By MOLLY DAVIDSON / Staff Writer

NORTH SHELBY—Take one look at the Blowfish Sushi and Asian Cuisine menu and it’s clear this is no ordinary sushi restaurant. In addition to a variety of sushi rolls, the restaurant serves up a variety of Korean barbeque and Thai dishes, each with its own twist.

The restaurant is owned and operated by husband-and-wife team Huy Nugyen and Kim Tran. The two have been in the restaurant business for more than a decade—first in Miami, where Nugyen learned to make sushi, then Ocean Spring, Miss.

Nugyen and Tran opened Blowfish Sushi on U.S. 280 in late March, and the restaurant has quickly gained a following in the Greystone and North Shelby communities.

One of the most popular items on the menu is the calamari.

“A lot of places have calamari here, but we sell a lot here because we do it differently,” Tran said.

Unlike the typical fried dish, strips of squid are first fried, then sautéed in a sweet onion and spicy sauce, giving the calamari a crispy yet tender texture and a kick of flavor.

“It’s a different taste,” Tran said. “People will say, ‘I’ve never had calamari like this before!’”

The restaurant’s sushi choices feature all of Nugyen and Tran’s favorite and most popular rolls.

“When I do the menu, I pick all the popular rolls,” Tran said. “Typically (the menu) is all the best (rolls) in here.”

The menu has the classics, such as the California Roll—crab and avocado, surrounded by white rice and wrapped in seaweed—and the Philly Roll—smoked salmon, cream cheese, avocado and white rice wrapped in seaweed.

For the avid sushi fan, Blowfish Sushi offers a variety of selections with raw fish. A favorite is the Blowfish Roll. Instead of rice and seaweed, the Blowfish Roll contains crab with spicy mayonnaise and avocado, all wrapped in two thin slices of tuna and salmon and topped with eel sauce and spicy mayonnaise.

Don’t love fish or seafood? Try Blowfish Sushi’s new roll: Steak and avocado wrapped in bacon.

Teriyaki dishes are one of Nugyen’s specialties, and a staple on the menu, Tran said. Customers can order chicken, steak or salmon teriyaki, each accompanied rice and sautéed vegetables or steamed broccoli.

Be sure to check back often as Tran said the menu and specials do change.

Blowfish Sushi is also a family-friendly restaurant, Tran and Nugyen’s own children are a regular sight at the restaurant.

“My son is 10 years old… he’ll say ‘I’m ready to be the youngest sushi chef in the world!’” Tran said. “He’s just waiting for me to make him a chef coat.”

Blowfish sushi is located at 5479 U.S. 280, Suite 102. It is open seven days a week, Sundays through Thursdays from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. for lunch and 5-9 p.m. for dinner; and Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. for lunch and 5-10 p.m. for dinner. For more information, visit Blowfishsushi280.wix.com or call 739-2277.