Fresh Market does an OK California roll.

On a related issue, has anyone ever seen a store sushi chef that was not asian? I'm sure that it's not actually a universal trend, but without variation, when I've actually seen a person preparing sushi in-store, it has been an asian man. Is this an issue of availability, or does it have something to do with consumer's perceived expectations?

The Bristol Farms in South Pasadena takes grad's of the sushi institute in Venice,CA-many non asians.

Makino in Las Vegas has lots of non-Asian sushi makers in their employ.

Yes, ublix s pretty good but dont forget to check our your local world foods/whole foods...seems to be alot more "Authentic"

I agree. All the Wegmans that I go to have a sushi chef on duty and everything is VERY fresh.

My wife's feeling about Wegmans is "if they don't carry it, you don't need it."

Another vote for Whole Foods. The one here in DC recently started making their sushi with brown rice which seems more healthy. :)

And they also put in a semi-fast sushi/teriaki bar that if you have a bit more time you can eat sushi on real plates!

Agreed, absolutely disgusting both in Bay Area and in Seattle. The rice tasted very funny and all the ingredients tasted very processed. My local Safeway has a guy that comes in and makes sushi, but I'm still weary. Sometimes it's just best to leave it to the pros (restaurants). It's pricey, but oh so delicious. Best to go when somebody else is picking up the tab (expense account anybody? :D)

What about Airport shushi? I was in MSP and one of the fast food chineese shops had shushi and it didn't look that fresh. I think if it was a shushi bar instead I would be inclined to eat there.

Yep the sushi at South Florida Publix' tend to rock (as far as grocery store sushi goes). I buy it all the time and there is almost always someone there making it. ^

The giant-sized packages of like 24 pieces of roll at Costco are even scarier!

Another vote for Whole Foods. The brown rice version is quite unique and delicious.

my thoughts on supermarket sushi
 

Go hungry:p

my opinion
 

Best store poke I've found (in Calif): Bristol Farms in Westfield Shopping Center (south of Market, SF - not a particularly good shopping center.
Near home: Olivers Market, Santa Rosa, CA

Worst premade sushi ever: Costco - Santa Rosa .. Also, Safeway carries the same brand.

IIRC, there are two types of Sushi at most Costcos: One is made in-house, and it's pretty decent.

The other one is one of the most disgusting things I've ever tried... it's not even real rice, it's some gooey wrapping thing... yuck!! :mad::td:

After indulging? in supermarket sushi of many varieties from several different stores, I pretty much stick with the spicy tuna rolls. They are usually pretty tasty and even if they aren't super fresh, any deficiencies are masked by the chili mayo.:)

I will say, however, that I have only gotten sick from sushi once and that was served by a pretty much universally critically-acclaimed restaurant in MKE. I won't get into details, but let's just say for the next two days I couldn't be more than 50 feet from a restroom.:(