Justine Sterling
Grocery store sushi used to be a recipe for disaster—kinda like gas station sushi still is. But these days, you can get some decent stuff from the same place you stock up on paper towels and Kraft Singles. Of course, Whole Foods sushi is well known, but there’s also Kroger sushi, Albertsons sushi—heck, even Aldi sushi is a thing (it’s in the frozen section, of all places). But what’s the best grocery store sushi? We took our fate into our hands and ordered up a slew of rolls from grocery stores with lots of nationwide locations to find out.
Now, before you comment, yes, I realize that my Whole Foods sushi probably isn’t going to be exactly the same as your Whole Foods sushi. Let’s accept that as a reality and move along.
So, how did we go about determining the best supermarket sushi? I ordered a sampling from each grocery store. In our initial taste test, I tried to get a spicy tuna roll and a veggie roll from each spot—and I sprang for a combo when I could find it. In our most recent taste test, we expanded to focus on nigiri and specialty rolls. I looked for the quality of the rice (you don’t want mush, but you also don’t want stale, crusty grains), the quality of the fish (definitely should taste fresh), the crunch of the vegetables if applicable, and I even sampled the soy sauce, the ginger, and the wasabi (you’d be surprised at the range in quality).
Because we didn’t sample every single item each grocery store sushi section had to offer, this isn’t a definitive ranking, but it is a good guide. Here’s our ranking of the best grocery store sushi, from nothing special to pretty darn good.
- Albertsons
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Our local Albertsons outpost is actually a Vons. But that’s where we were able to find Albertsons’ Ace sushi. We got a vegetable roll and a spicy tuna roll. And neither were particularly impressive. But before we get into the rolls, let’s talk condiments. I didn’t get soy sauce with either roll! Outrageous! The wasabi was bland and not spicy. But the ginger was crisp. Okay, onto the sushi. It’s fine, but it’s definitely nowhere near the best grocery store sushi. Both rolls tasted a little bit old—like they’d been sitting in the refrigerator for too long. The veggie roll was bland. And the spicy tuna didn’t taste the freshest, though the zig-zag of spicy sauce over the top was actually spicy. If you’re really craving sushi and only Albertsons is open, stick with the veggie roll (they even have a spicy veggie if you need that kick) and bring your own soy sauce.
Credit: Liv Averett / Albertsons
- Kroger
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Kroger sushi is Ralphs sushi in our neck of the woods, and it’s sold under the brand AFC (Advanced Fresh Concepts). In our first taste test, we snagged a spicy tuna roll, a vegetable combo (avocado, carrot, cucumber), and a Chefs Sampler A (rainbow roll, avocado-topped California roll, and crunchy-topped California roll). Let’s just say, if you like sushi because you like to eat rice, then maybe this is the best supermarket sushi for you. There was so much rice! And no soy sauce! The flavor of the tuna in the spicy tuna roll is okay—but you can barely taste it due to the onslaught of rice. The veggie roll included fresh avocado, which saved it from being completely bland and, once again, mostly rice. And the combo platter featured fish that wasn’t the freshest, along with a bland California roll whose crunchy topping had gone soft. The wasabi was oddly bitter. The ginger was fine. Sounds pretty disappointing, right? Well, in our second taste test we also tried some salmon nigiri, which came sprinkled with sesame seeds and green onion, and was accompanied by some lemon and cucumber slices. And it was pretty darn good! The fish wasn’t the most flavorful, but it made up for it with a silky, firm texture. And while there was no soy sauce packet, there was a touch of soy sauce on the rice already, which added some good flavor without turning it all to mush. If nigiri is your thing, then Kroger sushi may very well be the best supermarket sushi for you.
Credit: Liv Averett / Kroger
- Aldi
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Have you ever been curious about Aldi frozen sushi? I stare at it, intrigued, every time I drop into my local Aldi. So, I was psyched (and a little afraid) to finally get the chance to try it for this taste test. We grabbed the Fusia Shrimp & Avocado Roll and the Fusia California Roll. According to the packaging, you aren’t supposed to let them thaw in the fridge. You can leave them to thaw at room temperature for a couple of hours or you can microwave them for 20 seconds. Yes, microwave. And, because I’m impatient, that’s what I did. The big reveal? I like Aldi sushi—especially the California roll. The mayo-laced crab is tangy, the rice is tender, the avocado is creamy. And it’s honestly pretty good a little warm! The shrimp roll isn’t quite as good—it’s too tangy and mayo-y. Aldi frozen sushi is way better than you’d expect. It’s not the best grocery store sushi but it’s perfectly acceptable. And I’d eat some right now if it was put in front of me.
