After moving a few miles from its original downtown location, Sushi Deli One hasn’t had any trouble adjusting to its new life in Hillcrest. While the sushi is still deliciously fresh and the menu prices remain reasonable, Sushi Deli One has undergone a major cosmetic uplift. The new location is open, airy, and welcoming.

It’s so welcoming, in fact, that there is no beating the crowd here; clusters of people mill outside the restaurant before the doors open for dinner. Despite the constant flow of diners, the waiters are helpful and friendly.

Sushi Deli is known best for its affordability and relaxed approach to this sometimes intimidating cuisine. The menu is simple and offers cooked alternatives to the raw fish, including teriyaki chicken ($4.50 including salad and rice) and beef curry ($5.99). For the seafood eaters, Sushi Deli welcomes both the novice and the connoisseur. With a range of thirty-some different types of sashimi and rolls, ranging from the classic California and Philadelphia rolls ($1.99 and $4.50 respectively) to the more adventurous salmon, snapper, and crab filled Volcano roll ($8.99), everyone can find something they like.

All of the sushi options are clearly explained on the last two pages of the menu, so you know exactly what you’re ordering. There are no surprises here – just the kind of good food and intimate service that you’d expect from a neighborhood deli.

Insider Tip: Should the wait daunt you, but the food brings you back, you can call ahead and place an order to go.

--Jessica Nager