Wife and husband Tammy and Billy Choe say local sushi lovers have turned out for one of the few sushi dining experiences in Pflugerville—Hakata Sushi & Asian Grill.

“Our restaurant is small, but [customers] can feel satisfaction,” Tammy said.

The Choes opened Hakata in June 2014 and said they have seen a surge in business in its second year.

In California, Billy gained experience as a sushi chef and has since managed several restaurants. One of the principles Billy learned there was that the freshness of the fish was central to the customer experience, he said.    

“We like to offer fresh food,” Tammy said. “Fresh ingredients are very important.”

Sauces, such as teriyaki, and salad dressings are homemade, they said.

Providing quality customer service is also chief among their concerns, Tammy said. They are keen to offer a warm welcome to their guests—memorizing names of their frequent customers and being attentive to their needs.

“They have to feel comfortable and satisfied,” Tammy said. “Customer service is very important to us.”

To date the Choes have only one part-time employee but will soon hire another sushi chef and a waitress, they said. By bolstering their staff the owners can begin to expand services at the restaurant, such as extending happy hour and adding more lunch specials.

“We are looking for good, professional workers,” she said. “We need to be patient.”

Hakata offers a variety of sushi rolls, from the traditional seaweed-and-rice-bound fare to those with tempura batter. Sashimi, bites of raw fish, and nigiri, sushi atop a small rice ball, are also served at the restaurant.

Additionally the menu offers warm meals inspired by cuisine from Japan and the couple’s native South Korea.

Every meal comes with a complementary dessert, such as bite-sized servings of cheesecake and fruit garnished with whipped cream.

Hakata’s sushi rolls carry unique names such as Play Boy Roll, Volcano Roll and Caterpillar Roll. Billy, a sushi chef, creates the rolls, and based on the image the sushi conjures, the couple gives the roll a memorable name, they said.

Tammy said she and her husband hope to grow their business and perhaps open more Hakata locations in the future.

900 E. Pecan St., Ste. 800, Pflugerville 512-670-2480 www.hakatasushi.net Hours: Mon.-Thu. 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Fri. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sat. noon-10 p.m.