Just when you’re beginning to feel there is a rising tide of too many sushi restaurants, along comes one making a splash.
, owned and operated by the Li family of South Philadelphia, opened in The Shoppes at Cinnaminson in May, and just might become a local winner.
Manager John Li and his family have been the proprietors of the Sumo Sushi on Broad Street near Pine Street in Philadelphia for the last two years, and they felt it was an opportune time to bring their dishes across the river.
“We’ve been very successful in the city,” Li, 22, said.
It’s a surprise when you step inside Sumo Sushi’s corner spot, which sits next to the Verizon Wireless store. The main room is adorned with rich walnut paneling, the lighting dazzles, and the fashionable blinds add a chic element. Beautiful wide-planked flooring is throughout.
Li and his family have managed to set forth a menu that caters to all ranks. The morsels are as beautiful to look at as they are delicious to eat.
On a recent afternoon, some of the happy diners were feasting on plates of marvelously arranged sushi consisting of spicy tuna, salmon with cucumbers, and scallops in a soybean wrap.
Lunch bento boxes, (Japanese-style lunches that start at $8.50), offer a miso soup, salad, California roll and rice.
Another sushi lunch special ($10.95) will no doubt give the ultimate sushi lover a swell catch: a choice of three rolls—which equals 24 pieces—plus soup.
“All of our specials are a very good deal,” Li said.
More complicated rolls with zesty flavors are on the menu—volcano rolls, a saucy soy bean wrap with spicy tuna and the soft shell crab tempura sakura rolls.
And for vegetarians, there are the avocado rolls, cucumber rolls and asparagus home run rolls, plus sweet potato rolls and the house vegetable rolls.
If sushi isn’t your thing, bring a bottle of sake and dig into an array of hot meals. Meat eaters might like the beef teriyaki, chicken hibachi or pork katsu. There are hot shrimp and salmon meals available for the seafood aficionados.
Dinner bento boxes ($12.95 and up) are also offered.
Appetizers like vegetable dumplings, rock shrimp and chicken on a stick round out the menu.
If you want to watch the sushi chefs work their knife magic, pull up to one of six seats at the granite bar. Families might want to sit at one of the seven dining tables scattered throughout the room.
Outside in the adjacent courtyard, there are two umbrella-draped areas for more dining.
The room is flanked by two 50-inch flat screen TVs, and the restaurant has free WiFi.
Delivery is available to Cinnaminson, Riverton, Palmyra, Delran and parts of Moorestown every day for $1.25 charge.
For more information check out sumosushinj.com or the restaurant’s Facebook page.
