Magic Touch Sushi is a popular Japanese restaurant specializing in sushi and other traditional dishes. Located in the heart of the city, it is known for its high-quality food, excellent service, and unique dining experience. When you enter Magic Touch Sushi, you are immediately greeted by a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The restaurant features stylish decor with a touch of traditional Japanese elements. The seating is comfortable, and the layout allows for intimate dining or larger group gatherings. The menu at Magic Touch Sushi is extensive, offering a wide variety of sushi rolls, sashimi, nigiri, and other Japanese delicacies.
The menu at Magic Touch Sushi is extensive, offering a wide variety of sushi rolls, sashimi, nigiri, and other Japanese delicacies. Each dish is prepared with precision and attention to detail, ensuring a delightful culinary experience. The chefs use only the freshest ingredients, sourced from local markets and trusted suppliers.
Sushi is delivered by ‘bullet train’ with a Magic Touch in Cerritos
I recently spent a couple of weeks in Japan, where I rode a bullet train many times, a wonderful trip, made all the better by the amazing bento boxes sold in even the smallest of train stations.
Bento — more properly referred to as ekiben — are wonderful things. They’re edible Joseph Cornell boxes of tasty treats and happy bites, going for about $10 a box.
Curiously, when I got back, I went to the newly opened Magic Touch Bullet Train Sushi restaurant, situated in yet another of the many South Street Cerritos food malls, where they do not offer ekiben. Which is a pity, because it would certainly add to the sense of being Over There.
But still, the high-tech style of the eatery does have a Tokyo Modernist/Robot Restaurant sense to it. Though in this case, the food isn’t served by robots. It’s served by miniature “bullet trains” (properly shinkansen) that come zipping out of the kitchen (or whatever is in the unseen back of the restaurant) bearing your nigiri, your sashimi and your rolls along with a sundry of appetizers and small dishes.
I should explain that there are humans working in Magic Touch. They bring you beverages and other items that might not do well on a miniature train. But for the most part, you’re on your own, following the “Easy Steps for the 1st Time Comer” on the plasticized menu, which guides you to the iPad in front of every diner, from which you order your food.
A fun way to dine
The order is then transmitted to the back, where the dishes are loaded on the train and shot out (well, not really shot; they move a lot slower than the full-sized bullet train), somehow stopping right in front of where you’re sitting.
It’s a clever system, allowing you to keep track of what you’ve ordered on the iPad, though there is something a bit alienating about sitting at the counter, staring ahead at the very brightly lit “track,” waiting for your food to arrive. There are several tables where you can interact with others. Otherwise, this is dining in a world of white space, a bit lonely, a bit cold. Once I got past the novelty, I fell into a bit of existential angst.
And I do need to mention that the food doesn’t come out especially fast. Unlike Magic Touch’s cousin restaurants, the somewhat less mechanistic revolving sushi bar (of which there are many in Japan, where it was invented, and where the proper name is “kaikan”), you don’t have the fun of watching an endless parade of dishes march on by. In this case, the train arrives, the food is taken, the train withdraws. In between, you’re on your own. It’s Concept Uber Alles, or however that would be said in Japanese.
Priced well
But there is a good side to all this high-tech obsessiveness: the prices are low, really low. Nigiri sushi — the slices of fish atop rice — run from $1.75 to $2.75. Sushi rolls fall into the same range. Hand rolls are $2.25. You want a sushi combo, it will run between $6.25 and $10. The sashimi combo is $5.25. Which is so far below the usual price, it’s hard to cavil about the lack of humanity.
Indeed, nothing costs much: edamame is $1.75, miso soup is $2.25, seaweed salad is $2.25, so is seafood gyoza. Fried chicken is $2.75. Fried soft shell crab is $5.25. All of which is way below market. Even discount sushi shops, like the Sushi Stop chain, cost more.
And the quality is better than you might expect. The 16 rolls are well-assembled, if not elegantly so. For $2.75 you can sample exotica like the Tiger Roll, the Hamachi Roll, the Dragon Roll, the Soft Shell Crab Roll.
