I apparently love the Old Farm Shops plaza because after I reviewed Cheese & Crackers, it was soon decided that I would return to review its neighbor, Sushi Siam. Since opening in 2020, Sushi Siam has been on the south side of the Old Farm Shops right next door to TCBY.
With an assortment of Thai dishes as well as sushi and a few other Japanese specialties, the restaurant was fairly small with only a handful of tables, but the staff who run the front (and are always extremely nice) do a wonderful job of seating customers as quickly as possible.
We arrived around 5:30 on a Friday and only half the restaurant was full, so we were seated immediately. The menu was two-sided with one side dedicated to Thai food and the other dedicated to sushi and other Japanese food. Diners can order from either side of the menu, and that’s exactly what we did.
We started off our meal with the takoyaki ($7.99). For those who’ve never had takoyaki and enjoy seafood, I highly recommend trying it. I had never eaten or heard of takoyaki until I visited Japan a few years ago, and that now blows me away because takoyaki is one of my all-around favorite appetizers. Here, Sushi Siam’s pieces of octopus and seasoning were deep-fried in a wheat flour dough, topped with a sweet Worcestershire-type sauce and crispy bonito flakes. Bonito flakes were thin slices of smoked tuna that have been dried again to make more crispy. The chewy fried dough, the sweet sticky sauce, and the tangy crisp of the bonito flakes made this an appetizer with a superior depth of flavor.
Listed under the chef’s specials on the Thai side of the menu was the roasted duck basil entree ($19.99). Plated with sticky white rice, the entree had pieces of duck, an assortment of vegetables, and basil all in a flavorful brown sauce. I’m not entirely sure what the brown sauce consisted of, but it was slightly sweet and not overpowering. It paired well with both the duck and the vegetables. I was impressed with how much I enjoyed it. I love duck and usually prefer it to be crispy, but the pieces had a nice texture and complimented the vegetables that were cooked al dente.
My partner and I have ordered from the Thai side of the menu only once before as we usually come to Sushi Siam to have sushi. We were eager to explore the Thai menu and decided for our second entree to order the pla rad prik ($15.99). This dish was fried tilapia in a sweet and sour sauce over a bed of lettuce, topped with sliced scallions and served with white sticky rice. It was a simple enough dish, but one that was prepared very well. The fish was extremely crispy without being overbreaded or oily. There was also plenty of sauce, but it did not make the fish soggy. We both really enjoyed it, and it was a great opportunity to try Sushi Siam’s seafood in a completely different way.
From the sushi menu, we ordered the red dragon roll ($15.99). A tuna roll with scallions and cucumbers in a spicy sauce was then topped with more tuna, masago roe (eggs of capelin fish), and sliced scallions. I loved this roll. All of the flavors worked so well together, and it had great texture. I loved the pop of the masago. All of the ingredients were extremely fresh and bright. The roll had eight pieces of sushi, so it was easy to split and nice to eat along with other entrees.
I had never had dessert at Sushi Siam before, but we were craving something sweet. When we spoke to a server, she recommended the sticky rice with mango ($7.99). I knew my partner would enjoy that, but I wasn’t so sure. Yet here I am again, giving you another example of why you should try something new. It was wonderful. Slices of mango served with warm rice were all coated in a warm coconut cream sauce. It was light and not overly sweet with such a great combination of flavors. I will be back to have it again.
I’ve never been to Sushi Siam for lunch, yet I was intrigued by their Monday through Friday bento lunch specials for $14. For being a small restaurant, Sushi Siam has a lot to offer. Both the sushi and the Thai choices are vast so there is something for everyone.
Sushi Saim
1729 W Kirby Ave
Champaign
M-Sa 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. + 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.
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