Edit: This review was done prior to when their restaurant burnt down and they moved into a bigger premises.

There isn’t much choice for sushi in the Darwin CBD, you’ve got Takagi Sushi which I reviewed previously and Go Sushi Train which gets some lovin’ today. They’ve been around many years now and have proven very popular with the lunch time crowd. Indeed, if you want to dine in you better get in before the 12 o’clock otherwise you’ll be standing around twiddling your thumbs waiting for a seat (Chapel Lane Cafe next door is awesome if it’s too busy for your liking).

The range of sushi on offer is good, nothing too exotic and just right for Darwin sushi lovers. Some of the less popular ones, like the soft shell crab pictured, can be ordered from the menu and they'll quickly have it brought to you when ready. The rice is seasoned nicely (perhaps a little more would be welcomed) and everything tastes fresh enough, the soft shell crab was warm and crunchy when served. You'll also find available a nice array of cold Japanese drinks and shelf products to take home too.

Through the open air kitchen you can watch the sushi chefs work their magic, bustin' out them orders as fast as they can. The service from the Japanese wait staff is friendly and efficient as you'd expect from the most polite people in all the planet and Toshi behind the counter is probably one of the most cheerful ladies going around.

Prices are expensive compared to the rest of Australia, nay, the whole world, with all the good stuff going for at least $5 for a couple of pieces. You'll want to be spending around $15 to $25 to satisfy your stomach, which for a lunch is a bit hard to ... stomach for ones wallet. You can also get a bowl of noodles for $10, but through some bizarre logic the dinner menu has those same noodles for double the price. Not sure how that works. If you want to save a buck, go on Saturday where every plate is only $4. I bet if they had those prices during the week hordes of hungry workers would be trampling over each other to get in the door.

Comparisons with Bar Zushi in Casuarina are inevitable and I wont hesitate to say that Go Sushi Train stomps all over Bar Zushi with the taste, service, experience and authenticity all being much better. The latter I believe to focus more on quantity than quality. Their teriyaki chicken is also way too salty for even salt lovers. I need say no more. In terms of the rice, I still think little ol' Rapid Cafe still has the bestest in Darwin. A great and novel place to go do lunch, just make sure you get in early.