Tenno Sushi and Seafood Grill: Good Food Fast

 

You say you want seafood? Then you look in your wallet and realize you’ve got a fish stick budget. What’s a seafood lover to do? Get in your car head over to Old Pasadena and Tenno Sushi and the Seafood Grill: Old Pasadena’s spot for fresh delicious seafood at budget prices. Owned by Peter Kim, it’s a kind-of take-out sit down restaurant. You order your food at the counter and they call your number when it’s ready.

But you want sushi and not the grocery store kind. Freshly rolled with crisp vegetables and delectable fish. Still on that fish stick budget? No worries the Seafood Grill also serves fresh sushi made on the premises by Julie Kim and it’s all half price.

My companion and I grazed our way through Hawaiian Roll (fresh tuna on top of a spicy tuna roll), Rainbow Roll (variety of thinly sliced fish arranged decoratively atop a California Roll), Caterpillar Roll (baked fresh water eel with avocado topping), and the Shrimp Crunch Roll (shrimp tempura, avocado and crab). We loved them all. I even liked the Caterpillar Roll which is a surprise because eel is not my favorite food but the way the Seafood Grill prepared it was delicious.

 

We also had Salmon and Yellow Tail Sashimi. I have got to say that this is some of the freshest fish I’ve encountered outside the ocean. The fish was firm to the bite, smelled of the sea and was just yummy. The manager explained that they’ve been using the same seafood supplier for over 22 years (this is their second location).

I wasn’t leaving without trying the Charbroiled White Roughy with a garlic butter sauce. Need I say more? How about adding some of the best cole slaw around, grilled zucchini and garlic bread? Wow, that’s says it all. The garlic butter sauce goes so well with the tender gilled fish. And the cole slaw was a bit sweet with raisins, nutty with almonds and just all around good and different. It’s not your everyday mayonnaise-filled cole slaw.

I had to come back on another day for the grilled shrimp tacos. They have a combination with two tacos, chips and a drink-oh yes and did I mention they have a salsa bar? The tacos are crammed full of tender shrimp grilled to perfection (no rubber shrimp here) and topped with tomato, cabbage, cilantro and a heavenly cream sauce. I’ve been back twice for the tacos.

 

And for the prices, (drum roll please) the grilled fish starts at $7.95, the taco combo is $6.95, sushi runs the gamut from $2.95 to $7.95 and the sashimi is a mere $6.95 to $7.95 for five pieces.

Also if there is someone near and dear to you who does not like fish (they exist I know a few) bring them anyway. There are many choices for non-fish eaters like chicken, beef and pork teriyaki and bbq beef shortribs.

Tenno Sushi and the Seafood Grill is located at 124 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena. For questions or take out call (626) 584-1120.