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Enfield restaurant fills a vacuum

Mar. 24—ENFIELD — Even though it was in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, and fish prices were going through the roof, Trang Le and his associates took a risk and opened Saki Sushi and Ramen House on Hazard Avenue. But now, almost a year in, the fledgling business is still going strong.

"We opened in May 2021," Le said. "It's been rough. We try our best. We try to keep the prices down."

Prices on fish have been skyrocketing for Le. He said that the costs have increased by 30% to 40%.

Le said he is also co-owner of two other restaurants — both in Massachusetts — Kisara Japanese and Korean Restaurant in Easthampton, and Kaisen Restaurant in Feeding Hills.

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He said he saw an opportunity in Enfield for him to move across the border and set up shop in Connecticut.

Saki Sushi and Ramen House

Where: 54 Hazard Ave., Enfield.

Hours: Daily 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 — 8:30 p.m.

Menu: Sushi rolls, Asian fusion tacos, ramen bowls

Miscellaneous: Online ordering.

Contact: 860-835-5714; toasttab.com/saki-sushi-ramen/v3

"I looked around and didn't see any sushi or ramen available in the area," he said.

Unlike the sushi people would find at a grocery store, which is pre-made and placed in a cooler, Le said Saki Sushi is made to order.

"Everything is fresh," he said. "We come early and set everything up."

The layout at Saki Sushi and Ramen House is similar to a quick service restaurant like Noodles and Company, and Le utilizes the layout to create a limited service restaurant environment, saving the customer money by not offering table service.

"Here you don't have to tip," he said, even though there is a tip jar at the register if customers would like to leave one anyway.

To encourage repeat customers, Le said he tries to rotate the menu and offer a variety of foods.

Currently on the menu, there are 39 sushi rolls, four sashimi, and seven nigiri.

There are also five Asian fusion tacos, six rice bowls, eight salads, and seven ramen bowls.

Le said that the ramen broth stews for two to three hours before serving.

There are five Chashu pork ramen bowls and two seafood ramen bowls.

Chashu pork, Le said, is pork belly grilled until it has a caramelized color, then slow cooked in soy sauce for two hours, before being cut into serving portions.

"It's a sweet and soy flavor," he said. "We marinate it in spices, ginger, onion, and scallions."

The seafood ramen bowls come with a mix of calamari, shrimp, and mussels, he said.

The rice bowls, he said, are a definite healthy option for guests with carrots, cabbage, onion, scallions, broccoli and mushrooms, balancing carbohydrates and proteins.

The most popular sushi currently at Saki, Le said are the California roll, shrimp tempura roll, salmon roll, Philly roll, Tofu Crunch roll, and sweet potato roll.

The most popular ramen bowl is the volcano ramen.

"It's made with pork and chicken broth with in house spicy sauce," Le said. The sauce does pack some heat, dominantly seasoned with chili peppers and garlic. A milder version is available as well.

"It's spicy and the color looks like lava," he said.

Saki has a specials menu, Le said, which rotates monthly.

"Some of the specials, if they're really popular, we'll keep them, like the Yaki Udon," he said, which is currently on the specials menu.

Daniel Harmon, a server at Saki, said he's been working there for four months.

"It's a really cool environment," he said. "It's a really nice pace.

"The food is delicious," he said. "People enjoy the food here and I never really get a complaint. I want you to have the best experience you can have here."

Not a sushi eater himself, Harmon said he prefers other menu items.

His favorites, he said are shrimp shumai and beef gyoza — which are two styles of dumpling — and the Bulgogi tacos, two beef tacos with lettuce, avocado, roasted sesame, sweet aioli, teriyaki sauce, and a crunch crumble.

"I like the way they prepare them," he said of the tacos. "I like the beef teriyaki bowls, and the seafood ramen is so good here."

For coverage of local restaurants, cultural events, music, and an extensive range of Connecticut theater reviews, follow Tim Leininger on Twitter: @Tim_E_Leininger, Facebook: Tim Leininger's Journal Inquirer News page, and Instagram: @One_Mans_Opinion77.