Sushi Caliente

Sushi Caliente

Written by Tiffany Young Friday, 20 June 2008

As its name suggests, Sushi Caliente’s menu is a twist on sushi with creative combinations that integrate spicy Mexican flavor with the more subdued flavors of Japanese dishes.

Owner Luis Cuento opened his first restaurant in his hometown of Veracruz, Mexico after graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with a business degree. He moved back to Austin to get a second degree in psychotherapy from St. Edward’s University. He knew then that he wanted to open a restaurant and decided Cedar Park was ideal because of its growth. Cuento plans to open more locations in the next few years.

 

A fusion restaurant that blends Japanese and Mexican food, Sushi Caliente suits many tastes.

After sharing a bowl of lightly salted edamame ($3), we tried a variety of sushi rolls ranging from spicy to traditional. Topped with a dollop of caliente sauce, the Mariachi Rolls ($6), were wrapped with a thin slice of melted Monterrey cheese embedded with slices of Serrano pepper that held the sushi wrap together. Though very spicy, the Mariachi Roll was a hit.

The Dallas Roll ($5.50), made of flamingo sauce, cream cheese, avocado and crab, was also spicy with specks of Serrano pepper throughout. The Paradise Roll ($7.50) was a more traditional sushi roll of smoked salmon, cream cheese, onion and cucumber. Though simple in comparison to its spicy counterparts, the Paradise Rolls were still first rate.

Fish and shrimp tacos came with a fresh, long leaf of lettuce filled with a delicious salsa similar to finely chopped pico de gallo with chunks of avocado.

Since our visit, Cuento has added an extensive list of authentic Mexican dishes to his menu at the request of customers.

“What we’ve been doing is just testing and seeing what people like and going from there,” Cuento said. “I’m talking to my customers all the time. If they want something from Mexico, I’ll ask them where they had it before and then I’ll make something up and have them test it.”

Cuento is always looking for new menu items to better serve his customers.

“If you come in and you don’t see what you want on the menu, we can custom make it for you since everything is made here,” Cuento said. “You’re not limited to what’s on the menu, but what you can make in your mind.”

New to sushi?

Here’s a list of terms to know.

• Ebi: Shrimp
• Flamingo sauce: Made with crab, mayonnaise, and powdered Peking pepper
• Gohan: Steamed white rice
• Gyoza: Potsticker, dumpling
• Ikura: Eel eggs
• Izumi dai: Tilapia
• Maguro: Tuna
• Masago: Orange flying fish eggs, similar to caviar
• Nigiri: Single sushi piece of fish on a small bed of rice with wasabi
• Sake: Salmon
• Smoked Sake: Smoked salmon
• Tako: Octopus
• Tamago: Egg
• Tsurimi: Imitation crab
• Unagui: Flying eel
• Wasabi: Mustard like green spice

Sushi Caliente, 202 Walton Way, Ste. 152, 535-6578 or 535-7658, www.sushiwithflavor.com

Open every day from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.