JC Teriyaki on Parkside Avenue in Ewing might be the first restaurant in the world that has collard greens, fried chicken, teriyaki shrimp and miso soup on the same menu, but it won’t be the last.
Owner John Yang, who opened the soul food/teriyaki restaurant in October, said the combination has been so successful, he’s opening a clone in Bordentown.
“It was a crazy idea,” he said. “I own a few soul food restaurants and a couple of Japanese related restaurants. But in this area … it’s a mixed community,” he said. “So far, it’s working better than I expected.”
Yang, a Hamilton resident, is at the Fulton Fish Market in Hunts Point at 2 a.m. every morning to buy a truckload of fish for his six businesses that are scattered from New York City to Maryland.
“Our seafood is supplied daily, so if you get a fried fish it’s, guaranteed fresh.” Yang said, adding that the restaurant uses no frozen fish.
Because Yang buys the fish himself, he says he gets a good deal on fresh fish and passes the savings along to his customers.
A tray overflowing with fried chicken, fish, teriyaki steak, scallops and side dishes costs anywhere from $6 to $8.
“Right now it’s not about the money,” Yang said. “We’re trying to build a reputation.”
Yang also owns JC Fish Market and Soul Food in Hamilton, which has been open for 10 years. Although JC Teriyaki is next door to JC Cleaners, he has nothing to do with that business.
Yang said all his businesses start with “JC,” so named after his first name and the name of his best friend Charlie who got him started in the restaurant business.
Yang, who is originally from China, said JC Teriyaki stands out from other eateries because nowhere else can you get a large quantity of fresh seafood for such a low price.
“When I see my customers satisfied, and they say, ‘oh, it looks good’ and ‘it’s a lot,’ I’m happy,” Yang said.
He said the restaurant appeals to more than one demographic, so it’s been resilient in the bad economy. The store offers a 10 percent discount for college students.
Yang said he would like customers to leave comments at the store with suggestions about what they could be doing better.
“I want to be the best,” Yang said. “I want to be in this community for 20 or 30 years.”
JC Teriyaki is located at 1429 Parkside Ave. in Ewing. For more information, call (609) 403-8596.
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Steak and shrimp hibachi from J&C Teriyaki on Parkside Avenue in Ewing.,
