Whether it’s with students from the nearby private college, staff of the local hospital, or theater goers from Keswick theater which is just steps away, Queen Sushi in Glenside, Pennsylvania is always bustling with people. But it’s not just the restaurant’s location makes it so popular; it’s also the delicious food and comfortable atmosphere. “For those who prefer a homey feeling and authentic Asian food, Queen Sushi is always their first choice,” boasts owner Sabrina Xue.

Feel Exotic at Home

The menu at Queen Sushi features both Chinese (Cantonese, Szechuan, and Hunan) and Japanese options and the décor reflects this fact. The dining room is exotically decorated with influences from both Chinese and Japanese cultures. A tiny rockery fountain and potted plants lend a natural feeling while a beautiful sculpture of Buddha laughing brings out the good moods in customers, young and old. To further set the ambiance, the tables and chairs are arranged neatly and topped with nice linens, dishes, and silverware, while the centerpiece of the room is a large crystal pendant lamp that hangs from the ceiling. The lighting is kept low and warm, complimenting the relaxing atmosphere. “We want to create a simple. Natural, and casual atmosphere for our visitors,” explains Xue. And according to one customer, this method of home and comfort has been a success. “The decoration is not luxurious, but what attracts me is the homey feeling. I like the peaceful and comforting ambiance.”

Dishing It Out

Serving both Chinese and Japanese food—adjusted to suit the locals’ palates—the menu offers nearly 200 different options. Additionally, new and diverse chef’s specials are offered every two weeks and some Thai items, Pad Thai, Green Curry, Red Curry and Pa-Nang Curry, have been brought in to broaden the customers’ choices.

The menu at Queen Sushi was designed specifically to give diners a feeling of happiness and comfort. The most highly recommended dishes are the Pineapple Shrimp (known for its sweet pineapple sauce), Mango Chicken, Asparagus Beef, Soft Shell Crab, Super Queen Roll, and Sashimi. The sushi is always fresh and the special sushi items served continually impress guests. But, according to Xue, no matter what her customers chose, the food is always delicious and neatly plated. The kitchen also offers popular Americanized dishes such as General Tso’s Chicken, Dumplings, and Crab Rangoon.

And, very important in today’s society, Queen Sushi kitchen is dedicated to serving food that is fresh, healthy and affordable. “Everything we use is absolutely fresh and of good quality, because in Queen Sushi, we always put customer’s interest in the first place,” the owner guarantees. This is one reason Queen stands out from other local eateries. To give the customers more healthy alternatives, the chefs at Queen Sushi come up with a novel idea to launch some “fake meat”, which is really a funny treat to savor. The vegetarian version of General Tso’s Chicken, seemingly the same as traditional General Tso’s Chicken from the appearance, would take the customers by surprise when they plunge the chopsticks into the large “chicken chunks” and give a bite. Yes, it is absolutely not meat but flour. The craving for General Tso’s Chicken has been greatly fulfilled, yet with the healthier version in an amusing fashion.

The office staffs may have the luxury to have so interesting dining experience as the delectable combinations would be delivered to their offices directly. Besides the monotony of hamburgers and salad during lunchtime, there seem no other options. Queen’s initiative to launching healthy dishes would provide access to a healthy dining experience.

While high quality ingredients can cost a restaurant a lot of money, Xue has managed to keep the prices low. To show her thanks to her customers, Xue offers a 30 percent discount on orders of $20 or more on Thursdays.

The Royal Treatment

“With our homey dining ambiance, delectable dishes, and amiable smile, customers have no reason to forget us,” says Xue. The restaurant has built a respectable reputation partly because of their considerate service. Each customer is treated politely and with a smile.

Xue only recently took over Queen Sushi. She made quite a few changes and revamped service. “The beginning was tough since the business was not very satisfying. I made some changes and started holding regular staff meetings to discuss problems and looked for areas that needed improvement,” explains Xue. And eventually-little by little—the restaurant built a stronger reputation and improved efficiency.

What It All Boils Down to

According to Xue, the most important thing to do is stand out. The best way to do this is through food quality control, interaction with customers, efficient communication and service, and learn what needs improvement.

Stories and Secrets

Sabrina Xue came to the United States in 1998. She came with her family and got an education. Her family ran a take-out restaurant where she helped during her spare time. She quickly learned and became interested in the restaurant trade. She finished school and dove right in. And although she was full of hope and determination, her beginning was much tougher than expected. The first restaurant she opened failed due to her lack of management experience, but that didn’t stop her. She tried again and in 2009, Xue opened the Queen Sushi, the upscale eatery.

Xue’s secrets to success are as follows: be dedicated in your work; be modest in what you are learning; be courageous when embarking new challenges; and be persistent in your goals.

Xue’s current focus is to optimize existing opportunities and continue to succeed. In the future, she’s considering the idea of opening an upscale lounge bar.

Queen  Sushi

• Location: 281 N. Keswick Avenue, Glenside, PA 19038-4814


• Cuisine: Chinese (Cantonese, Szechuan, Hunan) and Japanese


• Square Feet: 2,000


• Capacity: 60


• Signature Dish: Pineapple Shrimp, Mango Chicken, Asparagus Beef, Soft Shell Crab, Super Queen Roll, and Sashimi


• Year of establishment: 1988


• Phone: (215) 887-0602


• Owner: Sabrina Xue