Your thoughts on supermarket sushi?
 

I try to avoid it, but when I want something healthy, or am really in the mood, I'll get it. The problem is that it just usually tastes so bland. Why is this? Could it be that it is stored at the wrong temperature (maybe too cold?) and that takes away some of the taste?

Where are you buying your sushi? When i bought it from Publix it was the most revolting thing I have ever eaten, but when I buy it from Wegmans, Tops, or Harris Teeter it is just fine.

I think the difference is that Harris Teeter prepares it inhouse while Publix purchases premade.

I have noticed that in some places, but not in most of the grocery stores where I usually am. KTA has particularly good supermarket sushi.

Fresh Market and Whole Foods. In both cases I feel the sushi is blah.

Foodland Lahaina has a very good in-store live-action sushi/sashimi station for takeout!

The best supermarket sushi I had in the Bay Area was at Albertsons.

I enjoy the sushi from Whole Foods - the sushi from my local Giant is probably a C+. The seaweed salad I get from Giant is actually pretty good.

The best sushi I've ever eaten was served at room temperature, or slightly cooler than room temperature. All of the sushi I get from supermarkets is refrigerated, and kills the rice. Fresh fish is certainly important, but cold rice (when it's supposed to be fresh, usually slightly warmer than room temperature) makes the roll tough.

Just my $0.02.

Mitsuwa
 

Try the takeout menu at Mitsuwa. The quality of the food is much better than other supermarkets, and they have any other Japanese groceries one commonly needs. Mitsuwa has locations in southern and northern California as well as Chicago and NJ.

The places I have bought it (Wild Oats, Brunos), I have seen the sushi chef there on-premises (during the day). I think it's ok, but I'm no sophisticated sushi palate. It's fresh. I've actually been pleasantly surprised by the ATL sushi. And that can't be too fresh.

I'll get California rolls at Harris Teeter and Whole Foods. I won't buy the stuff from Giant. The stuff at Trader Joe's is just plain scary.

Bristol Farms is the best we have locally. Gelson's is skinny-anemic, although prepared there - really chintzy on the fish. Although, I love their edaname! Von's Pavilions is also prepared there, but... pretty bad period.

I agree worst, though, is Trader Joe's. Worst stuff in the store. Period.

Another vote for Whole Foods. West or east coast, its been pretty good and consistent. Even better is to order it freshly made.

Actually, Publix makes theirs on site each day. If you get there early enough (before 5pm) you can see it being made and make a request.

But that being said, the Nagiri there is ok, the rest is not very good.

Not the one in Sarasota I went to. It was a smaller store and I should have known from looking at it that it was not worth my money.

That varies by store. One Publix near me makes it in house, another doesn't. I am not sure if the second gets theirs from another Publix, or somewhere else.