Japanese Cuisine Comes to Central

Business Spotlight by Michelle Freneaux

    There are a great variety of restaurants that already call Central home, and a new one has just moved in. Nagoya Sushi House is the first Japanese restaurant to become a part of the City of Central. Nagoya opened its doors just last Wednesday, June 6th. They serve a wide selection of traditional Japanese dishes, including hibachi, sushi, soups, salads, tempura, noodles, sashimi, and bento boxes. Every dish Nagoya makes is designed by their chefs, who have been trained in culinary school in New York.

    If you think Nagoya’s sushi is just like every other kind you’ve tried, you’re in for a delicious surprise. Every sauce put on a Nagoya sushi roll is handmade by the chefs. You won’t find it anywhere else. The chefs also create unique, palate-pleasing combinations of fruits, meats, and vegetables in their rolls. Their specialty rolls range from a Nagoya take on your favorites to one-of-a-kind creations you will only find there. On top of their already extensive selection of specialty rolls, there are more to come. The chefs are already working on their next creations, which are sure to be very tasty!

    When we asked Nancy Tang, the manager of Nagoya, what her favorite dish was, her first response was, “Everything!” She loves the lightness and the flavors of Nagoya’s traditional Japanese cooking. Her favorite sushi rolls are the snow crab naruto and the LSU roll, which she recommends to anyone who is nervous about eating raw fish. The LSU roll is fully cooked and very good! Nancy also recommends the steak and shrimp hibachi. She says they use high quality steaks in their meals. A look at the menu tells you that they use a New York strip for their steak hibachi. The fish for the sashimi and sushi is also always fresh. Nagoya offers a variety of wines, sake, beers, and mixed drinks. Their mixed drink menu covers many popular drinks, like Mai Tai cocktails and piña coladas.

    At Nagoya the wait staff is very friendly and quick to serve. They are open for questions about anything on the menu and can give you suggestions about what dishes to try. The food is moderately priced so you can enjoy their high quality Japanese food without breaking the bank.

    Nagoya is a great place to take a date, go to a business lunch, or bring your family. The atmosphere is quiet, cozy, and laid back. There is an outdoor covered patio that is a great place to enjoy the weather while you dine. Inside, there are two large flat-screen televisions that stay on sports, but are not so loud as to intrude on conversations.

    Another reason to take your family to Nagoya is the children’s menu. Nancy says that, while most kids want to go eat chicken nuggets, she encourages them to try a healthier alternative. She has gotten many kids to try chicken tempura and chicken takushu, healthier Japanese alternatives to chicken nuggets, and they loved it! The tempura is lightly breaded and fried, and the takushu is white meat chicken breast, lightly breaded, and deep fried. Both are delicious, yet familiar, ways to introduce your child to Japanese cuisine. They even have a chicken tempura sushi roll for those eager to try sushi but hesitant to try fish. They also serve ayagi and udon soup, light soups with noodles that kids enjoy.

    Nagoya is open Monday – Friday from 11 – 2:30 for lunch, Monday – Thursday from 4:30 – 9:30 for dinner, and Friday from 4:30 – 10 for dinner. On Saturdays they stay open from 12 – 10, and Sundays they are open from 12 – 9:30. They are located at the shopping center at the corner of Sullivan Rd. and Wax Rd., 14455 Wax Rd., Suite A. Nancy and the Nagoya staff are excited to be in Central and they hope people come by and enjoy their cooking. Bring your friends, bring your family, and bring your appetite!