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Inspired by watching their own families
run businesses, Hungry Sumos Executive Chef Thitichai Rukchon and
his business partner, Jirapa Lertsinsongserm, opened their own sushi
bar in September of 2017. The Bay View restaurant offers fresh
sushi, several incarnations of ramen and a variety of entrees, many
of which, Lertsinsongserm proudly notes, are easily modified to
satisfy vegan customers. The pair are especially proud of their
entirely vegan fried rice that gets its umami savoriness from
mushrooms.
Rukchon and Lertsinsongserm
frequently travel to other cities to see what’s new in the culinary
realm and use the dishes they sample as inspiration for their menu,
especially when it comes to creating unique dishes for weekly
specials to lure new customers and keep faithful customers coming
back for more. One of the most popular dishes offered on the menu is
the stunning aburi nigiri set, shown here, which Lertsinsongserm
says is “good for the customer who doesn’t eat raw fish.”
“It’s making it easy to eat
the meat without [it being] raw,” Lertsinsongserm explains. “This is
the big new experience that a customer who loves eating raw fish
could try too.… So, [it’s a] pretty good dish for all customers who
love the sushi.”
To create the visual marvel,
a variety of fish, including salmon and yellowtail and supoa tuna,
are lightly seared then decked with toppings like fish eggs, sweet
chili, Thai chili and lacy microgreens to accentuate the flavors of
each individual fish. Rukchon’s top secret sauce is served on the
side for optional dipping, and a few pieces are topped with gold
leaf to add additional sophistication to the dish.
“It’s fun,” Lertsinsongserm
says. “Into each bite, you’re gonna get different textures and
flavor too.”
Rukchon and Lertsinsongserm
both credit the success of Hungry Sumo to their hardworking team,
honoring them daily by shutting down the restaurant between 2:30 and
4:30 p.m. to give employees a lunch break and a chance to bond with
each other.
“We have a good team,”
Rukchon says.
“Everybody,” Lertsinsongserm
adds. “Front of house, back house, hot kitchen, sushi. Everybody.”
Hungry Sumo, 2663 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.,
(414) 595-9656,
hungrysumosushibar.com |
