Seven Seas Sushi Teppanyaki Thai, Durban North

Updated: 22-09-2022

One of the hottest new spots to check out in Durban is this cosy but swanky sushi bar where you can also enjoy a full Thai menu and watch your teppanyaki order be prepared before your eyes.

If aesthetics are important to you, then you won’t be disappointed. We simply loved the interior. Deep button royal blue and emerald green velvet chairs are framed by walls clad in artificial leaf treatment and bright pink accents. You have a sense of the ocean with bright pops of colour. Well suited to a spot specializing in sushi and seafood.

We were invited to come and try out the new menu the same week they opened. Chef and owner Zain and his wife Aadilah are both passionate about the Seven Seas brand. This is the third branch that they have opened and the first to offer Teppanyaki.

Chef Zain explains that he wanted to offer an authentic experience and has been very careful in the way he has developed the menu. The recipes retain their Asian integrity and are flavourful without succumbing to the Durban tradition of hot spices and masala.  

We tried the Thai Green Chicken Curry, a slightly thicker and more creamy broth than I am used to filled with crunchy veggies and tender chicken. This was a large portion for one person and was very tasty.

The prawn and calamari Teppanyaki was prepared on the flat grill before us. You can choose to be seated at the Teppanyaki counter and watch the food show, or grab a table across for a more intimate vibe. Flavours again were on point and the seafood prepared perfectly.

The crispy chicken and prawn wontons were beautifully plated on a slate tile atop a bed of julienned slaw, but probably the dish we least enjoyed. I found the wonton wrapper too thick and the dipping sauce of soy and fresh chillies was simply too hot and overpowered the wontons.

And of course the meal would be incomplete without trying the sushi. Aadilah curated a selection for us which included salmon roses, prawn avalanche, salmon rainbow roll and prawn bean curd. We could find simply no fault with the sushi and it must have been some of the best sushi I have had. Just be aware, the tempura prawn topped sushi is not a whole prawn but rather a piece of prawn. On the upside, you can potentially fit the whole thing into your mouth. Unless you’re me and can never eat your sushi in one bite.

The restaurant also offers Haagen Dasz ice cream and Bobar Bubble Tea. I had a passion fruit one and didn’t find it overly sweet. They also prepared a mocktail using Haagen Dasz strawberry sorbet and sparkling water. This was very good and using sparkling water instead of something like sprite ensured that it too wasn’t overly sweet.

Teppanyaki prices start from R150 for Kingklip to R250 for 8 King Prawns. Our dish came in at R235. It’s not limited to seafood. You can also get beef, chicken or lamb. And it comes with egg fried rice, noodles or stir fry veg. The Thai curries are quite reasonable at about R90 considering the portion size. Some of the sushi is a little pricey but the platters are very well priced with a 26-piece platter going for R195.

I’d come back for those prawns but there’s also so much more on the menu to try. Give them a try if you’re in the neighbourhood. They also do loads of take-out and can be found on Mr D.

Look out for their other 2 branches in Morningside and on Florida Road. The Durban North branch is currently the only one offering Teppanyaki.