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Dharma-Sushi
Categories: Restaurants Japanese Restaurants Sushi Bars Japanese, Sushi Bars [Edit]
1576 Argyle StHalifax, NS B3J 2B3
(902) 425-7785
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 12 pm - 2 pm
Mon-Fri 5 pm - 9:30 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
16 reviews for Dharma-Sushi
16 reviews in English
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Review from Ally G.
Bedford, NS
1/26/2012 ROTD 2/7/2012
I'm lazy in general, so making the effort to write a review is a task I don't often challenge myself to engage upon. How's that for a pretentious intro sentence? Simply put, Dharma Sushi has the best, freshest and most melt-in-your-mouth sushi in HRM. Their menu may not be the largest in town, but it's my opinion that they limit their options in order to knock out such great product each and every time I visit. The service is also fantastic, they are always slammed at lunch time, but their staff are friendly and happy to accommodate your requests to substitute things within the lunch specials (within reason of course).
The price range is great - particularly with the lunch specials. While some might say that the small size of the restaurant is a downside, I see it as an intimate environment where they care more about their food then putting on airs with their design. It's not a place where I would take my husband for a romantic meal with candlelight and...I know know...violins or stuff, but we hate that jazz anyway. When I leave the suburbs I want to be fed right, Dharma never fails me. -
Review from Lyndsay B.
Dartmouth Centre, NS
5/5/2012
Having only a little time before a hockey game we decided to grab a quick bite at dharma. I had been once before and had vaguely remembered not loving it but thought I'd give another chance.
I can't comment on the entire menu. What we did order was spicy shrimp roll, yam roll, spicy salmon and cali roll. First, for the money the rolls were too tiny. The presentation was okay and the order was quick. Our server was really nice and did take our order quickly when we mentioned we were in a rush.
What really disappointed me was the overall quality and taste. First, the rice had a very gluey texture. I love quality rice but this was just terrible. Also, it was quite warm. I guess you could say it was fresh?
In my spicy salmon roll there was too much mayo for my taste. My shrimp roll was a bit better. Overall the warm gluey rice and overload on mayo really turned me off. I didn't even finish my meal it was so off putting.
I'm trying to give a fair review but will not be going back. -
Review from Nick B.
Halifax, NS
11/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great sushi - it's taken me a while to get around to writing the review, but I still remember my lunch there when I checked in to prompt this. A friend of mine whose wife is Japanese recommended we go here because it's apparently the place that most of the Japanese community will choose for sushi - and the day I was there, there were a number of Japanese sailors in town eating there and enjoying themselves. The menu was varied but not overwhelming, and I let me friend do the ordering. We had a great variety of things.
I now am forced only to wonder why I haven't been back yet! -
Review from Ben B.
8/6/2011
Dharma is in a bit of a tsukemono*.
While it used to have a prime location on Argyle Street with little competition from the more casual I Love Sushi (which I have admittedly never been to so who am I to count it out...), the playing field is getting a little crowded thanks to my personal favourite, Fujiyama.
That's not to say that Dharma isn't worth a visit, it's just I think they might have to start trying a little harder if they want to stay in the game.
On the plus side, Dharma is one of the more calming sushi restaurants in the city. Where others attempt to be particularly trendy and strive for hot spot status, Dharma really focuses on being tranquil, making it ideal for big picture conversations or just a quiet solo dinner. The streetside patio option is pretty awesome, the service is polite and attentive, and I've never had any issues with the rolls themselves.
Still, the menu just doesn't have some of the exciting options that you'll find elsewhere and the prices are inflated compared to some of the specials you can take advantage of at its neighbours.
Nevertheless, it's a refreshing space with a nice vibe and you can't fault them for that!
*Japanese pickle: y'all don't even know how funny I think I am. -
Review from Mel H.
7/21/2011
It's come to my attention that I'm a bit of a sushi whore. It's cool. I can live with that.
Had a real tasty lunch here on the patio with a co-worker. Due to some allergies, it's not always easy for me to eat a lunch special as is on the menu. Our server made some excellent suggestions to skirt that situation and I ended up with an excellent lunch.
The meal started off with a salad and miso soup. My undying devotion and love of all things iceberg lettuce aside, this was seriously one of the best house salad's I've ever had. The dressing was amazing. Super fresh veggies. Delicious. Miso soup was pretty tasty as well.
The Sushi Lunch (which is what I ordered) came with 4pcs of nigiri and 12 pieces of assorted rolls. (3 spicy tuna, 3 spicy salmon are the norm and usually a California roll, i rocked a spicy avacado roll instead of the Cali roll) and the previously mentioned soup and salad.
