Still holding on to the dream of d hosting customers in a full-service dining room, Zheng and Lin moved their family once again to Blacklick, opening Sakana just over a decade ago where business is booming. While the Asian Fusion menu offers a full array of hot and cold items, it is their sushi bar that is the star of the show. “People look for color and taste, and it must be fresh,” said Zheng who runs the front of the restaurant while her husband mans the sushi bar. “Everything is fresh here.” Not only is the food fresh, but so is the décor. The inviting wooden and stone interior is brightened by colorful lights and beautiful fish at the sushi bar. Hints of Asian influence dot the décor, while a breath-taking fullservice bar boasts of a large selection of liquors and wine (also sold by the bottle). As a steady stream of customers come in for take-out, or enjoy a booth or table, Lin uses his wellhoned knife skills as he swiftly and artfully prepares nigari, sashimi and sushi rolls. His creations are a work of art, playing not only to the eyes but the palette as well. Traditional rolls include a Crunchy Spicy Roll, Philadelphia Roll, along with Alaskan and California rolls. Specialty rolls, which have been hand-crafted from well-researched recipes, include the Sakana Roll, Tropical Roll, Mars Roll, and the Moster Roll, to name a few. Some have even been named for local communities like the Columbus Roll, the Reynoldsburg Roll, and the Broad Street Roll. The most popular? The Fantastic Roll which combines shrimp tempura avocado, topped with baked crunchy spicy lobster salad and a honey spicy mayo, and the Spicy Love Roll which marries black pepper tuna and avocado topped with spicy salmon and a honey wasabi sauce. “We decided to open (Sakana) about 12 years ago when sushi became very popular,” said Zheng. It was a dream that continues to draw customers not only from Reynoldsburg but the entire Columbus Metro area. Sakana’s menu also includes a large variety of hot Asian dishes as well including General Tso’s Chicken, Crispy Red Snapper, Kung Pao Double Delight, Thai Curry, and Wok Glazed Ginger. All produce is always fresh, said Zheng, and they never use canned items. The great artist Henry Matisse once said, “Creativity takes courage.” For Zheng and Lin, one courageous act some 20 years ago has led to their artistic success today, right here in Reynoldsburg. Mendy Sheng, left, and Ju Lin, owners of Sakana, say the restaurant is their life-long dream. The Spicy Love Roll is by far the most popular roll amongst Sakana enthusiasts. Reynoldsburg Magazine • Fall/Winter 2024 www.reynoldsburgmagazine.com 27
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