When Wendy Wei and Ricky Chen decided to open a sushi restaurant in Cedar Park in 2007, they wanted to incorporate flavors and recipes from Chen's experience as a chef in Tokyo.

The couple created a menu at Tokai Restaurant Japanese Hibachi & Sushi that includes a combination of sushi rolls; sashimi; bento boxes; salads; and hibachi-grilled meats such as chicken, steak and shrimp. In August, Wei and Chen plan to add Chinese cuisine to the menu.

Chen, who is the restaurant's chef, has more than 25 years of experience in the food industry. Chen and Wei owned Lotus Express, a restaurant at Highland Mall, in Austin before deciding to relocate to Cedar Park and open Tokai. Wei said she agreed to quit her job for the first few years of operation to help Chen with the business if he opened a restaurant that served her favorite food.

"I love sushi; I'm a sushi fan," Wei said. "When [Ricky] was thinking about relocating and opening a restaurant, I put my thoughts in and said, ' If you open a sushi restaurant, I will [put] more of my heart into helping you.'"

Wei has since gone back to her career in accounting and is the chief financial officer at House of Tutors in Austin, but she still helps out at the restaurant, she said.

The word "hibachi" refers to a small grill. Traditional hibachi restaurants in Japan serve much smaller portions of food than those in the U.S., Wei said. Most sushi in Japan is eaten raw and made with very little rice, but Tokai customers prefer sushi rolls, which are commonly made with fish and a heavier portion of rice, she said.

"Right now Cedar Park is growing, and we're focusing on this location to make it even better," Wei said. "We're so unique in that we have so many combinations of food [options]."

Cedar Park Mayor Matt Powell said that on the night his daughter Lark was born in 2010 the hospital cafeteria was closed, and at the request of his wife, Heather, Powell drove to Tokai to pick up dinner. When he arrived the restaurant was closed, but Wei opened up the kitchen for Powell to provide dinner for his family. Powell said some of his favorite foods at Tokai include vegetable tempura and nigiri sushi.

"Tokai has been a favorite restaurant of ours for a long time," he said. "Wendy and the entire staff there are always so courteous. Their food is terrific, and it is always reasonably priced. We go there as often as we can."

Tokai serves wine and Japanese beers such as Asahi, Ichiban and Sapporo. Happy hour at the restaurant offers half-price beers Monday through Friday from 4:30–7 p.m., and sushi rolls are offered for $3–$4.

Lunch specials

Tokai Restaurant Japanese Hibachi & Sushi offers daily lunch specials Monday through Friday from 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

Lunch bento box (pictured above, $7.50–$8.50)—The bento box is served with steamed rice, salad and four pieces of a California roll. The bento box includes a choice of chicken, shrimp, salmon or beef teriyaki, vegetable or chicken tempura, or chicken katsu.

Sushi bar ($7.50–$10)—Included in the special is the diner's choice of sashimi and sushi rolls, including salmon, vegetable, spicy crab, avocado and spicy tuna rolls.

All-you-can-eat salad bar—Also included in the price of daily lunch specials, the salad bar includes items such as miso and vegetable soups and appetizers such as tempura, egg rolls and edamame.

Tokai Restaurant Japanese Hibachi & Sushi, 601 E. Whitestone Blvd., Ste. 720, Cedar Park, 512-528-8282, www.tokaihibachi.com, Hours: Mon.–Fri. 11 a.m. –2:30 p.m., Mon.–Thu. 4:30–9:30 p.m., Fri. 4:30–10 p.m., Sat. noon–10 p.m., Sun. noon–9:30 p.m.