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Sushi bar, restaurant boasts authentic Asian dishes

Menu features sushi dishes from Japan, Korea, Thailand and China.

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By Sue Perine O’Reilly, Contributing writer Updated 3:50 PM Thursday, February 25, 2010

Hungry for sushi? Then head over Oxford’s Sushi Nara.

And don’t let the outside Midwestern decor of the restaurant fool you. Because once a customer steps into Sushi Nara, it’s all Asian.

The restaurant and sushi bar opened in September. Sushi Nara, when translated, basically means “fish land ... Nara is Korean,” co-owner Steve Jung said.

On the menu are combinations of sushi (raw fish) from four Asian countries: Japan, Korea, Thailand and China. This relaxed restaurant seats about 66 downstairs and another 66 upstairs in the lounge and casual dining area.

On the first floor, behind a table and chair area, is the sushi bar, constructed and decorated by all three co-owners. Eighteen white chairs surround the plush, dark bar as customers watch and playfully talk to sushi chef and co-owner D. J. Kang, as he dices, rolls and cuts for a perfect platter presentation.

The Red Double Sushi is comprised of tempura, or light rice batter, shrimp with avocado inside, topped with crab stick, eel sauce, spicy mayo, tempura flake and wasabi dressing. Red Double Sushi is a must taste when eating at Sushi Nara, according to one customer.

Red Fire and Sunday Morning are two other Sushi Nara Special Rolls that are customer favorites, said Jung.

Red Fire Sushi Roll is made with spicy tuna, with cucumber inside, and tuna on top with eel sauce and tempura flakes.

Sunday Morning Sushi Nara Special Rolls consist of deep-fried salmon, cream cheese topped with eel sauce and spicy mayo.

Co-owner Jung said this sushi bar has several types of sushi rolls that a customer cannot easily get elsewhere.

For example, take the Red Hawks Special Roll, which contains deep-fried spicy tuna with spicy crab, and avocado with eel sauce on top. Or try the Miami Roll, which contains Korean barbecued beef, or bulgogi, asparagus and cucumber.

Customers may also order two kinds of sushi ala carte. Nigiri Sushi is rice-based with fish on top and other foods such as eggs and /or crab. Sushi Sashimi means sushi without rice.

There are 18 ala carte sushi choices, with or without rice, and 16 choices of rolls.

Sushi Nara also has cooked appetizers, Asian soups, and entrees, salads and American/Asian fusion desserts such as tempura ice cream.

Two full-service bars offer beer, wine, sake — hot and cold — soft drinks and cocktails.

There’s also an extra hi-tech benefit for the drinking customer.

“If you go online, do a google search on Facebook for Sushi Nara and become a fan, the daily drink specials will come up,” said Jung. “And we sometimes send text messages about drink specials to our guests.

“We have a lot of fun here, especially when the students’ parents come to town, like Parents’ Weekend. Many of the parents went to Miami and they can sit here and relive old memories with their kids. And make some new ones.”

ontact this writer at suoreilly@aol.com.

How to go

What: Sushi Nara

Where: 22 N. College Ave., Oxford

When: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sun.; Drink bar open till 2 a.m.

Cost: Sushi ala carte $1.75 — $6; Special sushi rolls $7 — $16; Lunch Specials $9— $13; Appetizers $4 — $8; Entrees $9 — $45 for a dinner for two. All entrees come with steamed rice, miso soup and house salad, except for noodle dishes. Noodle dishes come with soup and salad.

More info: (513) 523-1200; carry-out, Facebook page

Critic’s choice: Red Double, Red Fire and Sunday Morning Sushi

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