The fish is fresh. The turnover is fast. The restaurant is busy most of the time. And when you’re finished, you clock “Check Out” on the iPad, and a human will bring you your check. Or as the menu says, “Your servers will bring you the cheek (sic).” Check or cheek, it won’t add up to much.
Merrill Shindler is a Los Angeles-based freelance dining critic. Send him email at [email protected].
Magic Touch Bullet Train Sushi
Rating: 2 stars
Address: 11900 South St., Cerritos
Information: 562-402-5177
Cuisine: Japanese
When: Lunch and dinner, every day
Details: Soft drinks; no reservations
Atmosphere: High-tech setting, where you order from iPads and watch in wonder and puzzlement as your sushi zips out of the kitchen on a Bullet Train. Not as efficient as you’d expect but still fun. And very inexpensive.
Prices: About $20 per person
Suggested dishes: Sushi Rolls ($1.75-$2.75), Hand Rolls ($2.25), Nigiri Sushi ($1.75-$2.75), Combo Platters ($6.25-$10)
Cards: MC, V
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Yes, you can access the menu for Magic Touch Bullet Train Sushi online on Postmates. Follow the link to see the full menu available for delivery and pickup.
One of the highlights of dining at Magic Touch Sushi is the presentation of the dishes. Each plate is meticulously arranged, showcasing the vibrant colors and artistic presentation. The sushi rolls are carefully crafted to perfection, with a combination of flavors and textures that will delight your taste buds. In addition to its sushi offerings, Magic Touch Sushi also offers a range of cooked dishes, such as tempura, teriyaki, and udon noodles. These dishes are equally delicious and complement the sushi selections perfectly. The service at Magic Touch Sushi is top-notch. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and always ready to assist with any dietary preferences or allergies. They can also provide recommendations based on your taste preferences and ensure a seamless dining experience. Magic Touch Sushi also offers a variety of beverages, including traditional Japanese green tea, sake, and a selection of cocktails and wines. Whether you are looking for a refreshing drink to accompany your meal or a special celebratory cocktail, you will find something to suit your taste. Overall, Magic Touch Sushi is a must-visit for sushi lovers and anyone looking to experience authentic Japanese cuisine. Its commitment to quality, attention to detail, and warm hospitality make it a favorite among both locals and tourists. So, if you are in the city and craving sushi, head over to Magic Touch Sushi for an unforgettable dining experience..
Reviews for "The Magic Touch of Sushi: A Culinary Adventure"
1. John Smith - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with my experience at Magic Touch Sushi. The sushi rolls were mediocre at best and lacked the freshness and flavor that I expect from a good sushi place. The rice was dry and the fish didn't taste as fresh as I would have liked. The service was also quite slow and inattentive. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this place if you're looking for a quality sushi dining experience.
2. Emily Johnson - 1/5 - I have never been so disappointed with a sushi restaurant before. The quality of the ingredients used at Magic Touch Sushi was far below par. The fish tasted fishy and didn't have that melt-in-your-mouth freshness that I love about sushi. The service was also terrible; the servers seemed uninterested and hardly checked on us throughout the meal. I wouldn't waste my money or time going back to this place.
3. Michael Brown - 2/5 - Magic Touch Sushi was a complete letdown. The sushi rolls were poorly made and fell apart as soon as you picked them up. The flavors were bland and lacking the authentic taste that I've had at other sushi restaurants. The portion sizes were also quite small for the price. The only positive thing I can say about this place is that the ambiance was nice. But overall, I wouldn't recommend this place to sushi lovers.
4. Jennifer Davis - 2/5 - I was not impressed with the overall quality of the sushi at Magic Touch Sushi. The rolls were messy and lacked creativity in terms of presentation. The fish didn't taste fresh and the overall taste was average at best. The service was also lacking; we had to continuously wave down the server to get their attention. I wouldn't choose to go back to this place, as there are much better sushi options available in the area.