New owners take over Yellowknife’s Sushi North

New operators are learning from the longtime owner of Sushi North as they take over the downtown Yellowknife restaurant.

Sing Tu and Crystal Mann took the reins of the Japanese eatery in January and said former owner, Seiji Suzuki, has been staying on to help with the transition.

“I think for me, it’s almost like the movie Karate Kid,” Tu said. “He’s like Mr Miyagi, I’m like Daniel-san. It’s like good mentors passing the torch over.”

Suzuki said he started the restaurant 17 years ago as he missed Japanese food after moving to the North in the 1990s as a helicopter pilot during the diamond rush.

He also started a tour company, introducing many tourists to the northern lights, and later opened Japanese bakery Ja-pain in downtown Yellowknife, which has since closed.

Now, Suzuki is moving on to his next great adventure. While he’s “a little sad” to be leaving the restaurant he started and the North, he’s also excited about the next chapter.

“My kids are all gone, so myself and my wife … might be going to the States, might be going back to Japan,” he said. “That’s what we’re still thinking about.”

Suzuki added Yellowknife still feels somewhat like his hometown, so he may come back.

Mann said Suzuki will be missed and will always have a key to Sushi North.

“I have a lot of respect for Seiji and what he’s done there, and he’s so dedicated to the North,” she said.

“He’s done an amazing job with the place.”

Japan meets North

Tu and Mann said customers can expect the same food, staff and atmosphere at the restaurant. They may add new items to the menu down the line, such as a roll in honour of Suzuki and one for the Yellowknife houseboaters.

Tu, who has a background in IT, is also planning technology updates to the restaurant, to modernize processes such as time sheets.

“Keep expecting the same quality, the same service,” Tu told returning customers.

“And for the people that haven’t been to Sushi North,” said Tu, “come try it, because we are planning on providing some exciting and updated food as well.”

Mann said she’d love feedback from customers about what they’d like to see at the restaurant. She added they don’t plan to “drastically change anything” but are open to new ideas, like offering ramen.

“Yellowknifers go in there because they want to experience Japanese – like, they want good sushi and all that – but then the visitors come and they want to experience the North,” she said.

“So it’s trying to find that balance where you’re still succeeding in both.”