One would suppose that due to its accessible location in the Ralph’s strip mall Bui Sushi would be a phenomenon familiar to each and every Pepperdine student. It is undeniable that many have caught on as it is nearly impossible to have a seat in the intimate beachy-feeling yet clean restaurant without spotting clusters of other chopstick-wielding Pepperdiners. However until Aug. 31 Mary Hinojosa had yet to indulge in the hub of freshness and flavor that is Bui despite being a junior.
“The salmon sashimi is amazing!” Hinojosa chirped crackling with enthusiasm when asked about her Bui maiden voyage.
“The spicy edamame was delicious too. I’ll definitely be going back there!” she added.
The menu at Bui is at first glance fairly standard for a sushi restaurant. Upon its pages lie numerous rolls and sashimi options as well as classic pre-sushi appetizers such as miso soup and seaweed salad. However give it a good read and you’ll find that woven in nicely with the classics are splashes of creativity and innovation. Not only does Bui offer standard salt-sprinkled edamame but as Mary mentioned a flavor-packed “spicy edamame” is a tasty option. It is delicious but a bit messy; the urge to lick one’s fingers is hard if not impossible to overcome. The “Malibu Sunset a dazzling concoction of sweetness paired with fresh beachside seafood, consists of pear, mango, and asparagus in a soy wrap, and is topped with salmon and avocado. The pumpkin tempura, tender little chunks of jack-o-lantern served with curry salt, appears to be a permanent fixture on the specials” list and is a personal favorite. Ordering something as simple as green tea is fun as well; get it iced and enjoy one of the most refreshing ways to get one’s antioxidants. Get it hot and you will be presented with your very own little teapot for the duration of the meal.
There exists one roll that it would be a travesty not to recommend and that is the Veggie Tempura Roll. On the inside it consists of tempura (which for you sushi amateurs means “fried!”) onion carrot and asparagus and is wrapped in the standard rice and seaweed and then topped with slices of nutty rich California avocado drizzled with a savory sauce and sprinkled with pink peppercorns. At $12 it is quite highly priced for a fish-free concoction but is hearty enough to make a meal of in itself.
The matter of pricing is perhaps the primary stumbling block to enjoying a lunch or dinner at Bui.
“For what you get it’s pretty expensive said junior Danny Sullivan.
He’s right; it is difficult to manage spending less than $15 for a full meal and even more so if you indulge in any of their special rolls.” The Malibu Sunset and Veggie Tempura as the cheapest of the “special rolls are $12. However, this is Malibu, and because of Malibu’s luxurious makeup, it is quite difficult to eat cheaply, save fast-food joints such as La Salsa and Jack in the Box. Bui’s tendency to be a bit pricey is offset by its convenience, especially if you live on campus; the extra Malibu dollars” are counteracted by the saved gas money and transportation time required to seek out significantly cheaper sushi.
By paying to eat in Malibu you also pay for “The Malibu Experience.” The walls are covered with California-themed photographs of yogis and surfers. This also means opening oneself up to the possibility of dining in close proximity with our town’s celebrity population.
“Seeing Anthony Kiedis [the lead singer for The Red Hot Chili Peppers] in Bui was absolutely surreal Hinojosa said. It really is amazing that the man whose voice is on my iPod and in my car so often was eating sushi 10 feet away from me!”
As with many classy Malibu eateries the odds of celebrity spotting are massively in your favor. Anecdotes like Hinojosa’s are fairly common; type “Bui Sushi” into Google and three of the results on the first page have titles such as “Photo! Cindy Crawford outside of Bui Sushi in Malibu!” Musician Kid Rock and actor Edward Norton have also been spotted together at this hot sushi spot.
Even if seeking glimpses of famous faces is not your priority Bui Sushi still has much to offer in terms of yummy dining and a cozy distinctively Malibu setting. Most important this tasty sushi experience is far from out of reach. It is even possible to walk there for the hyper-dedicated sushi fanatic.
Bui’s proximity to campus and hip atmosphere is a trade off for the cost of the cuisine. Chalk this one up as an excellent date or birthday destination.
