Sendo Sushi Factory

9 Reviews on “Sendo Sushi Factory”

• Prince Gastronome

  Ramen Ya SENDOSendo has pulled off quite the magic trick, worthy of fooling Penn & Teller (well, more Penn), one of those clever switches where the illusionist misleads you into focusing on an innocuous element while clandestinely swapping the deck. Ramen Ya SENDO (and apparently, its spelled exactly like that, leading me to think I have to scream the last word) began as a typical sushi spot, an above average one. I had better, both out of town and recently within it (see Sushi 97), but Sendo was a suitable alternative given its proximity. For those living on the fringes, neighboring sushi can be a blessing. The Hart has Mr. Sushi and College Heights had Sendooh sorry, I meant SENDO!!! However, one aspect of the business I never appraised was its ramen, and I mean, why would I? It was called Sendo Sushi Factory. Friends had told me to partake in its ramen, and I had planned to do so on a return visit. Then came the previously mentioned turn, the palming of the sushi in one hand while secretly revealing the ramen while our attended had to be diverted. Few of us noticed the move. What had happened was its original owner (the sushi chef) had been sidelined by an injury and his son had taken up the mantle (so goes what I was told). The latters specialty was ramen, pushing sushi completely out of the menu and elevating the ramen as its sole feature. That took courage. Ramen is not a guaranteed economic windfall. It hasnt swept the globe like sushi or pho. Though admittedly a common site on menus, ramen is seldom the dominant aspect in the western hemisphere.In Japan, there are ramen museums. Someone will now tap loudly on their keyboards over the prevalence of ramen stands in Vancouver or Calgary, and Ill counter by stressing my above wordingsushi and pho are far more popular in those regions, and a small town like Prince George already has two pho and maybe a dozen sushi restaurants. Ramen Ya SENDO appears a novel local introduction. The uninformed may notice an aesthetic similarity to that of the more popular pho. Both feature a flavorful broth dominated by chunky ingredients and plentiful noodles in a bowl so large, one is likely to be swept in its undertowdrowned when carried into the depths of ones own soup bowl. To compare pho to ramen is like comparing French onion soup to Azorean holy spirit soupwow, I just made an obscure reference; youre welcome, fellow Azorean descendants. Both pho and ramen feature noodlesthats about it. The broth is different. The dominant ingredients are different. Even the noodles themselves are technically different. Mine had half a boiled egg just floating on the side. It was the garlic butter ramen while my friend took in the special, piri kara spicy miso ramen with stir fried spicy vegetable and with spicy ground turkey in extra spicy miso ramen soup. That was verbatim. Now, I like me some spice now and again, but when its mentioned four times in its description, I get cautious. East Asian restaurants can differ greatly in their opinions of what constitutes extra spicy, with some adding a dash of extra chili sauce while others empty a can of bear mace directly into your face. In retrospect, I could have handled this meal but didnt regret the one I ordered. The special came with a potato salad appetizer, which I thought was an odd choice. I appetized my meal (wait, can I use appetize that way in a sentence?) with a spicy sashimi platter. I considered the latter overpriced given the portion size, though the ramen bowls were a considerably better value. Mine was heaping, dominated by the abovementioned egg but with generous helpings of tofu, pork, corn, and noodles. Its also common to fringe the ramen with gyoza, which we both did. Ramen Ya SENDO looks a lot better now than when it was a modest-looking sushi bar. In its early days, it flaunted its tackiness openly. Now with Asian blinds and hardwood benches with loose cushions, its one of the better looking Japanese restaurants in town. I appreciate the lack of western cutlery, the warm sake in its traditional ceramic container, and flavors that are not conceding to western palettes. Sendo Sushi Factory was at best a slightly above-par sushi restaurant, but as Ramen Ya SENDO, it has created a niche not easily supplanted in a town generally resistant to new ideas. I hope it takes off and proves a success. I like Ramen Ya SENDO, more so than its predecessor, giving me just cause to visit it regularly. I applaud its new approach and am optimistic about its continued success. If this town growing trend to embrace new restaurants continues, this one should be on everyones radar.Food: 4/5Service: 3/5Presentation: 4/5Value: 4/5Recommendation: 4/5

  June 20, 2017, 8:13 am

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• K. Nicole

  Although I personally love Sendo, there are definitely some faults. The food is excellent, it tastes fresh and is extremely authentic (Sendo is the only Japanese-owned sushi bar in Prince George). However, it may take quite a long time to receive your food, and it’s highly possible for an inexperienced customer to be unsure of what to order as there tends to be a communication barrier between customers and the more senior members of the staff. I also find that their turnover rate on servers is quite high, so you may end up with an inexperienced and easily-confused waiter or waitress. Aside from the service issues, don’t come to Sendo expecting beautiful decor and comfy seating, because that’s not what you’re going to get. The seating area is very cramped, and often times you won’t get a table. But if quality of food is your only concern, or you’re planning to order takeout, Sedo is definitely the place for you.

  September 23, 2014, 2:47 am

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