Toro (Sushi) Is It Seasonal? Can't Find it anywhere in Atlanta?!
Toro (Sushi) Is It Seasonal? Can't Find it anywhere in Atlanta?
I love toro sushi. I've been to a couple Japanese sushi places around town, (authentic ones mostly) and can't find it anywhere! I'm in Atlanta. Is Toro a seasonal?
Answers: The reason for the scarcity is basically that there is only one tuna belly per fish. Tuna belly is probably less than 1/20 the weight of a whole fish. e.g. a 30 lb tuna will yield less than 2 lb of toro. The demand and its scarcity drives up the price. Source(s):
I sportfish for tuna on the West coast. I catch yellowfin, bluefin and albacore. When the catch is cleaned, the crew saves the belly for me. In the past, tuna bellys were discarded with the rest of the carcass. I eat sushi too. No, it's not.... Toro is nothing more than the belly part of tuna. It is so expensive and rare not many places stock them.
Sometimes, if you frequent select restaurants, you can pre-order them, and they will get it or keep it for you. As long as there is tuna toro should also be there. It is very epensive and that can also be the reason they do not keep to much of it. It is the fatty part of the tuna belly! It isn't seasonal, but it is more expensive than the rest of the tuna, which is why many places do not carry it on their menus. Usually Toro is only available at more upscale Sushi/Japanese restaurants.