Tucked away on an unassuming corner of Sansom Street, a blinking array of fluorescent lights and a bold red backsplash beckons my friend Grace and I to the entrance of Vic Sushi Bar.
My first impression is that it’s tiny. Quite tiny, blink–and–you’ll–miss–all–the–fun tiny. Seating no more than a dozen patrons, our barside table faces the open kitchen. With a quick welcome, we’re promptly greeted with the hustle of the sushi chefs at work just a few feet away.
It’s a Monday night, and yet every seat in the house is full. The diners all stride in with an ease and air of comfortability, like they’ve frequented this place several times before. We’re sandwiched between a quiet couple on a date night and a sprightly bunch of young professionals, getting a drink and a couple bites after a presumably long workday. I feel as if I’ve entered a small dinner party. The place feels as intimate as it is unpretentious, a neighborhood dive with a lot of love to give.
As we settle in, we start to look at the menu, which offers up a mix of the familiar and the novel. The usual suspects are there—tempura appetizers, California rolls—but alongside them, there are some curious offerings that seem to hint at Vic's more experimental side. We opt for a little of both.
The sashimi sampler arrives with a colorful array of yellowtail, salmon, and tuna. Immediately, the yellowtail steals the show. It’s buttery and smooth, with a clean, citrusy finish that lingers pleasantly. It’s simple, but in that perfect way that reminds you why sashimi exists in the first place—to let the fish speak for itself. The salmon is similarly rich and soft, but the tuna falls a bit short. Slightly tough and faintly fishy, lacking the delicate texture of good tuna sashimi. Still, for under $15, it’s hard to dwell on one miss when the rest of the plate delivers.
We follow with another appetizer, shrimp shumai, a traditional dim sum staple. Though Vic Sushi Bar is Japanese cuisine, the immersion of Chinese and Japanese dishes is not rare in places like these. I also hear a couple of chefs conversing in Mandarin, which makes me smile. Though typically an umami dish, at Vic’s, these shrimp dumplings blur the lines between tastes. They’re soft—really soft—and sweet, almost like a meaty dessert. Instead of shumai’s typically bouncy texture, the shrimp in these give way to a lovely melt–in–your–mouth sensation instead. The flavor is muted and yet poignant, and I catch myself reaching for more again and again.
Next up is the Sansom roll, a more conventional offering that pairs salmon and tuna with avocado and a tempura filling. It’s creamy and comforting, but I find myself wishing for a bit more crunch to balance out the softness. The tempura seems to have lost some of its crispness, perhaps a casualty of our time spent photographing the dishes. Camera eats first. It’s incredibly solid, though, and a reliable choice for anyone seeking something conventional. Though, given the name, I did want something that embodied Philly in some way. Perhaps an incorporation of Pennsylvanian farm ingredients—but I’m glad they held on the stereotypical cream cheese.
We also dig into the "i" roll, which immediately makes its presence known with a pop and a burst of tropical flavors. Pineapple, coconut jam, and a gentle kick of spice from the eel sauce amalgamate into something I’ve never tasted before at a sushi place. It’s a bold and refreshing departure from the traditional. Wrapped in soy paper rather than seaweed, you may find yourself missing the familiar taste of nori, but the roll is fun and whimsical. I’m immediately transported to warmer weather, salty air on a beach, and spring break. I’d describe it most particularly as quenching.
Ultimately, though, what resonated with me the most about Vic Sushi Bar wasn’t just the food. It was the neighborhood feel, the grounded simplicity of it all—the comforting decor and the unmistakable buzz of conversation that never overwhelms, but hums along like background music.
In a city full of trendy, overpriced sushi joints, Vic is not about being the hottest spot in town; it’s about delivering good food in a space that feels like home. It’s like a well–kept secret. Plus, there’s something undeniably charming about watching the chefs work just a few feet away, knowing you're part of a cozy, tightly packed room of regulars who feel the same way about this little spot as you do.
TL;DR: Vic Sushi Bar, a cozy, no–frills spot on Sansom Street offering affordable sushi with tropical twists and neighborhood charm.
Location: 2035 Sansom St.
Price: $$
Hours: 11:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m. on Mondays–Thursdays, 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m. on Fridays, 12 p.m.–10 p.m. on Saturdays, closed on Sundays
