Sushi Cake and Sushi Bake From Salmon HQ

If you could eat just one thing everyday for the rest of your life, what would it be? For me, it’s definitely sushi and sashimi. It’s delicious, filling, and healthy! Win, win, win!

Looking for superb but reasonably priced sushi and sashimi — especially shake (salmon sashimi) — can sometimes be a bit of a challenge. Obviously, the fresher and tastier it is, the more expensive it gets. Fortunately, I discovered a shop that offers excellent sushi for a reasonable price: Salmon HQ!

The first time I found out about Salmon HQ was when my sister posted an Instagram video of their sushi cake last year. Yes, you read that right. SUSHI CAKE! Literally a cake but made of sushi! I’ve been lusting over it since then!

Premium Salmon Sushi Cake

Salmon HQ’s Premium Salmon Cake is made with lovely layers of premium kani kama (crab sticks) mixed with ebiko (shrimp roe), premium spicy salmon, chuka wakame (Japanese seaweed salad), and Japanese sushi rice. Fatty and juicy salmon sashimi slices adorn the top and sides of the cake. Heaven!!!

My sister actually gifted me this sushi cake for my birthday. It may look small, but because it’s so protein-rich, it really filled our tummies and we even had enough leftovers so we were able to have it again for dinner. We didn’t even eat anything else that day (except for actual cake) aside from this sushi cake! For the quality and size of the sushi cake, it’s actually worth the price.

Recently, I got to try the healthier version of the Premium Salmon Cake, which contains cauliflower rice instead of regular rice. There was still a very small amount of Japanese rice at the bottom so the cake won’t slide. I actually enjoyed the cauliflower rice. It was light and fluffy, but added a really nice crunch to the inner layers of the sushi cake. It wasn’t soggy so it still felt like I was having the sushi cake with regular rice but with a different texture. We felt just as full after eating it. There was no noticeable difference with the original mix, and it still tasted really good! To upgrade to cauliflower rice for the sushi bake, you only need to add PHP 200.

Price: PHP 1,200

Salmon HQ gives us new ways to enjoy sushi by introducing their sushi bakes. They made this quarantine food trend more exciting because of the variety of flavors that they offer.

Crunchy California Sushi Bake

If you’re a fan of California Maki, you’ll surely love Salmon HQ’s Crunchy California Sushi Bake. Made with seasoned rice, cucumber, mangoes, premium kani kama, and Japanese dressing, topped with crunch, and mixed with three kinds of their special homemade sauce.

I can’t count the number of sushi bakes I’ve sampled throughout this entire pandemic. What I noticed with a lot of them is that the ingredients are so scant so it just felt like I’m eating mostly rice with mayo. With Salmon HQ’s California Sushi Bake, you really get a mouthful of all the ingredients and you get to experience various flavors in one bite. The savory kani is balanced with the sweetness of the mangoes, with a hint of spice.

The only thing I didn’t like about it is the cucumber because I really don’t eat cucumber. But if you don’t mind it and you want something that tastes familiar, the Crunchy California Sushi Bake is a safe choice.

Price: Small – 500 / Large – 1,200

Unagi Madness Sushi Bake

If you’re feeling more adventurous, the Unagi Madness Sushi Bake is for you. It’s topped with Japanese premium unagi (freshwater eel), marinated and broiled to bring out its sweet and smoky flavor. Its soft and silky texture definitely gives the sushi bake more character and makes the dish more meaty and filling. It seems to have been prepared well because it doesn’t have a fishy aftertaste. Combined with Salmon HQ’s homemade special sauce, the unagi tastes delicious. This variant also contains premium kani kama, sesame seeds, and sushi rice, and topped with 2 kinds of ebiko.

Price: Small – PHP 950 / Medium – PHP 1,800 / Large – PHP 2,000

Takoyaki Sushi Bake

Out of all the variants, I would describe the Takoyaki Sushi Bake as the most unique. Takoyaki in itself is not new, but in a sea of so many sushi bakes, Salmon HQ is the only one I know that carries this flavor. The presence of octopus bits and baby octopus makes this dish quite exotic! Honestly, I know it sounds silly but the look of octopus arms scares me a bit, but if you don’t mind it, you’d enjoy digging into this one. The Takoyaki Sushi Bake is also filled with sushi rice, cabbage, premium kani kama, and topped with katsuboshi (bonito flakes), aonori (seaweeds), and 2 kinds of special sauce! It tastes just like actual takoyaki and it’s basically takoyaki but in sushi bake form.

Price: Small – PHP 800 / Medium – PHP 1,600 / Large: PHP 1,800

Aburi Scallops Salmon Ebi Sushi Bake

I saved my favorite for last! Scallops, salmon, and ebi — the best kinds of seafood all in one dish?! How perfect is that? Even my husband who is not really into sushi bakes said that this is the one he liked the most. I’m quite happy that they didn’t scrimp on the ingredients, so this is really good value for money. Each spoonful was satisfying. It has a mix of kani, secret sauce, seasoned rice, and topped with MORE scallops, salmon, ebi, crunch, and ebiko then torched to bring out the sweet smoky aroma and umami flavors. Seafood lovers, you NEED to try this! Eat it with seaweeds or just enjoy it on its own!

Price: Small – PHP 700 / Large – PHP 1,600

All sushi bakes come with a pack of nori (seaweed) and the quantity of the nori will depend on the size of the sushi bake that you order. You can also upgraded your sushi bakes to cauliflower rice for an additional PHP 200 for the small tray, +PHP 400 for medium, and +PHP 600 for large. Good alternative for those who prefer a low-carb option!