Bites Nearby: You'll Definitely Eat All You Can at Sushi Village

Tucked away in the corner of Westwood Plaza on Broadway is a new Japanese restaurant, . Despite its semi-hidden location, Sushi Village has become popular, known primarily for its "All You Can Eat" menu for just $22 per person.

After hearing the buzz about this menu, with some even making comparisons to Sushi X in Ridgewood, I had to try it.

Upon entering the restaurant we were immediately greeted and seated by a friendly host. The majority of the 40 tables were filled for an early 6 p.m. dinner, so we hoped service wouldn't be slow. We were definitely not let down; every few minutes a different waitress would come to check on us or clear the table. We must have encountered at least four different female waitresses in the hour we were there. The service was exceptional.

Booths line the right wall of the building, with tables in the center. Next to the sushi bar­ – where four chefs were cooking in front of customers – sits a large fish tank. The dim lighting and slow music compliment each other for an overall mellow atmosphere, perfect for a nice date or family dinner out.

The meal began with paper "All You Can Eat" menus for both the Kitchen and Sushi Bar. These two menus simplified the ordering process, making it easy to request multiple dishes at the same time.

The Kitchen menu has six sections (Salad, Appetizer, Soup, Fry, Noodle Soup and Teriyaki) followed by a dessert section. Each customer may select as many dishes from each section as they wish, and can do so multiple times throughout the meal.

The portions at Sushi Village seem to be just right. The dishes are small, but this works to the diner’s advantage, allowing your stomach room for tasting a wide variety of Japanese cuisine. What the dishes may lack in size, they certainly do not lack in flavor.

The Shumai, found on the Appetizer section, were both soft and crispy at the same time with very little grease.

Similarly, the Shrimp Temura from the Fry section of the Kitchen menu was also light on grease. The plate came with a tasty sweet ginger-flavored sauce. Unfortunately, the immense amount of breading hid the flavor of the shrimp itself.

The chicken teriyaki, also on the Kitchen menu, is perfect for timid guests and children who prefer to avoid raw fish. The teriyaki sauce holds a strong soy flavor that nicely compliments the chicken.

After eating our first round of Kitchen menu orders, the waitresses quickly scooped up our empty dishes and handed us the paper menus again. At this time, guests are able to reorder any dishes they wish to have again. This wonderful option also allows customers to try new dishes they may have skipped over the first time around. The only thing Sushi Village asks is that you don’t waste food!

Our plates were removed again, still at a quick pace, and another waitress brought out a large round plate covered in sushi. The Sushi Bar menu has four sections (Sashimi – one piece, Sushi – one piece, Maki – six pieces, and Special Roll – six to eight pieces).

The sushi rolls had a good rice consistency — it wasn’t too sticky nor was it overcooked — and the pieces held together well.

For dessert, Sushi Village offers three flavors of ice cream along with fresh fruit and fried bananas.

The combination of fast service and large "All You Can Eat" menu made dining at Sushi Village an overall great experience. My only complaint was the minor language barrier between waitresses and the guests. The paper menus definitely help work through this small flaw, but there is still room for miscommunication between these women and their guests when re-orders take place.