A healthy lunch spot & sushi by the pound

While I try to avoid generalities, one I do use is that the less processed food is, the healthier it likely is as well.

That’s why sushi has become an even larger part of my diet than it was before my two stents were put in to unclog my arteries.

Nutritionists do raise a red flag about eating a lot of white rice, but sushi can be found with brown rice and there’s also sashimi which is sushi’s rice-less cousin. But sushi can get expensive.

So I was excited to try a Chicago sushi lunch spot that sells sushi by the pound ($1.25 an ounce) rather than the piece. Grain & Sea is a very neat-looking spot with an almost limitless sushi buffet.

You walk the food line, taking whichever you want and have it all weighed at the end of the line.

I concentrated mostly on pieces with salmon or shrimp and stayed away from most of the items labeled hot or spicy. I did take one to try it and it was as advertised.

So if you like spicy sushi, you can find it here.Everything tasted very fresh, so important with sushi.

The variety of sauces available included low-sodium soy sauce, great if you’re watching salt intake. I also tried an eel sauce, very salty, and a house orange sauce of some type (labeled Grain & Secret) which was flavorful.

I ended up taking 12 pieces and paying $20 (see my plate in the photos here). Is that cheaper than paying by the piece? Maybe (I walked by another sushi place nearby charging either $1 or $1.50 a piece), maybe not. You do get to pick exactly what you want. Items are labeled with all ingredients.

The staff was very friendly and helpful. I think they thought I was a crazy old guy when I told them I did a food blog. But this post should convince them I am a food blogger.

I’d recommend the spot in Chicago’s Loop for lunch (they close at 6:30 p.m.). My next quest will be for a sushi place with a conveyor belt bringing items to my table. Stay tuned.