Sushi Taxi: Seasonal Sushi Fusion in Montreal

Sushi in Montreal has become like Starbucks in the USA; exit any sushi restaurant and lo and behold there is another one across the street. Thus it is hard to stand out in such a high volume market. Perhaps then it takes a sushi maker from outside of Montreal to really get us to pay attention. Sushi Taxi is just such a place. Starting up in the tinniest five-seat space you’ve ever seen, Sushi Taxi wowed Quebec City so much, it had to open a second location within its first year of business. Following its massive success in the Quebec/Levis area, it slowly started moving down the St-Laurence with spots in Trois-Rivieres and Saint-Sauveur. Finally though, Sushi Taxi has come to Montreal and we could not be happier.

Sushi Taxi is sushi fusion. That means that it steers away from the giant list of standard fare like the Californian, the Philadelphia, the Kamikaze, and so on. Instead, Sushi Taxi makes a small list of very interesting rolls right out of our guilty imagination. For example, the Winnie is a salmon, apple, mango, and cream cheese futomaki that is lightly battered on the outside and draped in honey. A sweet sushi that is fresh, crunchy, and ridiculously tasty. It is the embodiment of spring when the sweet flowers first bloom with the promise of zesty fruit.

On the other hand, the Popcorn Shrimp and Scallop hosomakis start with a small scallop roll and are topped with a fried shrimp ball on top. The whole thing is covered in a sweet Thai tasting sauce. Where Winnie is light and whimsical, this is decadent and full. Each hosomaki leads with the naturally sweet scallop and adds a full-bodied crunch of perfectly battered popcorn shrimp.

Despite these amazing sushi rolls, the dish that keeps us coming back every time is the Sushi Pizza. The two small rice cakes are cut in two and act as a boat, delivering a mouthwatering taste across the sea of our hunger. Atop the glorious fried rice cake sits salmon tataki covered in caramelized onions and cranberries with raw apple matchsticks and a thick smoked salmon foam. Once again, the plate is served with a drizzle of honey and is duly swallowed instantly. Our mouths are literally watering just thinking about it.

Sushi Taxi brings sushi to another level that is sometimes lacking in Montreal. With original ingredients and seasonal rolls depending on what fruit is in season, there is always something new to try. Interestingly enough, one of the most memorable parts of Sushi Taxi besides the food are the after dinner mints. They are piña colada flavoured, and they are amazing. If we could, we would take the whole bowl. We’ve tried… they were not happy. But you will be after you visit this amazing sushi fusion restaurant.

1744 Rue Notre-Dame Ouest Montréal, QC H3J 1M3
(514) 564-3434

Photos courtesy of Sushi Taxi (unless otherwise indicated).