Food Truck Friday: Terisushi

It can be difficult to decide what to eat. Sometimes I’m craving Mexican food and other times I want sushi. Mexican Sushi is a combination of both!

Taking traditional elements of sushi, such as rice, vegetables, and seaweed, and including Mexican flavors and ingredients like jalapeños, avocado, cream cheese, spicy sauces, and cooked seafood and meats, creates a twist on classics.

Terisushi is one of Tucson’s local food trucks serving this fusion cuisine.

Owner Benjamen Ayala-Escobar, born in Sinaloa, Mexico, has been running the food truck for six years. Since then, he opened a brick-and-mortar restaurant in April of last year on South Sixth Avenue, and on August 28 this year he opened a second food truck at Comida Park.

“After 15 years working in a sushi restaurant for someone else, I got tired of it, which inspired me to open my own place,” said Ayala-Escobar. “That’s why I chose to sell sushi — I already knew how to make it.” 

There have been difficult times over the years, but Ayala-Escobar strives to keep his business running.

“It is difficult to have a small business,” he said. “I stopped seeing my kids grow up, but I did it because it was necessary to make money and support my family.”

He has no regrets about starting Terisushi, which keeps him and his team very busy. Aside from taking orders in person at each of the three locations, many of the orders are coming through via phone calls or food delivery apps.

The Mexican Roll quickly became the most popular sushi roll. As sales increased, customers began requesting more variety, and Ayala-Escobar responded — there are now many different types of rolls on the menu. It is sometimes difficult for me to choose which one I want.

I’m not a huge fan of seafood so there are some great options for eaters like me.

The Vaquero Roll has an outer layer of fried rice, a top layer of crab, a sweet sauce, and spicy mayo made from mayonnaise, chipotle, and Sriracha. It’s a wonderful blend of flavors.

Then, on the inside of the roll are seaweed and cucumbers, making it a great combination of traditional sushi elements. However, the cream cheese and mozzarella change the taste, displaying what makes this fusion cuisine. 

The chicken and bacon wrapped inside the roll make you crave another bite. 

On the side, crab with serrano pepper dipped into the spicy mayo and soy sauce adds to the experience.

Each bite brought a smile to my face!

The food truck is located at 1285 W. Ajo Way, the brick-and-mortar restaurant is located at 4317 S. Sixth Ave., and the new food truck location is at Comida Park, 4100 S. Palo Verde Rd. For more information, visit orderterisushi.com.