SEATTLE — At Sushi Samurai in Seattle's Queen Anne neighborhood 'Finding Nemo' plays above the bar because:
"We believe that fish are friends and not food,” said owner Ray Maranon.
So, the stuff that looks like tuna and salmon on those rolls isn’t.
“We're the first fully vegan sushi restaurant in Seattle,” Maranon said.
The plant-based sushi creations at this family-owned restaurant are just as beautiful - and just as delicious - as the kind made with meat.
"So, basically, the salmon, the tuna, the crab meat and the white fish is made of tapioca starch, which is from boba, and then konjac root, which is very similar to ginger root. And then we use paprika for food coloring.” Maranon explained.
Sushi Samurai recently won recognition from PETA – People for Ethical Treatment of Animals - for their vegan curry roll.
But you don't have to be a veggies-only person to enjoy this place:
"Even people who are still meat eaters come here and they support us totally,” Maranon said.
“I love the vibe, I love the family atmosphere, and I love the flavor,” said Lourdes Salazar-Rios, who is vegan. "My absolute favorite experience about coming in here is how inviting and normal it feels to eat a sushi roll, and it just so happens to be vegan."
This place is also satisfying the cravings of sushi-deprived expectant moms:
“We get a lot of pregnant women who come here too, who are not necessarily vegan or vegetarian,” Maranon said.
A friendly robot named Mio delivers the vegan deliciousness here - even the orchids they garnish with are edible.
At Sushi Samurai, whether you're a warrior for animal rights or just interested in trying new flavors, eating your veggies is beautiful in more ways than one.
“We became vegan for the earth, and for the environment, for the people. We want to support the planet Earth; it's for a good cause,” Maranon said.
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