New Korean sushi place replaces Greek restaurant in Kamloops
When Amy Choi and Uthai Kim heard that a restaurant space was up for grabs in Kamloops, they jumped at the chance to open a second Korean restaurant.
The Greek Kouzina closed its doors after two years in Sahali, and it didn't take long for the space to catch the attention of the restaurant owners in Chase, B.C.
Together Choi and Kim own U-Thi Sushi in Chase, and after five successful years they decided to open a second restaurant in Kamloops, called Jay's Sushi and Tempura House.
“They originally settled down in Kamloops before that, so they’ve always been longing to have business here,” said Sandra Kim, a friend of the owners who spoke on their behalf due to the language barrier.
She said they are very well known in Chase, and word traveled to surrounding communities from Salmon Arm to the Shuswap. There was one dish in particular that earned them their reputation.
“One of the specialties, even though we’re a sushi restaurant, is fish and chips,” she said. The secret is simple, but it took some trial and error to perfect.
"We use cod loin and beer batter and good oil," she explained. "Every three days we are changing our oil, even though it’s clean."
The batter is thick and crispy, with moist flaky cod inside. Their fish and chips are served with the classics — French fries and coleslaw.
READ MORE: Authentic Korean fried chicken restaurant coming to Kamloops
Although their background is in Korean cooking, Choi and Kim haven't put too much Korean food on their menu, as they know they would be competing with several other restaurants in the area.
They offer four flavours of Korean fried chicken both bone-in and boneless. Customers can try original, sweet and spicy, soy and garlic or pepper garlic.
The owners are particularly proud of their sashimi, which is sliced raw fish, popularly salmon or tuna.
Sandra explained that they use a traditional Japanese technique of wrapping the fish in seaweed and letting it sit in cold temperature for several hours. This removes the overpowering fishiness from the sashimi and makes it more tender and rich.
Their menu aims to please everyone, even offering other western favourites like homemade chicken tenders and poutine.
The grand opening for Jay's Sushi and Tempura House will be October 1, but customers can still call in and order take-out before the dining room is ready.
Jay's Sushi and Tempura House is located beside 7-Eleven in Sahali at 1590 Summit Drive. Call them at 778-696-8888.
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