit it out faster than lightning speed. He said it (the chicken breast meat) tasted tender but in a very weird way. It doesn't taste like chicken. I took a bite of the chicken breast and had to spit it out too. The teriyaki sauce was bleh and the white chicken meat texture was rubbery gelatin texture. Not sure what they did to the meat to make it "tender in a weird way". Luckily, I was able to soak the white meat chicken into a cup of water and took it home to add to my compost bin instead of trashing the meat. It was fancy...

I vetted every single Magical Dining Month menu in Orlando, and I picked the top six to eat at this year. Wa Sushi easily made that list. Very unique items, amazing sounding sushi items, and a fun dessert that you don't see everywhere. Let's begin, shall we?

Ambiance was really nice. It's very cozy. Dimly lit, a small hallway leading to the sushi bar. And on that sushi bar was a displayed giant tuna head. I was shocked. It was a very cook centerpiece to the restaurant.

Service was also very nice. Our server was very nice, from Japan herself, so she helped us pick the best options for us. Food came out at a good pace. We didn't feel hurried or anything. Drinks kept flowing all night.

Apps

Ninja (spicy tuna, shiso and squid rolled with nori then tempura fried; topped with chili oil, eel sauce, masago, scallion and sesame seed). This was a lot of fun, never had it before. Nice flavor combo with the tuna and the squid, made a little earthy with the shiso, and then made super crispy with the tempura frying.

Tako Karaage (Japanese style deep fried marinaded octopus). Another thing I've never had. Nice little chunks of tentacles fried in the super crispy karaage style. Not too chewy, served with a nice, slightly spicy Japanese mayo. Love it.

Mains

Samurai Roll and Ultimate Tuna Roll (our top 2 best-selling rolls). Two beautiful, contrasting rolls. One roll with very delicious fried eel on top, one with very fresh tuna on top. The best of both worlds of rolls. Solid choice.

Nigiri Moriawase (20th Anniversary Dish) (10 pieces of Chef's selection of nigiri) (Upgrade to grand nigiri moriawase). Yes, we upgraded. We asked what the difference was, and it just seemed like a very enjoyable addition of different seafood. Some stand-outs being the toro, of course, the scallop, and the always lovely amberjack. Worth the upgrade.

Dessert

So a dessert caveat. The MDM menu online says that they have tempura cheesecake on the menu, but they don't. And they won't let you get it, I asked. So don't be fooled. But the two desserts we ended up getting were excellent and I wasn't too butt hurt at all.

Matcha Cheesecake (creamy cheesecake infused with premium matcha, perfectly smooth with a light green tea finish). This was insane. It was a warm matcha cheesecake. Ultra creamy, just matcha-y enough, and a nice bite from the crust. This was a great dessert.

Matcha crepe cake (Japanese twist on the French classic of paper-thin crepes layered with matcha cream). One of the best desserts I've had in years. So many layers. So much texture play between those layers and the cream. It was so delicate, I would have a hard time believing that it wasn't made in-house.

Overall, wow, this little sushi shop in a strip mall really blew my mind. Not only did I love supporting them for participating in Magical Dining, but I also loved my meal, and I can't wait to come...

If you find yourself near the Casselberry, FL area, make sure to swing by Wa Sushi, a modern Japanese gem that’s tucked away in a strip mall. I know, strip mall sushi might not sound appealing at first, but trust me—don’t judge this book by its cover! Once you step inside, you’ll find a cozy and relaxed ambiance that’s perfect for a romantic dinner date or a fun night catching up with friends over delicious food.

The menu is an amazing mix of classic dishes and innovative fusion cuisine. I had the pleasure of trying their bluefin tuna sashimi, and at just $2 per piece, it was a steal! The freshness was out of this world; each slice was served at the perfect temperature, allowing the flavor to shine through. And let’s talk about the sushi rice—it was spot on, seasoned just right, which is often overlooked but crucial for a great sushi experience.

Definitely don’t miss the Amazing Land & Sea roll; it’s a crowd-pleaser with layers of flavors that will make your taste buds dance. The presentation is also worth mentioning—sashimi garnished with edible flowers? Pure art on a plate! While the service was a bit slow during peak hours (we waited Japane10-20 minutes for our food), the quality of the dishes made the wait absolutely worthwhile. If you’re someone who gets impatient when it comes to receiving your food, you might want to hit up an all-you-can-eat spot instead. But for those who appreciate great food, this food is well worth the wait.

Oh, and if you can, sit at the bar! It’s where the magic happens, and you can really see the love and care the chefs put into each dish. And don’t forget to check out their selection of Japanese craft beers and saki to complement your meal. We had fantastic tasting sake bombs!

Overall, Wa Sushi is a must-visit! I can’t wait to go back and explore more of their offerings. Each bite made me pause to appreciate just how good sushi can be, and I’m already daydreaming about...