FOOD FOOD
The Sushi Bar by Laura Beam
Cory Copeland, manager, and Tak, Master Chef
Few foods have the instant cool factor that sushi does. Inherently exotic, wildly artistic and begging to be shared, sushi is a tried-and-true trendsetter reigniting today’s fashionable food scene. Just try ordering a Triple Bypass, OMG or Naughty Girl Roll without summoning a bit of your inner swagger. Glamorized as a celebrity food of choice, this chic delicacy and its urban fanfare have spawned an almost cult-like culinary following in recent years. As rookies and connoisseurs flock to metro havens in a quest for the freshest nibble of this succulent cuisine, knowing the hottest spots to nosh is paramount. One local neighborhood haunt quickly earned the loyalty of sushi devotees after its opening a few years ago in Edmond. Tucked in a comfy strip-mall setting, The Sushi Bar delights at first sight with big city sizzle. Sleek bamboo, amber lighting, spacious seating and oversized, lounge-like chairs set an easy demeanor by day and a moody ambience by night. Serving up the freshest seafood flown in several times each week from Japan and around the world, The Sushi Bar also delights non-sushi diners with a superb offering of steaks, panseared duck, chicken, rack of lamb and vegetarian and noodle dishes. Whether you’re dining as a family of five, cozy couple, group of friends or clan of colleagues, the diverse lunch, dinner and late-night menus appeal to a variety of tastes. The New York Strip, Garlic Fried Shrimp
and King Crab are favorite dinner entrées, along with the generously portioned Chicken Teriyaki—delicious when paired with a side of wasabi mashed potatoes and baby bok choy with shiitake mushrooms. One of the restaurant’s two managers, Cory Copeland, notes that The Sushi Bar is ideal for business lunches and family dinners because “even those who don’t want sushi can enjoy a truly excellent meal. With six chefs on staff, each with their own specialty, it leads to a well-rounded menu.” Even the appetizers are exquisite, including their sensational, oversized crab cakes with the perfect crab-to-crunch ratio. For lunch, a selection of salads, sushi and Bento Boxes—featuring select entrées served with miso soup, salad, rice, fruit and gyoza—are served from opening to 4pm. Seafood-lovers know that quality isn’t just a catchy buzzword but a defining necessity in the world of sushi. Master Chef, Tak, who was trained by a chef from Japan and has 30 years of expertise to his credit, remarks that his style focuses on “quality prep with lots of technique over showiness.” Yet watching him sculpt each luscious ingredient into a mosaic marvel is pure
artistry. Take a seat at the sleek, curved bamboo bar and enjoy a chat with the chefs who are happy to help with your selection. Restaurant co-manager, Henry Lee, explains that “sushi rolls can be made with or without certain ingredients, cooked or uncooked, giving the customer full control.” By night, this sophisticated hot spot really comes to life with Late Night Happy Hour Thursday–Saturday from 10pm-1am and live music Friday and Saturday. With an extensive late night menu of sushi and appetizers starting at just $2, the Sake Bombs aren’t the only afterhours attraction.
The Sushi Bar is located at 1201 NW 178th St. in Edmond. For more information, call (405) 285-8484 or visit thesushibarok.com. Open Mon.-Wed. 11am to 10pm, Thurs.-Sat. 11am-1am and Sunday noon-9pm. Laura Beam is a business and food writer and 20-year advertising and marketing executive in radio, newspaper and magazines. Share new business tips and trends with her on LinkedIn or email Laura@outlookoklahoma.com.
r py Hato.u p a H t s-S igh Late Nm-1am Thur 10p
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