Judy Shin and Brian Kim complement each other perfectly. While Shin manages the operations at their restaurant, Yoshi Zushi, her husband, Kim, is the mastermind behind the unique cuisine that keeps customers clamoring for more.
The restaurant specializes in a wide variety of sushi, but also offers an eclectic menu of Chinese, Japanese and Korean food. Everything is made without preservatives or MSG, with all sauces meticulously made in-house.
“I never think it’s hard work,” Shin insists, flashing her indelible smile. “I love to talk with people, especially when they are satisfied with our food and having a great time.”
“And I’ve always wanted the chance to test my skills, combining them with innovative culinary ideas,” Kim says. “I enjoy finding food that pairs well with each other.”
Shin and Kim opened Yoshi Zushi in July 2008. The duo have managed and worked at various restaurants throughout Virginia and locally for years. Married for 10 years, they met in New Jersey, where most of Shin’s family still resides.
Shortly after their marriage, Shin and Kim moved to Corpus Christi. Kim has deep roots in Korean cuisine, and after a few years of managing a local restaurant, the opportunity to purchase a restaurant arose. Licensed to practice any type of Asian cuisine, he also studied sushi in Korea for 15 years.
“I have a lot of ideas that I could never use before,” Kim says. “This restaurant is my opportunity to create what’s in my mind.”
Family is extremely important to Shin and Kim, and it’s yet another element that keeps the seats full at the restaurant on a regular basis. A busy Friday night at Yoshi Zushi is frenetic, but the staff works so well together, all of the seemingly endless hopping around appears effortless to customers enjoying a nice, relaxing meal.
“We’re really close here,” reiterates server Christina Moon. “And you see that reflected back at our customers. We don’t treat people like customers, but like our friends. It’s a close-knit place to work, and I think that rubs off on our guests, too.”
Meanwhile, Shin believes other keys to their popularity are superior customer service and a dose of fortitude.
“Loving your job and hard work are the essential elements to building a successful business,” she adds.
Yoshi Zushi has also earned quite a reputation as a venue for parties, Shin explains. They have a dining room that seats up to 100 people, which is perfect for rehearsal dinners, receptions and birthday parties. Another room attached to the dining area can accommodate smaller groups, like business meetings. The two rooms can also be combined to seat up to 150 guests.
The culinary delights and premium sushi keep guests happy and coming back for more. The restaurant is equipped with a bar featuring a variety of different flavors of sake. The authentic Korean cuisine, such as the Cham Pong – a spicy seafood noodle soup – is popular. The signature sushi rolls are varied, appealing to a broad range of tastes and appetites.
“I really enjoy their large selection of sushi,” says regular customer Sally De La Cerda, a material expediter at McTurbine, Inc. “The staff and atmosphere at Yoshi Zushi are truly amazing. Everyone is friendly and extremely helpful.
“The first time I visited, Judy came by our table, pulled up a chair and joined us in conversation for a while. She’s really funny and sweet. The whole experience was great, and she made me feel like we had been friends for years.”
Shin wouldn’t have her customers’ dining experiences at Yoshi Zushi any other way.
“I love satisfying my customers,” she says. “It makes me happy. When I see customers happy, it makes all of my hard work worthwhile. We have a large percentage of customers who have been coming here since day one. Actually, I don’t have customers…I have lifelong friends.”
Visit www.yoshizushi.net to view the menu, learn hours of operation and find out about nightly specials.
