The French Fusion sushi boat is one of the many different sushi options at Asuka Japanese Cuisine. (West Life photo by Larry Bennet)

Asuka brings hibachi-dining, sushi to Westlake
By Cynthia Schuster-Eakin
Insights
Published July 2, 2008

Asuka is a firebird. Japanese lore has it rising out of flames like a Phoenix.

Asuka Japanese Cuisine has risen out of the old Brendan O’Neill’s space in the West Bay Plaza, turning it into a sleek and sexy new hibachi steakhouse and sushi bar.

The restaurant features a dozen large hibachi stations where diners can have their meals prepared at their table by expert hibachi chefs. Hibachi is the restaurant’s main business, since hibachi dishes are more like American grilled fare than other Japanese specialties. Diners select their choice of vegetable, chicken, filet mignon or seafood. Hibachi dinners include soup, salad, shrimp appetizer, vegetable and fried rice. Entrees are priced from $13 to $22, with combination meals like steak and lobster slightly more expensive.

These menu staples can also by ordered with a variety of sauces. You can try chicken, beef or seafood teriyaki, with Thai basil ginger, mango or curry sauce, spicy black bean sauce or eggplant garlic sauce. Seafood tempura ($19) is shrimp, scallops, salmon and lobster accompanied by vegetables, dipped in a light batter and deep-fried. The menu also includes a variety of noodle dishes, such as pad thai, and entrees made with soba or udon noodles.

Half of Asuka is dedicated to a fusion-style sushi bar. When it comes to sushi, Japanese are purists. Sushi is made with premium grade, very fresh, unseasoned seafood. The flavor is extremely mild. Sushi is dipped in soy sauce and wasabi for added taste.

The sushi rage in America started on the west coast about 10 years ago, in areas of California and the Pacific Northwest where a large Asian population resided. Since then, the craze has taken off across the country. Restaurants everywhere feature sushi, but not necessarily made in the traditional manner. Americans want big flavor and sometimes add salt or vinegar and oil marinades to the seafood and rice. Fusion-style sushi is prepared in the pure Japanese style, with mayonnaise, mustard or pepper sauce served on the side of the dish as decoration, or on a separate plate for dipping.

Sushi or sashimi can be ordered ala carte. Asuka offers sushi as an entrée, with soup or salad. Sushi Deluxe is a 10-piece platter of sushi and a California roll ($19). Sushi for two includes 16 pieces of sushi, a spicy tuna roll and eel avocado roll ($39).

Sushi hand rolls are larger than the ala carte sushi items and combine seafood, vegetables and rice. The Asuka roll is fried shrimp tempura, cucumber and avocado wrapped with rice and topped with eel sauce ($11). Iso maki is spicy yellowtail wrapped with seaweed salad and served with a special sauce on the side ($13). The Crazy Friday roll is peppered tuna and asparagus ($13), while the wasabi roll combines smoked salmon and lobster salad with cream cheese and pungent wasabi ($13).

The lunch menu offers smaller portions of items featured on the evening bill of fare. The lunch box meal is a great deal, with your choice of entrée such as salmon teriyaki ($7) or shrimp tempura ($8), served with soup, salad, three pieces of California roll and rice. The lunch roll special allows the customer to choose any two featured sushi rolls for $9, or three for $10.

During the month of July, Asuka is offering a grand opening special hibachi lunch for half price on Monday through Friday.

Tiramisu, cheesecake and Japanese red bean and green tea ice cream are offered for dessert.

The bar features a variety of quality Japanese wines and beers, as well as American and other imported beers and top-shelf liquors to complement your meal. Or, you can order an Asuka special green tea martini, or a bottle of Japanese soda.

Asuka Japanese Cuisine is open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.  Monday through Friday. Dinner is served from 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 4:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday. Saturday hours are noon to 11 p.m. The restaurant is open on Sunday from noon to 9 p.m. Major credit cards are honored. Private parties can be accommodated. Gift certificates are available. Phone Asuka, 30006 Detroit Road in Westlake, at (440) 808-8558 or (440) 808-8428. The restaurant is wheelchair accessible.