iSushi Express

I stopped here on my way home from my new job in Avon--we needed some dinner and Rockville road is full of food stops, although not many healthy ones.  I was afraid when I read all the bad reviews, but I really didn't think it was so bad!  I just ordered sushi to take out and didn't try any of the entrees. I wasn't expecting Nubu quality sushi, maybe just something as good as the Marsh sushi.  The Lollipop Roll in (green) soy paper fell apart easily, but maybe because it was big and sliced fairly thin.  It was a little fishy, but has yellowtail, tuna, salmon and crabmeat in it. The Dynamite roll was a little skimpy and less spicy than I expected. The Crunchy yellowtail roll was my favorite of the 3, and the cheapest. deep fried.. and with korean chili paste--2 of my favorite food groups!  I took a look at the menu--Japanese restaurant basics--yakisobas, donburis, teriyakis, ramen and udon noodles, but also a couple korean dishes and of course the sushi. I'd stop in again on the way home to grab some sushi, especially since I saw a sign for a drive thru coming soon.

Lesson learned, Yelpers, always read the reviews first. My spouse and I were out tooling around after Christmas shopping and thought, "ooh, a new sushi joint, let's go!" Now, I'm not a sushi aficionado, my exposure to sushi is limited to the Mango Tango and Playboy Roll at Naked Tchopstix - and for good reason - but I have had fantastic Japanese food, so I know what's out there.

We were the only couple in the restaurant (let that be your warning) and the waitress was very young and polite, a star for that, at least. We started off with Shrimp Tempura (how can you screw up fried food?) only to find the sweet potato and onions still raw, though we were so hungry we ate them anyway. The shrimp still had clumps of cornstarch inside the fried portion rendering it indelible - unless you're into eating powdered cornstarch raw, which we aren't.

I ordered Yakisoba noodles with veggies, chicken and a side of fried rice - you know, in case the noodles sucked I'd at least have a fallback, right?

Not only were the noodles spiced with cinnamon and cumin (not so Japanese), but they were sitting in a bed of oil, though that wasn't the worst part.

Have you seen those news stories about delivery trucks with refrigeration units being stopped by police only to find the meat inside rotting? I suspect the chicken that isushi serves came from one of those trucks - it was rotten, both in taste and smell. I'm no chef, but I know what rotten chicken smells like.

The rice, like a previous reviewer mentioned, was oversalted and tasted like burnt wok. Two bites in and I had to set the chopsticks aside in sheer defeat.

My spouse's meal (the Volcano Roll and the Southern California Roll) was so bad I'd venture to say it was memorable. The Southern California Roll was the standard faire Cali roll with a heaping tablespoon of fish roe (way to get creative). Surely the Volcano Roll would be better, right?

We stared at the beautiful roll (filled only with cream cheese) and topped with a crab cake, of sorts, melted cheese, black fish roe and a splash of a red sauce. "Just wing it," I said.

The reaction that followed was so priceless that, had I not been begging for water, I would have snapped a picture. That innocent looking red sauce was likely made from the ominous 'ghost pepper', one of the hottest known to man, because this will make a grown man shed tears.

In the likelihood that my spouse was being dramatic, I tried a dot of the sauce to confirm the reaction necessary. Be warned, folks, this is called a Volcano Roll because the thing is FLAMING, and not in the oh-so-delicious way that the Playboy Roll is delivered in blue flames - we are talking straight liquid edible (er, inedible) fire.

I rest my case. Save your money and a potentially nauseating experience and go to Ichiban, Sakura, Sushi Club or Naked Tchopsticks where they do it right. I'm sure there are better items on the menu, but we tried five dishes on the menu and all were colossal failures.

We really like iSushi express when we look at it as a fast food type establishment.  The rolls are always fresh and delish.  We have also had the yakisoba which was great.  Not sure if other yelpers have gone on bad days or we have been lucky to go on great days.  We have always been very pleased with our orders.  We do dine in so that may make a difference.  Stop by and give them a try.