A new sushi restaurant has landed in the historic district of Ybor City. It's called Sushi House by kazoku sushi.
Cristina and Sergio Chanquin, owners of Sushi House at 1901 N. 19th St., began with a catering business: kazoku sushi. It sort of operated like a mobile restaurant, according to Sergio. The roving venture traveled around the Tampa and St. Petersburg area daily, setting up "live sushi bars," where food was made to order at hospitals and corporate operations.
From their catering biz, Sushi House, the couple's first stationary restaurant, was born.
The Chanquins say they chose Ybor because of its close community feel, which they hope their concept — a neighborhood restaurant for sushi buffs and rookies alike who seek to explore Japanese cuisine — will simulate.
"We want to cater to new sushi eaters. There is a lot of them, and a lot of them are afraid to go to a restaurant," says Sergio, who's been in the Japanese food industry for 15 years. "I want them to feel comfortable getting to know our staff and trust us with their sushi."
Sushi House, which holds up to 50 people, will offer a varied menu mainly driven by cooked and raw sushi options.
One roll that will make an appearance is the Ybor Cali Roll. Popular among those who have tried it, the roll honors the Cuban community found in Ybor through pork, plantains, guava paste and crab. While the live sushi bar is its focus, the restaurant will feature a variety of appetizers and entrees.
Beer and wine are also planned, though the license to serve them is pending.
Sushi House is set to open its doors at 11 a.m. Friday. A grand opening, showcasing live music and specials, will follow soon after. For now, the restaurant will operate 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.
This article appears in Feb 25 – Mar 2, 2016.