NEW OPENING | Nudo Sushi Box | Oxford Road

Confidentials 11 August 2015

What They Say: Manager Terence says Nudo Sushi Box is ‘a grab and go with added quality.’ Produce is sourced from a select roster of suppliers and regular trips to Japan by the owners ensure East and West are in sync.

Nudo have apparently secured two more sites on Mosley Street and in Spinningfields - where they'll surely make a killing

"As the popularity of Sushi has soared of late – we felt that the next logical step for us was to introduce a unique and easy to order sushi menu onto the high street. In our establishments, you will experience a wide range of delightful sushi products, ranging from our freshly prepared sashimi selections, futomaki and nigri boxes, salads and sides, (or 'Small Eats', as we call them), as well as a variety of soup noodle options."

The brand also hopes to educate us about the benefits of that most divisive component - raw fish.

Nudo - the sushi line

What We Say: This clean and minimalist branch on Oxford Street will be Nudo’s seventh branch and the first outside the North East - having first opened in Newcastle in 2009. Nudo's key target market will be office workers looking to break away from the tyranny of the butty, bap or barm, while the promise of 'half the calories' should be enough to pull in the fastidious 'clean-eating' brigade.

Ten years ago this fast Japanese concept probably wouldn't have worked in Manchester. 'Fish? Raw? Sling yer hook.' However, the global rise of sushi from obscure Eastern delicacy to supermarket ubiquity means that sushi has become regular lunchtime fare for an increasing number of folk. With its prime position on Manchester's 'Corridor', we've no doubt Nudo will be be a hit in less time than it takes to gut an Engawa.

Nudo Salmon and Tuna Sashimi (£5.95)

What To Order: It's easy to see why the Salmon Sakura 'Long Box', at a rather reasonable £5.05, is Nudo’s bestselling product. Salmon is safe sushi; non-threatening, clean, fresh. However, the tuna, the icon of sushi, wins through; big, fat, sexy pink slabs of tuna, liberally doused in wasabi and soy. Ace. Make like the Japanese and pair your fishy fare with a hot herbal cuppa at £1.80 (Jade Tips green tea is the most traditional, apparently). There's vegy sets available too (from £3.20). Ordering for the office? A party box (from £16) will happily feed four to six people.

When To Go: Nudo has lengthy eleven-hour days, so best to swerve the lunchtime rush with a late afternoon or early teatime visit. The extra savvy can pop in on their way to work and pick-up a box for later. Alternatively, order over £30 worth with free delivery and you won't have to go at all.

What Else? Having expanded from Newcastle into Sunderland and Durham, the ambitious outlet are steadily spreading southwards ahead of plans to franchise. Nudo envisage up to ten Manchester branches in the future and have apparently already secured two more sites on Mosley Street and in Spinningfields - where they'll surely make a killing.