Nori Asian Fusion & Sushi Bar, the second venture for husband and wife team Jing Chen and Yun Zhao, co-owners of Nikki’s Steak House & Sushi Bar at 1055 Military Cutoff Road, opened March 16 at The Pointe at Barclay.

Chen and Zhao purchased Nikki’s Steak House & Sushi Bar from her uncle, Johnny Chen, two years ago, after working at several Nikki’s locations in town for nearly 10 years. Chen said her uncle was instrumental in helping her establish Nori.

“My uncle Johnny is my mentor and has helped every step of the way,” Chen said.  “I’m so blessed to have so much support from all of my family.”

Chen said there is a focus at Nori on Omakase-style sushi, meaning “chef’s choice.” These offerings will allow the chef to create each order individually, using the freshest and most choice ingredients, including imported Japanese seafood that is shipped fresh overnight. Customers will find items such as horse mackerel, snow crab, big eye tuna, blue fin fatty tuna and live scallops, which they are not likely to find elsewhere in Wilmington, according to Chen.

She said she believes that diners in Wilmington are looking for more adventurous eating, and that’s what she aims to provide.

With more than 30 specialty rolls and many traditional hand rolls, there will no doubt be something for everyone, even the slightly less adventurous.

Chen said she is perhaps most excited about the fact that in addition to a wide variety of sushi, the menu at Nori includes all of her favorite Chinese and Thai dishes. There are also teriyaki and hibachi-style entrees, as well as a selection of fried rice and noodles.

Chen, whose family is from China, said she hopes to take Chinese food to a whole new level for diners in Wilmington, emphasizing that the quality of the ingredients selected for Nori is top-notch.

“Our food costs are high, but we want everything to be the very best quality, even the rice,” said Chen. “For some the rice is just an afterthought, but for me, rice is the soul of the dish.”

Nori is located in Unit 1006 at  1412 Barclay Pointe Blvd. and is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

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