Sushi lovers of 'Stallis, your time has come. Greenfield has had its turn twice, and now, Milwaukee's West Side welcomes Fujiyama, the first sushi and hibachi restaurant to open in West Allis.
Located in the South Town Plaza (2916 S. 108th St.) along the heavily-trafficked Hwy 100, the brand new restaurant has tapped into a fresh market. Some might view being positioned in a strip mall between an auto parts store and a Cost Cutters as unfortunate. General Manager Waiman Dai, however, has a different opinion.
"We are really happy with the location," he says. Owner Billy Ni, who had been living in New Jersey at the time, saw the area's potential after several visits to his cousin's restaurant in Pewaukee. He moved to Wisconsin and began scouting for a space.
"We looked at several places all over the city, and this one seemed like the best fit for what we wanted to do," says Dai.
A visit suggests the same. Once inside, you realize that the restaurant's location is irrelevant. At a spacious 4,000 sq. feet, it allows for distinct separation of the different areas while still maintaining the sense that they are connected as a whole.
"Personally, I feel like most Japanese restaurants make you feel rushed or cramped," says Dai, who has opened four other Japanese restaurants in other states. "We wanted to do something a little more relaxed and comfortable. That's why the spaciousness of this spot really appealed to us."
{image2}The restaurant is divided up into two areas: the sushi bar and the hibachi area, though you are welcome to enjoy any type of meal in either section.
"The family or group-oriented hibachi area is great for parties," says Dai. If you bring your group in for a birthday party, they offer the birthday girl or boy an $18 gift certificate good for their next visit.
Sitting at the sushi bar allows for an added bonus: One-on-one interaction with head sushi chef Jeff Lin. "Jeff can make you anything you like, whether it's on the menu or not," says Dai. "Just tell him what you like, and he'll create something special."
Lin has had sushi training in Japan as well with the head chef at Nobu, one of New York's hottest Japanese restaurants (which is co-owned by Robert De Niro). Fujiyama asks that if you do want to place a special order, please sit at the sushi bar.
The large menu selection includes all traditional Japanese meals, including maki rolls, both raw and cooked; full hibachi dinners; sushi, both a la carte and entrée; teriyaki dinners and tempura dinners. There's also a nice variety of salads, soups, appetizers and kids meals and vegetarian options.
The official open date for Fujiyama was Friday, May 6. A grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony is slated for Wednesday, May 18 from 12 until 2 p.m.
OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Julie Lawrence grew up in Wauwatosa and has lived her whole life in the Milwaukee area.
As any “word nerd” can attest, you never know when inspiration will strike, so from a very early age Julie has rarely been seen sans pen and little notebook. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee it seemed only natural that she major in journalism. When OnMilwaukee.com offered her an avenue to combine her writing and the city she knows and loves in late 2004, she knew it was meant to be. Around the office, she answers to a plethora of nicknames, including “Lar,” (short for “Larry,” which is short for “Lawrence”) as well as the mysteriously-sourced “Bill Murray.”
