Sushi lovers now have another option to indulge their tastebuds as Fuji Steak & Sushi has opened to add to a number of sushi restaurants in the area.
After a successful run in Dalton, Ga., the restaurant celebrates its grand opening of its second location today in East Brainerd.
"We had a great location in Dalton and wanted to give people a different perspective of a Japanese steakhouse," said owner Ken Dong on the move to Chattanooga.
As sushi, a boiled rice often topped with raw seafood, grows in popularity it is increasingly appearing on area restaurant menus and is even being sold in area supermarkets, including Bi-Lo.
The Dalton location opened two years ago and Mr. Dong often had customers from Chattanooga who would visit and encourage him to open a second restaurant in the area. Mr. Dong said he first heard of the location off Interstate 75 from a friend and decided it was perfect.
With most of the sushi restaurants having settled downtown, Fuji's location offers customers outside the central district an alternative. Its location, however, puts it near Mikado's Sushi Bar Noodle House on Lee Highway and Shogun Japanese Steak & Sushi, both within two miles.
Sushi restaurants in Chattanooga* Sekisui -- 200 Market St.* Raw Sushi Bar -- 409 Market St.* Sushi-Nabe Of Kyoto -- 110 River St.* Mikado Sushi Bar Noodle House: 7003 Lee Highway* Shogun Japanese Steak & Sushi: 1806 Gunbarrel Road* Ichiban Japanese Restaurant -- 5035 Hixson Pike* Tako Yaki Japanese Steak & Sushi -- 172 Old Mouse Creek Road NWFuji Steak & Sushi* Location -- 2207 Overnite Drive in East Brainerd* Offerings -- Hibachi grill, sushi bar and the "I don't like carbohydrate" roll
Management at Shogun's declined to comment Thursday about the possible effect on its business and management at Mikado's could not be reached.
However, Mr. Dong said the upscale atmosphere at Fuji's will help his restaurant stand out.
Upon walking in, customers are greeted with zen-like instrumental music and small waterfalls set into the doors, followed by dim lighting once inside the restaurant.
Chuck Beamon dropped in for lunch. "There are TVs, waterfalls, flowers. It just makes it a better place to enjoy yourself. All my friends told me about it so I had to check it out."