Nestled between Piccola Italia Pizza & Restaurant and Ten Thousand Villages is the newest addition to Cameron Village’s already well-rounded dining options. Ajisai Japanese Fusion and Sushi welcomed its first guest on July 10. The Cameron Village location is part of a chain family that includes two other establishments in New York City. 

Ajisai, which is the Japanese word for hydrangeas, holds true to representing the beauty of Japanese and Asian cultures. Taking over the space once held by a restaurant featuring sushi and burgers, Ajisai has created an inviting, modern eatery. Though it has only been open for two weeks, Ajisai’s Facebook page has more than 50 fans and an overall five-star rating.

Polly Cao, manager of Ajisai, said most of the staff is experienced in working at a Japanese restaurant. 

“It is easier having people on staff who are knowledgeable about the different fish featured and used in the rolls instead of teaching someone about the different fish,” Cao said. 

Ajisai has several standard and specialty rolls to satisfy the sushi connoisseurs. Along with sushi bar appetizers, one can choose an a la carte sashimi with a wide variety of fish and shellfish. The kitchen-prepared appetizers include some cooked Asian favorites such as chicken lettuce wraps, beef negimaki, Indian pancakes and crispy Peking duck. There are also a wide assortment of vegetarian options such as aged tofu, edamame and several salads.

The sushi in the Chef’s Special Rolls section adds a fun and unique twist to the basic sushi roll. With names such as Spider Man, Viking, Angry Dragon and Godzilla, you may be tempted to try each one. Many of these special rolls include ingredients such as jalapeños, baby spinach, mozzarella cheese and papaya that you may not find at other sushi restaurants in the area.

Cao said the owners chose Raleigh as the location to expand the chain after thorough research. 

“The owners looked around this area but could not find a place that offered a unique sushi experience,” Cao said. “They wanted to come and share their style of sushi with the area.” 

According to Cao, Ajisai’s head chef has an impressive resume.

“Our chef has at least five years of experience and has worked for well-known sushi restaurants in New York,” Cao said. 

For those who do not desire the fishy delicacies, Ajisai also offers several cooked dishes common at other Asian restaurants. The manager explained that the cooked dishes were added to ensure every customer would find something to enjoy so that both families and professionals could visit. Some plates offered are Japanese fried rice options, chicken favorites such as sesame and General Tso’s, tempura and teriyaki dinners and grilled options such as steak, shrimp and scallops. 

Ajisai offers authentic dessert options such as sweet sticky rice and Japanese ice cream, which is made of fruit-flavored sticky rice acting as a shell for the ice cream in the middle. 

The owners of Ajisai understand the clientele and have tailored the menu to entice customers. The lunch menu features sushi combos served with soup and salad at prices competitive with other Cameron Village eateries. With smaller portions of dinner menu items, Ajisai’s lunch menu intends to provide a quick and easy dining experience. To welcome customers and celebrate its grand opening, Ajisai is offering 20 percent off the bill through July 31.

Because Ajisai is walking distance from campus, the lunch specials and regular prices are within the budget of a college student while still providing a unique dining experience.  

“We have different and unique sushi,” Cao said. “Students have never had that before from this area.” 

For more information, visit www.ajisainc.com.