FOOD: Nhinja Sushi
You’re probably part of one of
the most explosive dining trends that has emerged in this decade and you may
not even know it.
Most of us routinely rush into
our favorite restaurants expecting the ultimate experience—fantastic food at
warp speed for a reasonable cost. Doesn’t sound like anything new to us, but to
the restaurant industry, customers’ growing demand for quality food without the
wait spurred a new genre of fast casual eateries. Seemingly overnight, a whole
new breed of restaurants was born.
Diners today want healthier,
higher-quality foods than fast food offers, yet don’t want the longer wait and
pricier tab of full-service, casual dining. Rising to fill the culinary void,
fast casual restaurants provide superior ingredients and higher-end menu items
but keep them affordable by eliminating the wait staff. It’s a win-win: diners
get the fresh, delicious foods they crave, in the eat-and-run environment they
demand, and restaurants get to stay true to their first love—a superb menu.
One fast-growing local eatery,
Nhinja Sushi & Wok, has perfected fast casual dining with a level of
integrity that extends beyond just the sumptuous menu. Owners Kang and Mary
Nhin, a husband and wife team, along with their eldest son Michael, attribute
much of their success to their focus on family and sustainability—both in the
food they use and their day-to-day operations.
With three metro locations, they
are guided by a distinct commitment to sound environmental business practices.
The Nhins aspire to pass these lessons on to their children. “Kang loves to
fish,” Mary remarks. “He teaches our children the right types of seafood to eat
and which fish are abundant, to avoid the harmful results of overfishing. In
our restaurants, we provide high-quality seafood at the cost and convenience of
faster food. So the seafood that we’re serving here is the same quality that
you’d get at a fine dining restaurant.”
“We are a multi-generational
operation,” Mary notes. “The success of Nhinja reflects the power that a
family-run business can possess in the local economy. An innovative, refreshing
take on business is just what we’re delivering.”
Greeted by a large menu on the
wall as you enter one of the cheery, contemporary Nhinja restaurants, you
immediately get a taste of the fun, fresh, distinctive philosophy that drives
this family business. Starters, soups, salads and a feast of mouth-watering
sushi rolls rev up your appetite.
Wok’d entrées give diners a
choice of chicken, beef, shrimp or tofu, paired with rice and one of Nhinja’s
expertly blended sauce and veggie combos, like the popular Mongolian—a savory
mélange of onions, snow peas and sweet garlic soy. Rice and noodle bowl
selections bring an additional punch of variety to the menu. As you place your
order at the counter, the servers are happy to help you discover just the right
taste you’re seeking and then prepare it fresh when you order.
Whether you kick back in Nhinja’s
sleek dining area over a saucy shrimp dish, share sushi rolls with friends at
lunch or stop in to grab a family dinner on the run, you can savor every bite
with a delicious sense of culinary, environmental and economical satisfaction.
Being good never tasted so great.
Nhinja
Sushi & Wok restaurants are open every day from 11am-9pm at 12305 N.
Rockwell Ave. in OKC, 13905 N. May Ave. in OKC and 5 W. 15th St. (at Broadway)
in Edmond. For catering information or to order online, visit nhinja.com.
