At Seamless, we’re pretty obsessed with knowing everything about popular NYC restaurants—including the people who run them. With our Couch Convo series, we sit down with the owners of the most delicious local spots and talk about the important stuff, like their top food secrets and the dishes your belly will crave non-stop. Next up: Yufita, owner of Soho Sushi—located near Washington Square Park.
Seamless: Hi, Yufita! Let’s jump right into it. When did you open Soho Sushi?
Yufita: Soho Sushi was born in August 2008. I fell in love with the Soho area. It’s sophisticated, friendly and beautiful.
SL: It really is. Definitely one of our favorite areas. What inspired you to open a sushi spot in the first place?
Y: I worked with Japanese cuisine for more than 10 years before I opened Soho Sushi. Through experience, I learned that Japanese food fits my philosophy—be healthy, be happy. We need to be healthy first before we can be happy. What we eat dictates how we feel and our mood. To me, Japanese food is delicious and healthy. Most Japanese dishes don’t require oil and use less salt, less sugar and are gluten-free.
SL: That’s interesting. Can you give us an example?
Y: The salmon avocado roll. The salmon is rich in omega-3. The avocado contains good fats and is packed with nutrients. The rice is a good source of protein. And then seaweed supports your thyroid function. You get all of these benefits in one roll. Plus, you don’t need to eat too much, two or three sushi rolls will fill you up.
SL: There’s a ton of sushi places in NYC. What makes Soho Sushi different?
Y: It’s our quality service and our passion. We always try our best to be friendly, warm and welcoming to everyone. Even though some people only come for the restroom. It’s fine, you can use it. When customers complain, we listen and try our best to solve the problem.
SL: And we’re sure New Yorkers appreciate that very very much—we certainly do! Now, let’s talk about your menu. It’s our first time ordering, what should we get?
Y: First-time ordering could mean that you know Japanese cuisine already, and you know what you usually like to order. But if you’re a newbie, I would recommend a sushi roll. Try a California roll or shrimp tempura roll.
SL: If you had to choose just one, what’s your favorite dish?
Y: Hmm, that’s tough. Seriously, I love everything on the menu. It depends on my mood. Sushi, rolls, teriyaki, tempura, katsu, ginger sauce—the options are endless.
SL: So true. The options are endless! You have over 50 choices. How should people decide?
Y: Well, I would say go with what you have in mind first. When you see Japanese food, what do you want to eat? After that, just try our menu one by one.
SL: On average, how many rolls do your customers get per person?
Y: I would say three rolls.
SL: You also serve ice cream! What’s the story there?
Y: Who doesn’t love ice cream? At the end of your meal, you can treat yourself with some dessert. Japanese ice cream is a must-try. It’s delicious and not too sweet.
SL: Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Y: Be healthy, be happy. We really need to pay attention to what we eat. The food that goes into our bodies has a tight connection to our mood, body and wellbeing. In the long-run, it will determine our happiness.
