Restaurant and takeaway Mai Sushi serves up traditional Japanese fare at pleasingly low prices.

The Venue
Situated on a quiet side road in Euston, round the corner from the British Library, there's a definite homely neighbourhood feel to Mai Sushi. Indeed, the painted beige-pink walls, adorned with giant fans, wouldn't be out of place in someone's living room, albeit one that's seen better days. The dining area, to the left of the entrance and opposite the small sushi counter, is dotted with ten or so simple wood tables, with mock-velvet green benches along the wall.

The Atmosphere
With only a handful of well spaced tables, Mai Sushi would be hard-pressed to feel busy and bustling, even at full capacity. The crowd is relaxed and unassuming - mostly small groups and couples - and the staff, if not chatty, are good-natured and efficient. Not necessarily a venue for a romantic evening or celebratory meal - but then, it never claimed to be.

The Food
The menu is solidly standard Japanese, featuring all the usual offerings: grilled and fried dishes (such as salmon teriyaki and pork katsudon), tempura, noodles (udon and soba), and bento boxes. From the sushi bar, you can order nigiri, maki rolls, and sashimi, as well as a few less orthodox chef's specials such as the Yellow Tail Jalapeno. Prices are wonderfully low by London standards, with most noodles and grilled dishes around £5 and the house special boxes at just over £10.

The sushi and sashimi box includes a surprising variety of sashimi (thick cuts of salmon, tuna, sea bream, and scallop), generous nigiri, four maki, accompanied by pickles, salad, rice, and miso soup. The tempura udon comes in a good-sized bowl - the prawn tempura is firm and not overly-greasy, but the udon, with a slightly heavy texture, is average at best. Likewise, the sashimi is fresh and satisfactory, but unremarkable. The dessert menu is short and sweet, with ice cream flavours such as green tea, red bean, and golden chestnut.

The Drink
One side of the drinks menu lists the usual selection of soft drinks, house wines (one red, one white), and Japanese tea. The other side holds at least six varieties of sake, at around £4 for 175ml, including the interesting-sounding Raspberry Sake.

The Last Word
If you happen to be in the area, with a craving for Japanese cuisine and a tight budget, give the sushi chain restaurants a miss and pay a neighbourly visit to Mai Sushi.

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