By Sharon Biggar

Editor’s note: Our restaurant reviews are genuine, independent and undercover. We pay for our meals, accept no freebies, and do not tell the staff we are reviewers. That way, we experience each restaurant just like any other customer.

Mira-sol is a tough spot to be a restaurant. Over the past few years the corner space, above the train station and next to Turris, has churned through more food concepts than I care to count. Now Casa Mushiki has taken over, and I hope this one sticks. Here’s why.

First, the practical magic: it’s open all day. For expats who’ve just landed (or any of us still making the cultural transition to local mealtimes) Casa Mushiki is a small miracle. Show up at 3pm, 6pm, or whenever hunger strikes, and they will feed you.

Second, struggling to find a place that feeds your toddlers, teenagers and tías? This is it. The menu covers a broad range of Asian dishes including maki, nigiri, temaki, California rolls, rice dishes, noodles and hot plates such as Thai Curry and Beef Teppanyaki.

We had perfectly salted edamame, miso soup (with real miso), fresh sushi, gyozas, and sweet and sour chicken with just the right balance of crunch and sauce.

But the desserts stole the show: Té Matcha ice cream for the Instagram teenager who won’t eat anything an influencer hasn’t pre-approved, Nutella Mochi for the 9-year-old, and an exquisite Lemon Pie in a glass (yes, in a glass) – an unexpected but delicious addition to the menu.

The harshest critics are often the kids, so what did my daughter have to say?

“It was really yummy.”

Lastly, the space deserves its own paragraph. Comfortable furniture – and I mean properly comfortable, not the stylish-but-secretly-punishing kind.

And for the summer that’s surely coming (right?), the terrace is enormous, shady, and made for a leisurely weekend lunch.

My only caveat? It was quiet. Pleasant for conversation, less so for atmosphere.

Sant Cugat, help us out here! Next time you want dinner at the “early” hour of 19:30, skip McDonald’s or Vienna, and give this one a try. I promise you won’t regret it.

Casa Mushiki
Pl. d’Ausiàs March, 1 (Mira-sol Shopping Centre)

Tue to Thu: 12:00–23:00
Fri to Sun: 13:00–23:30
(closed Mondays)