Square Sushi, located on the edge of downtown McKinney, opened in July 2014 and has since become home to regulars due to its laid-back style and welcoming staff, manager Heather Traylor said.

Owner and Chef Francis Kim, who said he is known to his regular customers as the “Asian John Lennon,” learned about making sushi from his uncle more than 18 years ago.

“I can make the Japanese, Korean and the American fusion-style sushi,” Kim said.

Kim brought Square Sushi to downtown McKinney in an effort to serve “high-quality sushi at a decent price.”

“I knew about the McKinney Square area,” he said. “There were no Japanese restaurants in this area, and this is the heart of Collin County.”

The sushi restaurant offers many typical sushi rolls, but Kim can create anything on or off the menu, Traylor said.

“You know how In-N-Out Burger has a secret menu?” she said. “We kind of have a secret menu, but most of the regulars know about what we have off the menu.”

Kim said he understands that not every new customer is ready to take the plunge into creative Japanese cuisine, but he always aims to point customers in the right direction if they ask.

“The first time they come in and order something regular,” he said. “The next time they order a little different and ask me, ‘Which one is good?’ I just educate them. What I want is what they want—just tell me and I can make it. That’s a really, really fun part. I love creation.”

Along with the unique sushi, Square Sushi intends to offer a different atmosphere than traditional sushi restaurants. The aim is to provide friendly service in a space that feels comfortable.

“[Customers] like the fact that it’s smaller,” Traylor said. “They love the music. They love the posters and the retro feel. We also have a small staff, and we know most people’s name when they walk through the door.”