Thai restaurant brings “fresh and healthy” sushi selections to downtown Melbourne
If there’s truth to the popular phrase, “It’s all about location, location, location,” Zushi Asia should have no problem prospering now and in the future.
The “fresh and healthy” sushi restaurant opened the doors to its first location in Indialantic along the popular Fifth Avenue shopping district in January 2009. And last month, it expanded its presence with a second location in the heart of bustling downtown Melbourne.
Zushi Asia is quaint and cozy, with a diverse menu offering many original selections of Thai dishes and one-of-a-kind sushi rolls.
“We serve over 100 Thai food selections that are all delicious, including many sushi rolls and sashimi dishes,” says Suwimol Khunamat, chef and owner of Zushi Asia. “The recipes are traditional Thai dishes made with fresh ingredients and herbs and spices from my garden.”
Choosing a menu item can be a bit of a challenge for sushi lovers as Zushi Asia’s list of rolls is extensive and ranges from traditional seafood-filled rolls to eccentric fruit-infused rolls. Khunamat says patrons frequently devour the restaurant’s Fifth Avenue Roll, Lobster Lovers Roll, Melbourne Roll and Tropical Roll.
The Asia Roll, another delectable chef creation, is an inside-out roll consisting of shrimp, avocado, asparagus and spicy lobster, and is topped with fish eggs. The Vicky Roll Tuna, a personal favorite, includes tuna, cream cheese, scallions, cucumbers and sesame seeds.
“We create new sushi rolls by blending flavors, ingredients and unique presentations,” says Khunamat.
For those who are not fond of sushi, Zushi Asia also offers a wide range of salads and soups, as well as noodle and rice dishes. Pad Thai, which allows patrons a choice of chicken, pork, beef, tofu, shrimp, squid or scallops, is a desired choice; as is Tom Yum soup, prepared with lemongrass, mushrooms, lime fish sauce and chili paste; Basil Duck; Pad Ka Ree; and Papaya Salad.
To wash it all down, the restaurant offers a selection of teas (including boba teas made with tapioca pearls), filtered and unfiltered sake, domestic and imported beers and wine.
Khunamat, who studied culinary arts in Thailand and worked in the U.S. restaurant business for 15 years before following her dream of owning her own restaurant, is currently hard at work establishing Zushi Asia’s downtown Melbourne location. The new restaurant offers restaurant-goers the same menu and offerings as its beachside counterpart.
Says Khunamt, “We want to give more people the chance to experience authentic Thai cuisine and our delicious sushi.”
Zushi Asia
Address: 147 Fifth Avenue, Indialantic; 924 E. New Haven Avenue, Downtown Melbourne
Phone: (321) 327-2947
Website: www.ZushiAsia.com
Hours: 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays; 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays. Closed Mondays.
Features: Over 100 menu items, including various sushi rolls
