A Tidal Wave of Sushi

Far away from Japan, in Royal Palm Beach, Florida, there lies Sushi King, a small yet stylish eatery that features a variety of sushi, sashimi and other Japanese culinary delights. If you haven’t been to Japan and want to feast on quality Japanese cuisine, then Sushi King is your ideal choice.

Owner Steven Cheng opened the restaurant in 2005, and this hidden gem has wowed the neighborhood with its delicious offerings already gaining a steady following throughout the past four years. The local media has noticed Sushi King, and a story was written about it by the Palm Beach Post. It has received a number of awards and whenever asked about their opinion on the food, a lot of customers will raise their thumbs up, hailing it the best sushi in town.

The gorgeous photos of tasty Japanese specialties, along with the hanging red lanterns that read “sushi” help build up the ambience of the restaurant giving customers a more authentic Japanese experience. Located in a bustling shopping mall, the restaurant is relatively quiet and the customers can enjoy the serenity of their surroundings as they sip a glass of sake while trying the delicate sushi or other desserts.

The extensive menu categorizes the menu items into different groups, and on the lengthy list, you will probably find your favorite, as it covers a wide range of food, from the classic shrimp tempura, miso soup, to a plethora of sushi and special rolls that account for half of the sales. Rounding things out are also various desserts and wine options that are available to complement the beautifully presented and palatable dishes.

Sushi King’s menu is almost as mouthwatering as the food. You will see extremely detailed pictures of the food offerings helping you pick just what you want without being surprised later by something not resembling the menu pictures. The bite-sized appetizers are a great starter to any culinary journey. Astound yourself by trying the heart-shaped Tuna Tar Tar, a spicy tuna salad topping with fish eggs and scallions. If you aren’t into spicy food at all try the Tuna Tataki which is seasoned with ponzu sauce.

Even with the other delicious menu offerings, the focus of this restaurant is definitely on sushi. You can’t help but notice the dozens of sushi varieties offered on the sushi bar and the efficiency with which it is prepared. The sushi here is so fresh and delicious that one would think that it had just been harvested from the ocean only minutes beforehand. Its freshness is not only due to it being made to order, but owner/chef Mr. Cheng also treats the fish and other ingredients with extreme care, and tries to make sure that every cut or slice of fish is perfectly done. It is known that it really takes great effort to keep sushi fresh, while Mr. Cheng has acquired his knack for the craft by constant consultation and exploration.

“Freshness is a must, and it is worth the effort,” said Mr. Cheng.

Creative rolls are a big hit with the customers. The types of sushi rolls, hand rolls, and chef’s special rolls are as numerous as the seafood varieties. Their beautiful presentation and unique taste keep customers coming back again and again. Taking a  look through the menu is all it takes to see that the concept of “freshness and quality” is embodied everywhere. The image invoking names, such as American Dream Roll ($11.95), Palm Beach Roll ($13.95), Snow Mountain Roll ($10.95) and Love Roll ($13.95) were all created by Mr. Cheng himself.

The American Dream Roll seems endowed with the pioneering spirit, and it won’t disappoint you. It is made up of a tantalizing combination of shrimp tempura, eel, cream cheese and avocado, and the eel sauce gives it a lightly flavored yet brash taste.

The Palm Beach Roll is named after Royal Palm Beach, and it successfully combines local tastes together into a wonderful creation. It is a delectable concoction of salmon, tuna, white tuna, and snapper, coupled with a lobster & crab mixed salad drizzled with a fruity sauce made of a mango and orange juice blend. The tropical sauce makes this roll the perfect summer treat.

Like Chinese dishes, Japanese cuisine places strong emphasis on the accompanying sauce which may make or ruin a dish. At Sushi King, Mr. Cheng has come up with more than ten sauces to complement the different dishes. His inspiration draws from years of expertise on Japanese cuisine and sometimes, recipe books. Combining local taste preferences with a classic Japanese cooking style, the dishes at Sushi King are wonderful interpretations of East Meets West fusion.

The sauce varies according to different dishes, and more than one sauce is used when preparing the Super Crunch Roll ($11.95). A mix of wasabi mayo sauce and eel sauce adds more texture to the spicy crab and eel.

Besides the scrumptious food, Mr. Cheng never rests on his laurels, always innovating so as to whet the customers’ appetite with more enticing creations.

The restaurant wouldn’t be successful without a well organized system. For most restaurants, the process of operating a business is an uphill climb. Mr. Cheng knows that, having operated grand Chinese buffets for years, and has solid experience in turning restaurants around, After half a year’s remodeling, Sushi King opened and Mr. Chen was more than delighted to find that business was encouraging, despite it newly opened. With its quality food, attentive service and their customer-oriented management concept, Sushi King is hopefully to make a real splash in the Royal Beach culinary scene.

 

Sushi King

Location 1: 1241 N State Road 7, Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411
Phone 1: 561-792-6882
Location 2: 3755 Military Trail, # B14, Jupiter, FL 33458
Phone 2: 561-746 -7688
Offers: Dine-in, Take-out, sushi bar 
Signature Dishes: American Dream Roll, Palm Beach Roll, Rusten Roll
Cuisine: Japanese cuisine
Capacity: 50
Year of establishment: 2006