Katsunori Sushi is a Hesperia tradition for displaying culinary art
Sushi is a centuries-old staple of Japanese cuisine that highlights fresh, flavorful and nutritious dishes that look as good as they taste.
Broadly defined, sushi is rice flavored with vinegar, combined with fish or seafood and vegetables, tightly rolled, then sliced into bite-sized portions, topped with savory sauces and served like “a picture on a plate.”
Sushi exemplifies the culinary claim, “We eat with our eyes.”
There are several types or styles of sushi as well, and time spent using your favorite computer search engine will explain them all.
If you have favorite flavor profiles, food sensitivities or diet requirements, sushi rolls can be easily modified for you.
Introducing Katsunori Sushi
Katsunori Sushi Japanese Restaurant has been a fixture in Hesperia since 2007 when food industry entrepreneur Insuk Kim decided to open her first Japanese restaurant effort, Miyako Sushi.
It very quickly became a popular spot in Hesperia because of its wonderfully inventive fresh and deep-fried sushi rolls as well as an impressive menu of Japanese dishes from soups and salads to main courses and desserts.
Diners also enjoyed the excellent service and pleasant surroundings.
Seven years later, daughter Mina became the owner, changed the name to Katsunori Sushi and with her sister Esther began to discuss the restaurant’s future.
Change often opens new doors, and that is what happened here.
The same healthy and delicious fare is still available, of course, and the “family dining” area with a view of the sushi bar hasn’t changed, either. The “new door” is a “more hip” dining area with open booth seating is a work in progress, along with plans for an expanded full bar.
Drinks like Upside Down Pineapple ─ pineapple juice, crème de cacao, whipped vodka and a “secret ingredient” ─ and delicious cocktails, beers and wine will appeal to those who enjoy the “new vibe and lounge ambiance” that enhances their Katsunori sushi-Japanese restaurant meals.
The importance of knife skills
Rocky Zepeda is the head chef at Katsunori Sushi. He worked in construction and then started a side job in the kitchen. When he began cutting vegetables, he demonstrated superior knife skills that led to his present title. He is also adept at creating picture-perfect special-order sushi rolls.
Imaginative dishes and delights
Sushi names are inventive and definitely grab your attention. Try Heart Attack, an appetizer of deep-fried spicy tuna with cream cheese and jalapeno, or Sashimi Lover Pizza, crispy rice topped with avocado, spicy tuna with Sriracha and albacore.
Katsunori Sushi serves 28 kinds of fresh rolls. We recommend you view their comprehensive menu online.
Appetizers, salads, tempura rolls, fresh rolls, baked rolls and specialty rolls as well as bento (box) lunches of two or three items, hot ramen including gluten free, and Love Boats for two or more people are just some of dishes you can order there.
The best ingredients
Katsunori uses a wide and delicious variety of fish and seafood throughout its menu. Blue fin tuna, seabream, abalone, Spanish mackerel, halibut and several kinds of oysters are available, and live shrimp can be ordered. Scottish salmon is also available because of its high quality.
Diet friendly
Depending on the items ordered, a sushi “diet” can help with weight loss. Usually, traditional fresh (uncooked) rolls are lower in calories, and simple substitutions like brown rice for white, for example, also make the dish diet friendly.
Many sushi dishes are gluten free, and vegans and vegetarians have plenty of menu options, too.
When you go
Where: Katsunori Sushi, 14073 Main St., Ste. 109, Hesperia. (760) 956-3700. www.katsunorisushica.com.
Hours: Open Sunday through Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Information: Online ordering. Dine-in, takeout, delivery through Menufy.com. Kids menu. Discounts for military. Facebook and now on Instagram, katsunori_sushi.
Dining Around
If you would like your restaurant profiled in Dining Around or want to tell readers about your favorite eatery, please contact Kathy Young by text/voicemail at 760-953-8682 or email kaynhuey@aol.com.
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Katsunori Sushi is a Hesperia tradition: Dining Around
