Farewell, Escolar: Welcoming a New Season of Quality 

At Soho Sushi, our obsession has always been with the catch. We pride ourselves on sourcing the freshest, most flavorful, and highest-quality seafood to grace your chopsticks. This commitment to excellence often means evolving our menu to align with our values of integrity, safety, and taste.

 

It is with this spirit of evolution that we are announcing a significant change to our white fish offerings: We are officially removing Escolar from our menu.

 

For many of our regulars, this might come as a surprise. Escolar—often listed on menus as “White Tuna” or “Super White Tuna”—has been popular for years due to its incredibly buttery texture and rich, mild flavor. It tastes fantastic, which makes deciding to remove it difficult. However, after careful consideration, we believe this is the right choice for our guests.

 

Here is why we are saying farewell to Escolar, and what you have to look forward to in its place.

 

Why We Are Removing Escolar

Our decision comes down to two main factors: transparency and the physical well-being of our diners.

 

1. The “Secret” of Escolar
The very thing that makes Escolar taste so good is also what makes it problematic. Escolar is a deep-sea fish with a naturally high oil content. However, these aren’t the heart-healthy omega-3 oils found in salmon. Escolar contains high concentrations of wax esters which can have negative reactions for guests.

We don’t believe a premium dining experience should ever come with a “caveat.” Japan and Italy have restricted the fish entirely for this reason. We want you to enjoy every bite at Soho Sushi without having to worry about how you’ll feel tomorrow.

 

2. A Commitment to Honesty
For too long, the sushi industry has used terms like “White Tuna” to market Escolar. This isn’t accurate. True white tuna is Albacore. By labeling Escolar as “White Tuna,” restaurants are not being transparent about what is actually on the plate.  We want you to know exactly what you are eating. 

 

Introducing: The Seasonal White Fish Rotation
While we are saying goodbye to Escolar, we are excited about the opportunity this creates. We aren’t just removing an item; we are launching a dynamic, premium alternative.  We are replacing Escolar with a rotating selection of true, seasonal, white fish.  By shifting to a seasonal model, we can offer our diners a superior product in three key ways:

• Premium Quality & Taste: Instead of one static item, our chefs will source the best white fish available right now. This means cleaner flavors, firmer textures, and a more sophisticated tasting experience.

• True Seasonality: Just like produce, fish has seasons. Eating a fish when it is “in season” means it is at its biological peak—tasting the way nature intended.

• Variety and Discovery: Your sushi experience will now evolve throughout the year. On any given visit, you might discover something new and exciting, from true premium Albacore to refined Japanese favorites.

 

How This Impacts Your Favorite Dishes

We’ve made the decision to remove some dishes from our menu and replace them with exciting new offerings.  We’ve also made slight modifications to some existing favorites to better align with the change to our menu.

• Candy Cane Roll: We have removed the escolar element from our signature roll and replaced it.
• Kamikaze Roll: We have replaced our signature Kamikaze Roll with the all new Fantasy Roll, using seasonal white fish elements
• Cilantro Trio: Known for it’s freshness, we’ve removed Escolar from the roll and given you additional Tuna and Salmon to replace the missing Escolar.
• Rainbow Roll: We’ve replaced the Escolar in our Rainbow Roll with seasonal white fish.

We know that change can be tough, especially when it involves a beloved flavor. But we are confident that once you taste the fresh, dynamic alternatives we have sourced, you won’t look back.

 

Thank you for trusting us to bring you the best. We’ll see you at the sushi bar!