Delicious and super filling. I was not able to finish my meal.
Great service and location. I'll be seeing you again Dharma-Sushi. Oh yes. -
Review from Eleanor M.
Point Edward, NS
7/11/2011
Dharma sushi... Oh you.
Well, you get a star for being open on Sunday.
I was visiting friends in Halifax and was hoping to try out Doraku, however it was closed (so was Minato just across the street) and I was practically gnawing my arm off from hunger... But my sushi craving was too strong to accept some other food type and the same went for the rest of the gang. So we wandered the streets in search of a sushi source. We walked and walked and then we came across Dharma and so we entered.
So I suppose I will give you another star for decor... You are a lovely place to sit in, I like your painting of yourself hung up on your wall (you are so vain). But like a lot of people that rely on their looks, you are ever so slow. My friends and I ordered a plate of rolls each (to share) and those rolls took over an hour to get to us. Perhaps you were understaffed, but all I know is that you certainly weren't that busy.
You lose a star or two for that. The presentation was nice, however, and the sushi tasted so good. The problem was it took us an hour to get food that we ate in about 5 minutes (we was HUNGRY). We didn't leave filled either so we ended up stopping at the Carleton after that.
You're prices were decent though so I will give you another chance someday... Maybe not on a Sunday. -
Review from Sue A.
5/4/2011 5 Check-ins Here
Nothing makes up mind faster about where to go for lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays than the Tuesday/Thursday special at Dharma Sushi.
The "soo-shh" as my friends and I call it is some of the best in the city for a great price.
The irony is that when I order the "special" (4 pieces of vegetable tempura, a small salad, 6 pieces of California roll and chicken teriyaki), I like to personalize it so it's not like I'm ordering the special at all. The Dharma kitchen happily accommodates substitutions. at $1 a piece. My customizations include subbing beef teriyaki for chicken and spicy salmon roll made inside out with tempura bits for the California roll. Regular spicy salmon at Dharma usually has the fish, spicy sauce and rice wrapped in seaweed so that is quite a substitution in my books.
In ten years of going here, I have maybe had one or two bad experiences where the fish didn't seem superfresh. However, for the most part, the fish is fresh and high quality.
Yes, the space is a bit spartan. It's a long, narrow space with a minimalist, Ikea décor. I'm not sure that I would want to eat dinner here but with its convenient location on Argyle, it's an ideal lunch spot
It can be busy at lunch so I usually try to arrive early. If you're planning on being after 12:15 and you're eating with friends, it's wise to call to make a reservation. If you're dining solo, you can usually find a seat at the sushi bar without a problem.
The service is friendly and reasonably quick. For $11 and change, you get a large plate of tasty "soo-ssh" that'll keep you feeling full all afternoon long. -
Review from Philip H.
Halifax, NS
Remember in the movie "Once a time in mexico" where Johnny Depps character tries a pork dish every where he goes and kills the cook of the best one? I kind of do this without the killing part with Katsu-don. If I were Depp's character the chefs at Dharma would have been laid to rest. They make the BEST katsu-don in the HRM in my opinion. They make a really good soba noodle soup as well! I've never had a bad dining experience here.
The staff are very friendly and accommodating to individual needs. Seating is not very comfortable, that's is my only complaint, but not enough to loose a star in my review.
We always make the comment: "I haven't had Japanese food this good since I was in Japan" and it's so true. They are authentic. -
Review from Laura P.
7/23/2010 2 photos
Dharma Sushi has been on my radar for some time now, and with a scaling of both positive and negative feedback, I think this is the sort of thing one must try and take into their own hands. And this, I did.
No negative feedback to report-- my sushi was adequate and did the the trick. I admit, there are a few favourite spots around town that I'll hit up before Dharma, but that's not to say this spot doesn't have its charm.
Small and intimate, the resto is contained amongst the Argyle Street bustle, which is a bumping spot for summer months. I'm not a sushi connoisseur by any means, so when I do go for the cuisine, I generally enjoy my miso salads, and the-- perhaps-- less adventurous bouts of shrimp, salmon and veggies. That being said, I was pleased to discover that Dharma will be adding on a new vegetarian menu to their offerings, which is to be coming sometime in the near future. Sounds like a good idea, as I think sushi could certainly appeal to all the veggie folks, had it more option.
Overall, I'd like to come back to Dharma and give it another go. I think they have sushi to satisfy, but perhaps a little something missing to make it stand out. The service was good, and hold up-- I'll be back.Listed in: The Sushi Experience
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Review from Katie M.
