By Sarah Unger
In the nine months since they welcomed their first guests to Yummy Sushi, chef An Luong and his wife Evan Yap have observed their new sushi-loving diners become regulars.
Before opening their small establishment, located in Serenity Plaza on Parkway Avenue, Luong owned Nami Sushi in New York’s Westchester County.
He then was sushi chef at Ewing’s popular East Sushi for four years and his desire to again own a restaurant led to Yummy Sushi in November of 2008. Warmed with textured yellow paint, the restaurant’s walls wrap snugly around a décor of blond wood seating and the clean, angular lines that define Japanese style. Across from the entryway, is a gleaming sushi bar.
Yap said that business varies from day to day, with Friday being their busiest day. Takeout makes up a large part of the restaurant’s business, she added, along with party platters made to order.
“At lunchtime we have more who sit down, and at dinner more come for takeout,” he said.
Luong, whose experience includes a stint as a hibachi cook, said his creations take much experimentation and many trial runs sometimes even with customers before they make it to his menu. His newest creation is his salmon with basil sauce.
Always hungry to discover combinations that are as delectable to the eye as they are to the palate, Luong said the opportunity to create is what he loves best about owning a restaurant.
Blended into the menu of mostly Japanese appetizers, noodles, teriyakis, tempuras and sushi are a few Vietnamese, Thai and Malaysian items. One of the most popular is a Malaysian curry chicken. An extensive Special Rolls selection features hand-rolled creations by Luong that range from $6.95 to $11.95.
Guests’ favorites include Lady in Red, a combination of shrimp tempura and avocado, and the restaurant’s namesake, the Yummy Roll, which tops an interior pairing of shrimp and asparagus with spicy shrimp and yellowtail tuna.
And then there is the Red Sunset. Spicy tuna and avocado are rolled and artfully topped with pepper tuna, more avocado, and red roe and placed over criss-crossed drizzles of sauce. The resulting tableau indeed brings to mind a blazing sunset.
Yummy Sushi is open seven days a week. Lunch is served Monday to Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Dinner is Monday to Thursday from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 4:30 to 10:00 p.m.; and Sunday from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. For more information call (609) 883-8818.
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