Sushi Ya Burnside is a Japanese restaurant at 259 Greers Road in Papanui, Christchurch, holding a 4.5 Google rating. A good sushi shop lives or dies on turnover: fish and rice are at their best when the cabinet is moving, which is why regulars time their visit to lunch. Rice matters as much as the topping — properly seasoned, it should hold together without being dense, and it is the surest sign of a kitchen that cares. Ask what was made most recently, and mix a few familiar rolls with whatever looks freshest when you are ordering for a table. Most suburban Japanese kitchens also carry cooked dishes such as katsu or teriyaki, so there is usually something for anyone wary of raw fish. For Burnside and Papanui locals, a well-rated sushi stop on Greers Road is a handy thing to have on a busy weeknight.