Shi Shi: The Sushi Burrito takes Tel Aviv

There is something unique about seeing the evolution of food fads. At first you see it on the internet and you question yourself on how could people actually pay money to eat it. Fads like the cronut, ramen burger, or anything red velvet have become mainstays in the food world. Even if these food fads are ridiculous, they will sell at the end of the day because it is a novelty to some people. For somebody to eat a ramen burger just to say they ate it is why these fads stay with us. Yet, what if a food fad stays relevant because it is genuinely a delicious dish. A dish that people actually want to eat and are excited about like it was something completely normal. This is my opinion on the sushi burrito. Yes I know the sushi burrito sounds like the gimmick of all gimmicks, but hear me out on this one. I thought it was just like any other food fad, with people eating it just so they could post to their social media that they indeed ate it. This opinion changed when I heard that there was a restaurant serving the sushi burrito here in Tel Aviv. I wanted to be proven wrong so I tried it out to see if it was actually delicious, and if it worked as a dish. I found the Tel Aviv version of the sushi burrito at Shi Shi on Ibn Gavirol and the corner of Haneviim. Shi Shi has a diverse menu of rolls which goes beyond the usual suspects of tuna and salmon in sushi. You can try rolls with grilled steak, fried shrimp, panko crusted cod, tofu, crispy chicken, ground chicken, and even a cauliflower filled roll. On my first visit to Shi Shi I tried their tuna roll which was stuffed with tuna, sliced red cabbage, cucumber, fresh herbs, crispy sweet potato, black sesame seeds, and their wasabi aioli. To my surprise it was absolutely delicious and mimicked any sushi experience I have had in the past. Once I got hooked I started to try their other rolls and was not disappointed. Besides the tuna and salmon rolls, I recommend their steak roll and their panko crusted shrimp roll. The fresh, bold flavors meld together to create one of the most satisfying sushi experiences I have had in a while. Depending on which roll you choose to order, it can set you back between 38 and 55 shekels for a roll. This is not bad on the wallet as you get a lot of food for the price you pay. Each roll does come with side salads available at the bar to take with you. Wait time even at peak hours is about 5 to 6 minutes which in my opinion is totally worth it. It is a great option if you are looking for healthier fast food, especially if you order the tuna or the salmon. It is also vegetarian and vegan friendly as there are rolls featuring tofu and cauliflower. The thing I like about the sushi burrito at Shi Shi is that it is not a bunch of rice with little filling. You taste more of the filling than the rice. It is a complete meal in one with protein, vegetables, and grains all in one convenient package. I fell for the sushi burrito and a lot of Tel Aviv has as well. Almost every time I stopped by, Shi Shi was packed with customers trying to also get their fix. If you are a sushi fanatic in Tel Aviv, Shi Shi is a must try.