 |
|
|
|
Photograph by Skye Dunlap
Tsunami Sushi's head chef Mike Kim, considers his job an art form. The 'rose' he displays is made out of a thinly sliced tuna.
Tsunami Sushi: Ride the Japanese cuisine wave
By Joann Liao
When Sonny Kwon opened Tsunami Sushi last month, it was the attainment of a goal he had had for a long time. "I'd been researching a lot of stuff, and I came up with a logo," Kwon said. He made the logo before he named his restaurant. "Tsunami means tidal wave, but tsuna also means rope and nami means wave. My logo has everything [the rope and the wave] in it," Kwon said.
As well as designing the logo, Kwon created the decor in his restaurant. "We've got a lot of things you've never seen in other places before," Kwon said. "I designed and made everything myself. It's Spanish-Chinese-Japanese style so that no matter who you are, it'll make you very comfortable."
Tsunami Sushi is a family-run business. Kwon's wife and one of his close friends serve as the chefs. "My wife is a really good cook," Kwon said. "Also, a good friend of mine is a chef. He was born and raised in Japan and he's been cooking all his life."
Tsunami Sushi offers a wide variety of Japanese cuisine, from sushi to tempura to teriyaki. Its lunch menu runs from $5.95 for the vegetable tempura to $8.95 for una don, grilled eel over rice. All lunches are served with rice and miso soup. A Tsunami combination box lunch gives customers a choice of two entrees, from California and other sushi rolls to beef and chicken teriyaki. Served with soup, salad and rice, the combination lunch costs $6.95.
The dinner menu contains a large variety of sushi rolls, including milugai (giant clam) and Tsunami Dragon Rolls, which are shrimp tempura and tobiko wrapped with grilled eel and avocado. Sushi can cost from $2.95 for the simpler rolls, such as the cucumber and avocado rolls, to $9.50 for the Tsunami Dragon Roll. A sushi dinner is $13.50 while the sushi and sashimi combination dinner comes in at $14.25.
For those who prefer their food cooked, Tsunami Sushi offers noodles, tempura and seafood and meat dishes. Among a wide range of choices are Negima Yakitori ($3.50), chicken with scallions marinated in a special yakitori sauce, or Baked Tsunami Dynamite ($5.95), baked assorted seafoods with Japanese mayonaise sauce.
Kwon chose Cupertino for his restaurant's location because he has been a resident for more than 20 years. "I raised my kid here so I wanted to do something for the community too," Kwon said.
Tsunami Sushi is in the Oaks Shopping Center in Cupertino, at 21271 Stevens Creek Boulevard, near the intersection of Stevens Creek Boulevard and Highway 85 . It is open Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch, and from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. for dinner. Weekend hours are Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. for dinner, and Sunday 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. for dinner.
|
|
|
|
Sunnyvale, California Since 1994
