Review: MJ Sushi rolling its way to the top
MJ Sushi’s nondescript outdoor signage does not make the restaurant stand out at first glance. However, the food inside is worth a visit. (Photo: Joseph Kessler)
May 5, 2023
A new Japanese restaurant is emerging onto the Palo Alto food scene, featuring reasonably priced, high quality sushi and late night hours.
MJ Sushi opened a branch of its restaurant in February, in the Mayfield neighborhood of Palo Alto at 2305 El Camino Real. The location is well situated for Stanford and Palo Alto High School students due to its close proximity to both places.
Owner Andy Fan opened his first MJ Sushi in Fremont in 2021 and opened a Danville location second. Fan’s Palo Alto location is his first Silicon Valley restaurant.
“This is the third location,” Fan said. “It’s a nice spot with good customers.”
Even after 9 p.m. on a Saturday when many Palo Alto restaurants are starting to wind down, MJ Sushi has a vibrant energy with electric music echoing throughout the large modern eating area. We could see chefs preparing sushi as we walked in. Although most tables had guests when we arrived, we did not have to wait long to be seated. Restaurant staff, dressed in casual attire, welcomed guests and checked in with each table attentively even before the food arrived.
The highlight of the menu, as the restaurant name implies, is sushi. Nigiri prices begin at $5.99 per pair. Maguro (tuna) nigiri melted in our mouths, feeling light and hearty at the same time. The sake (salmon) nigiri was fresh and mild.
Fan said that to have the best sushi experience, you need to have the best quality fish as possible.
“I bring in fish from Mexico, Canada, and Japan,” said Fan. “The crab is from Asia, real crab.”
Standouts on the MJ Sushi menu include the rolls, many of which feature real crab. As soon as the sushi arrived at our table, we jumped in to try it.
Our ranking of the sushi:
Dynamite Roll – $8.99 – 9/10.
Fried yet not overly greasy. Good spice and perfect crunchy texture. Incorporation of avocado elevated the roll.
Maguro (Tuna) Nigiri – $5.99 – 9/10.
Melt-in-the-mouth texture, soft as butter. Very good amount of fish per piece.
Warriors Roll – $12.99 – 8/10.
Rich with good crab flavor. Tempura on the inside of the roll provided a great contrast of textures.
Hot Mama Roll – $12.99 – 8/10.
Crab flavor was excellent, the combination of imitation and soft shell crab was great. Freshness of the jalapeño added a contrast in flavor and mouthfeel.
Sake (Salmon) Nigiri – $5.99 – 7/10.
Fresh but mild salmon flavor. Same buttery texture as the tuna. Nothing too special but still good.
MJ Roll – $12.99 – 6/10.
Too much going on, but most of what was going on was tasty. Mango proved to be a good addition.
Baked Scallop Roll – $13.99 – 6/10.
Scallop was fresh, but the roll itself was nothing special.
Firecracker Roll – $10.99 – 5/10.
Too mushy. Doesn’t really live up to its name.
The menu includes non-sushi appetizers, soup and salad, plus three kinds of teriyaki.
MJ Sushi offers take-out and delivery in addition to indoor tables.
MJ Sushi is an excellent spot for flavorful, fresh and affordable sushi, especially rolls. Two diners can enjoy a satisfying meal for under $60.
MJ Sushi:
2305 El Camino Real, Suite A, Palo Alto, CA 94306
Phone: 650-752-6649
Price:
$$ (Reasonable)
Open:
4:30 p.m. – midnight, seven days a week.
Reservations:
Waitlist available on Yelp.
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