Andrew Huse, Staff Photographer

Eating at a sushi restaurant is a lot like a relationship – it’s all about compromise.

Thankfully, San Diego has an array of restaurants featuring straight-from-the-dock seafood. The bad news is that while good fish is out there, greedy sushi restaurateurs are charging way too much for fish that tastes like it came from the grocery store.

Regrettably, that’s the reason many people simply opt for those gooey, three-day-old convenience store California rolls wrapped in rice that’s so gritty, it nearly scrapes the tongue.

So what is a sushi-loving, yet financially unstable, college student to do? The answer is simple: Sushi Deli.

No, this eatery doesn’t feature tempura roll sandwiches on rye bread. In fact, the only real “deli” aspect of this place is that each item costs about as much as a gourmet sandwich at 4.0 Deli.

Eating at Sushi Deli is sort of like finding a pair of $10 Bebe shoes at a thrift store – it feels like someone mislabeled them, and you got away with it. In addition, Sushi Deli has a seemingly endless list of sushi roll combinations to tantalize those ear-splitting hunger pangs coming from your stomach.

Even though Sushi Deli seems as perfect as a date with Jake Gyllenhaal, there are a few downsides to this restaurant. First of all, while there are two locations, both are in Downtown where parking is always a challenge.

Also, anyone arriving after 6 p.m. should expect a considerable wait, so get there early unless watching other people eat brings enjoyment.

Imagine the following scenario: You’ve parked at Horton Plaza and arrived at Sushi Deli 2 at about quarter to five. You walk in and think to yourself, “My goodness, why are all the servers so darn trendy looking?”

You then immediately notice how inviting the East-meets-West decor is and how much bigger Sushi Deli 2 is than the original Sushi Deli.

Don’t worry – the same folks own both restaurants, but Sushi Deli and Sushi Deli 2 emit entirely different vibes. Not to mention both locations are close to all the downtown “hotspots” that make the Gaslamp’s parking spots so unavailable.

Now, back to that fantasy Sushi Deli experience described earlier. After finishing an $11 dinner consisting of “Claudia’s Best Combo” and a predictably delicious bowl of miso soup, you successfully roll your satisfied self out the door. Congratulations. The only thing left to do is get to the most exhilarating dance spot and work off the sushi goodness you just consumed.

–Sushi Deli is located at 828 Broadway. For more information, call 231-9597.

–Sushi Deli 2 is located at 135 Broadway. For more information, call 233-3072.