Min Sushi and Ramen Bowl opens in York: Chens 'excited to be part of the community'

YORK, Maine — Route 1 has a new stop for Asian cuisine as Min Phyu and Tony Chen open Min Sushi and Ramen Bowl.

The new eatery at 519 US Route 1 is in the same plaza as the Mobil station just south of the Spur Road intersection. The Chens say they will bring freshly cooked ingredients for the best quality sushi at an affordable price.

The couple, based in West Falmouth, Maine, says this is the first business they have opened themselves, previously owning a series of franchises. They said York seemed like a good fit to join and received their final inspection on Tuesday. They plan to open next week, offering a menu of sushi, ramen and other Asian appetizers and dishes like teriyaki chicken and shrimp tempura.

“We feel so much excitement,” Min Phyu Chen said. “I’m excited to be part of the community.”

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Chens ran sushi franchises for 20 years

Min Phyu Chen was raised cooking Burmese food in her home country of Burma, now called Myanmar. She learned from her grandmother and parents, her husband Tony said.

Living in West Falmouth, the Chens say their Burmese cuisine has mostly been made at home and not for public consumption. Instead, the couple has focused on learning to work in the sushi business since they arrived in the 1990s.

The Chens married in Burma in 1996, and Tony Chen said he was the first of the two to come to the United States that year. Min Phyu Chen did not arrive until 2001.

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That year, Tony Chen said the couple started owning their first franchise of a sushi place in West Falmouth. The cuisine was not one learned in his home country.

“We just learned,” Tony Chen said. They went on to open franchises in Minnesota and Florida, as well.

Now, 23 years later, the Chens say they understand how to make the best sushi, starting with the fresh ingredients. Tony Chen said “market” sushi is often refrigerated, which dries the rice.

“In Asia, we never put it in the refrigerator,” Tony Chen said.

“Every day, cook, eat fresh,” Min Phyu Chen said.

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Chens look to go out on their own with York eatery

The Chens have enjoyed making sushi around the country with their franchises. Tony Chen said it had eventually come time for them to own their own restaurant.

He said running a franchise limits the owner.

“In a franchise, the company supplies everything to me,” Tony Chen said.

Now, the Chens are looking forward to running their business exactly how they like. They have 29 seats and are prepared to serve both takeout and dine-in.

Other items on the menu include three styles of ramen - paitan, miso and shoyu. Appetizers include dumplings, crab Rangoon, egg rolls and seaweed salad.

The sushi menu has a variety of rolls — spicy California, grilled salmon, yellowtail, creamy tempura shrimp and sweet potato.

Tony Chen said his personal favorite sushi is eel, served with unagi sauce and sesame seeds.

"Tastes very good, sweet," he said. "Roll in cucumber, something you like. Avocado."

Min Sushi will be a walkup-style eatery. Tony Chen said that will help them keep prices down as they have less overhead brought on by servers.

The quality will still be restaurant-style, he said.

“Fresh food,” Tony Chen said. “Nice warm rice, and fish is cold, tastes perfect.”

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This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Min Sushi and Ramen Bowl opens in York, Maine