A recently opened Japanese restaurant brings a new take on sushi to Sacramento
A new Sacramento restaurant is reawakening the dormant trend of serving sushi in unusual formats, but it’s going beyond the bygone “sushirrito.”
Onigiri Burgers is flipping the iconic Japanese dish on its head — or inside out — with deconstructed sushi rolls made into burgers and tacos. The restaurant opened at 4001 Freeport Blvd., Suite 110 in mid-November, according to its Instagram page.
A handwritten sign displayed in front of the restaurant reads, “We are a new style of restaurant in Sacramento. Welcome everyone to come in and try it.”
Despite its name, onigiri is not on the menu here. The eatery focuses on two main dishes, burgers and tacos, differentiated only by their main proteins — from tuna and salmon to pork katsu and shrimp tempura. But rather than a fluffy brioche bun or fresh masa tortilla, crispy sheets of roasted seaweed hold together the rice, protein, sauces and veggie toppings.
Sushi-averse diners can still indulge in “American style” cheeseburgers and chicken burgers for $9, as well as a range of Japanese appetizers including miso soup, gyoza and edamame.
While sushi tacos can be found in Sacramento at restaurants like Engawa Fusion, the burgers are a notable addition to the region’s well-saturated Japanese food scene. The dish is similar to its Mexican-inspired counterpart, with the main difference being the nori wrap served raw, rather than fried.
On the northern end of town, in Arden Arcade’s Town & Country Village shopping center, a store unit that used to house Edible Arrangements is now adorned with a similar Onigiri Burgers sign, this time reading “Onigiri Burgers and Tacos.” The restaurant, at 2621 Marconi Ave., was not yet open as of Sunday.
Representatives for Onigiri Burgers and the Town & Country Village shopping center were not available to comment Tuesday morning.
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