Halifax, NS
4/11/2010 1 photo
There are few things better than eating some well prepared and tasty sushi in an authentic (or authentic feeling) sushi bar. Of course that was my expectation of what would be ahead of me during my first visit to Dharma Sushi, but unfortunately that's not the experience I left with.
I'm not a HUGE sushi buff, but I know a thing or two about filling and rolling my own sushi from an endeavour into culinary culture a few years ago. With that said, even someone with zero knowledge on the subject could deduce that Maki (rolls of sushi) should stay rolled until they are eaten. My nori was flaking and kept causing the rest of the ingredients to fall out all over my plate. The Sashimi wasn't mush better, kind of chewy and a little too warm (it's just unsettling when your raw fish tastes warm).
The specials, which include deals on large tray sized orders are pretty well priced, and a much better deal than eating in the restaurant, either way you wont get the authentic Japanese sushi-bar feel that I expected.
Hot Hint: Don't show up on a Sunday or Holiday (like I did the first time I tried to visit) because they are closed. -
Review from Chad R.
8/28/2010
We hunted around and found that Halifax didn't seem to be a real big sushi town. Nevertheless, we had a hankering and tried out Dharma, which has a great location with a narrow space right on Argyle. The decor is pretty standard, and we sat at the smallish sushi bar. The service was friendly and attentive.
We ordered several rolls and some nigiri sushi. The presentation was just okay, even a little sloppy. The food all tasted really good though. I'm not sure why yam rolls seems to be part of combo special in the city, but they were pretty tasty. We recommend the diamond roll :) -
Review from Alison A.
Halifax, NS
4/19/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Love the lunch specials! Tasty, generous portions and reasonably priced. Service is friendly and speedy too.
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Review from Courtney M.
Halifax, NS
Updated - 1/26/2010
I was really impressed after heading into Dharma Sushi last night on a bit of a whim. We had planned to head to the Wooden Monkey after I finished my first day training at a new job, but sadly, they were closed.
We decided to wander down Argyle and decided upon Dharma.
Service was exceptional! We received our edamame and mixed vegetable tempura promptly after ordering and our combo plate also arrived in a timely fashion. I had hoped that the spicy salmon and eel rolls would be inside out, but it didn't effect my overall enjoyment. Eel was a little salty. Spider rolls were an interesting touch (soft shell crab, cucumber, red caviar and spicy sauce) -surprisingly crunchy!
I would definitely head back here! Might avoid the combo plate next time... so. much. sushi.Listed in: Best Sushi
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/15/2009
Dharma Sushi is an ok sushi spot. The quality of their sushi is higher than most other places in… Read more »
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Review from Joshua Y.
Vancouver, BC
11/7/2009 1 photo
Bad Dharma.
I am not a fan of Dharma Sushi. I have spoken in previous reviews at Sushi restaurants that still over charge and give a very poor quality sushi in the process. This is one of those examples. Although I think they have been changing their pricing over the years because I am seeing better deals I haven't seen before. But this is still no excuse for giving people poor sushi simply because sushi is still a somewhat unique experience in Halifax. With places such as Sushi Nami out there, you have stiff competition and its time to put better quality, make bigger sushi rolls, and charge lower by two dollars on everything. That's when this review will go from two to five stars in less than sixty seconds.
So food quality and pricing aside, the reason why I give them at least two stars is the ambiance, location and the staff. The staff are alright but always tipping on below average. But the restaurant itself is cute and it is conveniently located on Argyle Street in downtown Halifax.
If you've had Sushi in places like Vancouver, California or, god help Dharma Sushi, Japan! Do not go to Dharma Sushi. They simply don't have what it takes. I feel they know how to do better but are relying on limited local knowledge of what makes Sushi good. And if that is their point of view I can see where they are coming from. After all they aren't the only ones in the city that would share this perspective and all the restaurants seem to be doing good business-wise. But I'm putting the call out there to improve. I'll give you one last shot Dharma Sushi. -
Review from Sarah A.
Halifax, NS
3/1/2010
It smells like Japan when you walk in. (bonus)
It's small and come lunch time it is a little crowded. I had the lunch special and it came with a salad, (with corn??!), chicken teryaki (seemed a little undercooked), california rolls (OK) and tempura vegetables (No broccoli).
Seemed a little $$ for me and it really wasn't that awesome.
But it depends on what you get -
Review from Bessy N.
Halifax, NS
1/15/2009
Best seaweed salad (cold) in the city (that I've found). Rumour has it the head chef is uber-particular about the fish - will only accept the ultimate best - so you're guaranteed the freshest there is in Halifax.
