A Special Experience

A. Fusion

Location: 4601 Lincoln Hwy. Matteson, IL 60443
Phone: 708-748-9893
Offers: Dine-in, Take-out, Sushi bar, party room  
Cuisine: Chinese Cuisine, Japanese Cuisine, Thai Cuisine
Signature Dishes: Pattaya Soft Shell Crab, A. Fusion Spicy Maki, Hawaii Roll, Basil Shrimp, Thai Chili Beef, Buddhist Yam Pot 
Capacity: 400
Year of Establishment: 2008

A. Fusion is a well received eatery nestled in Matteson, Illinois that has made a name for itself by offering incomparable food and quality service. Thinking about the needs and demands of each customer, it has established itself as a customer-centered restaurant which is recognized by both locals and out-of-towners. The owner, Johnny Zheng, takes pride in his “Customer First, Service Foremost” policy. It is in this way that he has attained success and has been able to continually upgrade the experience that the restaurant offers customers.

From Kansas to Illinois
Recalling the past 20 plus years, Johnny Zheng mentioned numerous experiences as defining the ups and downs in his career. He used to do business and was looking to accomplish a number of business related goals when he first settled down in the US. In 1992, he entered the restaurant industry and ultimately was quite successful. He made his first fortune in Kansas, then moved on to Chicago and now concentrates on delivering delicacies to customers from throughout Illinois. A. Fusion now boasts two restaurants: one is a buffet and the other a dine-in eatery, each covering a 10,000 square foot area. Johnny Zheng had the idea of remodeling A. Fusion after reflecting on the previous offering—buffet—which, according to him, failed to meet rapidly changing market orientation and customer expectations. To keep in tune with the needs of customers, he decided to reengineer his restaurant.

A. Fusion aims to offer a vast selection of delectable Asian-themed food to foodies in an upscale environment. The spacious dining room can seat approximately 400 customers and the parking lot can hold up to 200 cars. The décor is soothing, featuring a modern theme that helps amp up the ambience. Three majestic trees are planted inside giving patrons the feeling that A. Fusion is a place where one can go to feel and see freshness and vitality.
 
The whole restaurant is segmented into various sections to fulfill different functions. You’ll find a fast food section, hibachi section, sushi section, bar section, and more. But why this kind of layout? Johnny Zheng reveals that his decision was based on insightful questionnaire surveys that were given to customers and the target market. The décor and recipes are adjusted to be in harmony with ever changing customer preferences. In the meantime, the present buffet items are rotated periodically, with new dishes being added each week. A. Fusion doesn’t just provide diners with a wealth of choices. It also delivers value by providing the best service quality at a fair price. Now online ordering is available for busy customers, who can order from the menu two days ahead with a discount of 15% if their order is $10 or more.

The healthy dishes offered in A. Fusion are mainly Asian-themed, including authentic flavors from various regions in Thailand, Japan, China, and other countries. Johnny Zheng summarized the advantages of offering special offerings, “Unlike some other restaurants, we cater to your stomach and your aesthetic sense by continuously redefining the dining experience.”

An Expansive Menu
Most Chinese traditional dishes can be prepared in A. Fusion and have developed into best sellers. There are over 150 selections on the restaurant’s expansive menu that doesn’t only feature Chinese cuisine but also Japanese and Thai dishes. A simple glimpse of the richly illustrated menu is enough to make most peoples’ stomachs growl. The mouthwatering food is also highly nutritious and cooked in a health-friendly manner as no MSG is added. Chefs working here are trained on a regular basis and must follow cooking instructions precisely for the purpose of guarantying consistency. The ingredients used in every dish are also of prime concern to the kitchen staff. None of the ingredients are heavily seasoned in oil except beef.

On the other hand, A. Fusion doesn’t just praise itself for its use of exquisite ingredients. Further efforts are made in supervising, preserving and processing. Once brought in, ingredients are tracked by managers and employees with the information tracing system, a means to guarantee quality through every step of the purchasing and refrigeration process. Half of the employees working for A. Fusion are locals who have familiarized themselves with legitimate food security standards.

Thai dishes, famous for their spices comprise roughly one third of the total sales. In addition, a slew of astounding creations speak to the diversity of spices used to add flavors. Different dishes are delivered to be in match with various curries, such as red and green curry. Customer-made sushi never fails to delight and inspire.

In defining the main reason for why he has been able to successful run A. Fusion, Johnny Zheng tends to attribute his achievement to the cooperativeness and diligence of his employees—who are treated as equals but have to report their work to supervisors just to keep everyone on the same page. Management functions as a catalyst here and regular training is given to all the staff. Through this approach, service and brand image are strengthened at any cost and thus the restaurant’s popularity comes from word of mouth.

Part of the Community
A. Fusion now enjoys a large customer base as a result of over a decade of effort and unsurpassed service. Not only present in the culinary scene, A. Fusion also has a presence in the community, working with local churches and communities while also occasionally donating food. An assortment of specials is prepared as well to celebrate such American traditional holidays such as Christmas, New Year, and more. A plan to extend the menu is in the works which when implemented will allow the restaurant to bring even more stunning culinary creations to its customers.