Does Trader Joe’s have sushi? The answer changes. If you asked in 2018, I’d say yes, Trader Joe’s sells a variety of rolls including tempura shrimp and spicy California. If you asked in late 2019, I’d say oh, no, they don’t. Didn’t you hear about the recall? But if you ask me now, in 2024, I’d say, yes! Trader Joe’s sushi is back!
Are you a little nervous because of that recall I just mentioned? Well, that recall also applied to salads and spring rolls and it wasn’t just limited to Trader Joe’s. Other stores, including Walgreens and Food Lion, were affected too. So, I guess what I’m saying is, get over it! Food recalls happen all the time. And yet, we keep on eating grocery store sushi. At least, I do. Some people take risks by skydiving. I eat questionable tuna. To each their own.
Anyhoo, this time around Trader Joe’s is selling California rolls and vegetable rolls. We got our hands on the California roll. And now we’re going to tell you all about it.
- Trader Joe’s California Roll
-
Let’s set some expectations: This is $5.99 grocery store sushi. Don’t expect something that lives up to your favorite neighborhood sushi bar. It’s not being freshly made behind a counter. It’s stocked right there with Trader Joe’s wraps and bagged salads. But, that being said, it exceeded all of our expectations.
Pros: Let’s start with the rice. Most of the complaints about grocery store sushi center around the rice. It’s often cited as being too hard or too mushy. Trader Joe’s sushi rice is delightfully tender and well seasoned, with just a hint of vinegar. The rolls themselves are sizable and you get nine pieces to an order, which makes for a pretty satisfying lunch. The cucumber is super crunchy. The imitation crab made from pollock isn’t drenched in mayo, so you can actually taste it. And the avocado is creamy, if a bit bland. The sesame seeds around the outside add a good crunch. If you’re looking for a flavor bomb, you won’t get it. This roll is more about texture than flavor, but, for me, that’s just fine when it comes to a grocery store California roll. It’s fresh and will fill you up. If you really want some flavor, just dip it in the soy sauce provided (very dark and deep flavored stuff) and/or the wasabi (super nose-clearing).
Cons: This will not wow you. I’d argue it’s not meant to, but if you’re looking for real, high quality sushi, you will be disappointed. My main quibble is that the avocado could have been more flavorful. I really didn’t get any avocado flavor at all. But for $5.99? You could do a lot worse. I think this is a worthy addition to Trader Joe’s ready-to-eat offerings.
Credit: Liv Averett / Trader Joe’s
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!