If you think about Asian food, the first thing that may come to mind is teriyaki chicken or traditional sushi, but the truth is there is a world of asian cuisine to discover. And Samara Sush is the place to discover it.
The restaurant opened five months ago in Sámara and its menu offers flavors from various far-off eastern countries such as Thailand, Japan, Vietnam, Korea and the Philippines.
They serve dishes that are gaining more and more popularity among diners across the globe, including among those in Samara, says owner Erick Varela, who is no beginner when it comes to Asian food. Varela was in charge of another sushi place called Vela Latina in Samara for more than eight years.
“It has all been a pcoress,” he said. “People used to be very finicky. They would say, ‘sushi? Never.’ But they have warmed up to experimenting with other flavors.”
The menu at Sámara Sushi is broad and the majority of plates have a fresh seafood or fish base, such as tuna, sea bass or mahi mahi. But the selection also includes other dishes with beef and several vegetarian and vegan options with tofu.
The Crunchi Tofu Bowl is one of the vegan options the place offers.
The Crunchi Tofu Bowl is one of the vegan options they offer. It includes fried tofu, teriyaki sauce on a bed of sushi rice and a mix of fresh, crunchy vegetables (red onion, avocado, broccoli, zucchini, carrots and beet). It’s a combination of flavors.
For lunch, waiters recommend a special menu that includes salads, snacks, pasta, rice and bowls.
Fish tacos were one of the recommended plates for noon. Tempura fish (a japanese frying technique) is covered in coleslaw, pico de gallo, avocado and spicy mayonnaise or wasabi mayonnaise (a spicy Japanese condiment). All the ingredients rest on a corn tortilla that, after a few minutes, gets soggy and becomes difficult to pick it up, like a genuine taco.
For dinner, the suggestions include more elaborate foods such as fish carpaccio, which consists of fresh mahi mahi covered in crystalized seaweed, sesame seeds and fish eggs, or tobiko. In this main dish, Varela tells us how fusion is his specialty. This dish combines Japanese (the tobiko) with Peruvian (because of the chili sauce). It’s exquisite.
“I like to see the expressions on people’s faces when they try things (…) I don’t serve anything here that isn’t something I would eat. We take close care of details and products,” Varela said.
To accompany the food, the restaurant has wines (red and white), natural fruit drinks and other liquors that are in accordance with the concept, such as Sapporo beer or sake (a rice-based liquor).
As the name suggests, Sushi Sámara also offers a wide array of sushi and the traditional miso soup.
In the short term, Varela visualizes expanding the locale and possibly opening another restaurant in the Nosara district.
In short
- Location: Second floor of Súper Sámara (handicap access)
- Prices: Between ¢2.000 and ¢10.000 (not including taxes)
- Hours: From 11am to 10pm, M-F
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