As sushi grew increasingly popular, Sushi Asahi met this demand in the Riverside community through its all-you-can-eat sushi option.
The restaurant built a reputation for treating employees and customers like family. Kevin Lou, the general manager for Sushi Asahi, has worked at more than 40 restaurants in the last 15 years and said his current position was the best one he had held.
“This is by far the best restaurant I have worked at,” Lou said.
He also emphasized the importance of trust in the workplace, allowing co-workers to learn and grow through experience. Lou elaborated on his value of trusting employees in a managerial role.
“I like to trust my employees to do the work. I believe that nobody comes to work to purposefully do a bad job. So my motto is trust employees, let them make their mistakes and I’m not here to punish them. I’m here to [have a conversation with them],” Lou said.
One valued aspect of the restaurant was its all-you-can-eat sushi. Liyah Belvins, senior psychology major who had visited many times, explained how the system worked.
“You walk in, sit down and then you get a QR code where you’re able to scan it. One person chooses all the sushi, and it’s all-you-can-eat, but it’s in rounds, and then after a certain time, you’re done,” Belvins said. “But then they also have paper menus where you’re able to do all-you-can-eat using the paper for people that don’t know how to use the QR code or the phone process, which is really sweet.”
Several other aspects made Sushi Asahi appealing to customers. Jessica Conchas, junior marketing major, spoke about what made the experience worth visiting.
“My experiences at Sushi Asahi have always been pretty good. I think they’re really great at attending [to] you and giving your food pretty fast once you’ve ordered it. And they’re very kind,” Conchas said.
Sushi Asahi also focused on using fresh ingredients.
“I like to at least keep the things more fresh. Quality [is important]. I don’t buy cheap [fish] either,” Lou said.
The restaurant offered a variety of menu items. Lou said his favorite was the spicy tuna roll, while Belvins preferred the salmon carpaccio. Conchas said the red dragon roll was her favorite.
“Sushi Asahi is a place that I would take [anyone]. [They have something] for everyone,” Belvins said.
Among the many places to eat in Riverside, Sushi Asahi offered fresh ingredients, quick service and a welcoming community. From servers to managers to customers, the restaurant created an environment many felt was worth being part of.
