The 1980 series 'Shogun' was a television phenomenon and shot global interest in Japanese culture in all its forms, not excluding traditional Japanese cuisine. The fashion for orientalism made in Japan and for Japanese cuisine (especially sushi!) arrived late to Poland and Warsaw.

Sushi in Warsaw

The delay was caused, firstly, by the fact that the series hit the screens of Poland's mostly black-and-white TV sets in 1985. Secondly, in times of deep crisis in the inefficient communist economy, it was a miracle to acquire any original Japanese products. Poles had to make do with homemade airy kimonos and electronic watches, which could be bought with currency from Pewex shops. They were very expensive and thus were a rather rare dream come true for children as a communion gift. Progenitors had to make do with ordinary screw-on Soviet watches of the Vostok, Poljot or Pobieda brand. The quality was rather shabby, like everything else in communist Poland. At a time when basic products were rationed with ration cards, you could simply forget about the availability of culinary products needed to make sushi. Of fresh fish, there was only carp once a year at Christmas.

And yet it is the good quality products and the knowledge of what to do with them that are the basis of good sushi. And they only came to us after the fall of communism and the first sushi restaurants began to appear tentatively in Warsaw in the 1990s.

Sushi boom

The beginnings were difficult, as the exotic dish based on rice, vegetables, raw fish meat and other seafood did not take the culinary tastes of Poles by storm. It was a process, but once the first ice was broken, there was a real explosion. Poles fell in love with sushi and this love, with reciprocity, continues to this day. The new version of the series "Shogun", available on one of the popular streaming platforms, will probably further intensify this love.

In every major shop we can therefore easily buy ready-made sushi sets and all the products needed to prepare this delicacy yourself at home. However, the freshness and taste of ready-made market kits can vary. The same is true of the knowledge and equipment necessary to make the sushi in your own kitchen.

Japanese cuisine is considered one of the healthiest in the world. It is low in calories and easy to digest, promotes longevity, reduces the risk of heart disease, has an anti-inflammatory effect and is conducive to living to a ripe old age in good shape (Japanese men live an average of 81 and Japanese women 88 years), and this is not the end of its delectable qualities. But it is above all the taste of sushi that has won the hearts of Poles. Answer yourself, how many healthy but not necessarily tasty dishes do you know that you do not include as often as sushi in your diet?

A taste of real sushi

Taste is not a single sense. Therefore, to ensure a full sensory experience when tasting sushi, the best thing to do is to visit a good restaurant specialising in sushi.

We taste with all our senses, but we eat every dish first with our eyes. In a restaurant, therefore, savouring a dish starts at the entrance, because a professional interior decorator has taken care of the décor of a good restaurant, so we enter the kingdom of taste as soon as we cross the door, and our eyes absorb the pictures hanging on the walls, the lamps, the decorations, the furniture. And what else? Music. Discreet, calm and, above all, Japanese, creating the perfect backdrop for the meal that awaits you. What's next? A choice! What do you fancy today? Maki, nigiri, sashimi or something else? Go ahead, just choose from the menu what suits you best today. The waiter will tell you which sushi starters match your dishes, will suggest the right drinks. Maybe a beer, maybe rice wineplum, maybe sake? Don't drink alcohol? No problem. How about properly prepared green tea, maybe just water, or maybe lemonade made on site?


Your order then goes into the kitchen and you are guaranteed that it will be made by hand by a qualified sushimaster. And it will be done on site. Here and now! And it will feature exclusively fresh sushi products of the best quality.


And when the dishes arrive at your table, they will be served aesthetically arranged on decorative plates. Don't know how to use chopsticks? No problem, ask for "baby chopsticks" linked together or just eat with your hands. One piece at a time! And after sushi, would you like something else? Desserts await your choice!


And that is just the fullness of the culinary and aesthetic experience. And only good sushi restaurant will provide you with a full set of them. Ideally, it should be a restaurant Sushi Zushi in Warsaw.


Igor Maćkowski wrote.