Credit: Liv Averett / Aldi
- Walmart
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In our initial taste test, both the Moji California roll and spicy crab roll were pretty good. They’re clearly made by a robot—they’re very, very round and precisely crafted. But the squat tubes of crab salad have a pleasant mayo-y flavor. The California roll was the definite winner with its crunchy sesame seed coating and creamy filling. The spicy crab roll was, unfortunately, not spicy at all. It had a bit of a red pepper flavor, but that’s it. In our most recent taste test, we also tried the Marketside Tempura Shrimp Roll. It comes with a little side of spicy aioli for dipping, but that’s where the positives end. Avoid this roll at all costs. Walmart was initially higher on this list but that shrimp roll dropped it down a couple of spots. That said, the soy sauce that comes with the Walmart sushi is probably the best grocery store sushi soy sauce. It’s rich and dark. And the wasabi tastes a bit salty, but it’s spicy enough. If you’re a California roll stan, this store bought sushi will scratch an itch.
Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart
- Sam’s Club
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A new addition to this list, Sam’s Club makes comfort food sushi. This is not pristine fish. This is not authentic. This is saucy, sloppy, mayo-y sushi. And sometimes that’s exactly what you want. We ordered a Fujisan Sushi Roll Combo Platter, which included a tiger roll (avocado, cucumber, and imitation crab, topped with cooked shrimp, sweet chili sauce, and green scallions), Walton roll (avocado, cucumber, imitation crab, tempura crunch, spicy mayo, unagi sauce), California crunch roll (topped with Japanese barbecue sauce, sriracha mayo, and fried onions), and dragon roll (imitation crab and cucumber, topped with avocado, unagi sauce, and roasted sesame seeds). The rice was just right—not too sticky or firm. And while they were all pretty satisfying, the best roll was the tiger roll, thanks to the shrimp, which was particularly flavorful. If you regularly shop at the Club, give Sam’s Club sushi a go the next time you’re there.
Credit: Liv Averett / Sam’s Club
- Costco
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Our local Costco does not yet have a sushi bar, like some other Costco locations now do, so the Costco sushi we tried in our first taste test was the Snowfox California Deluxe (sesame seed-coated California rolls) and the Snowfox California Crunch Deluxe (California rolls topped with crunchy onions). In our follow up, we also gave the Snowfox Salmon Avocado a try. Like most Costco products, you get a lot. And, like most Costco products, it’s pretty good! Not the best grocery store sushi, but good enough to buy for a party. The basic California roll is a bit bland, but the sesame seeds add crunch. It needs a drizzle of soy sauce (the packet that thankfully comes with the sushi is decent). And the salmon nigiri we tried in our most recent taste test was disappointing. Though, the salmon roll was decent, thanks to some particularly crunchy cucumber and sesame seeds. But the California Crunch roll is really where it’s at. While the crunchy onion topping isn’t actually crunchy, it does add really delicious sweet onion flavor. And there is a little baggie of extra onions that are actually crunchy, so you can sprinkle those on top for texture. If you hate onions, you’ll hate this. But if you’re into the onion topping on a green bean casserole, this could be the best grocery store sushi for you.
Credit: Liv Averett / Costco
- Sprouts
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Sprouts sushi was a bit hit or miss, but the Hissho brand spicy tuna roll was one of the best grocery store sushi versions of the classic roll that we tried. The fish tasted like it was a decent quality. It was actually spicy. And it included crunchy, cooling cucumber. A good roll, all in all. The California roll was huge and it didn’t have any mayo, which is a plus for some folks. The veggie roll was a bit of a mess, though the carrots in particular were crunchy and the rice had a good, vinegary flavor. There was no soy sauce and the wasabi was flavorless (though very spicy), but the ginger was quite good—fresh and crunchy.
Credit: Liv Averett / Sprouts
- Whole Foods
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Yeah, yeah, it’s predictable. But Whole Foods sushi (Kikka brand) really is the best grocery store sushi. It’s worth an extra buck or two. The veggie roll included brown rice, super crunchy carrots, and creamy avocado. It’s a fresh, wholesome, filling lunch. The spicy tuna roll is not spicy at all, but the fish has a good flavor, the pieces are massive, and the wasabi that comes with it is extremely spicy, so you can just add that for heat. We also tried the Pacific Combo, which came with a rainbow roll and a few pieces of nigiri. The fish was all fresh and clean tasting, with a firm texture. And the rice tasted good too—it had just the right amount of vinegar tang. In our most recent taste test, we tried some quality nigiri (the tuna actually tasted like tuna!) as well as the Spicy Tuna Lava Roll. How exciting is that? It’s an avocado and cucumber roll topped with scoops of spicy tuna and little crunchies. It’s a mess—it’s a two-biter. But it’s fun and different and worth a try. If you have been buying Whole Foods sushi this whole time, you can feel secure in the knowledge that you’re eating the best supermarket sushi. And if you’ve been reluctant to purchase it because you thought, perhaps, there was a better grocery store sushi out there, I’m sorry, but Whole Foods is killing it when it comes to store bought sushi. (I do think you should try that frozen Aldi sushi, though, because I can’t be the only one!)
Credit: Liv Averett / Whole Foods
Albertsons Sushi!
Kroger Sushi!
Aldi Sushi!
Walmart Sushi!
Sam’s Club Sushi!
Costco Sushi!
Sprouts Sushi!
Whole Foods Sushi!
Joe Rumrill
Matt Crowley
