Biz Profile: Kinha Sushi is Newest Asian Restaurant in Town

Paula Wang has been in the restaurant business for more than a decade, mostly in partnership arrangements. Kinha Sushi, the new Japanese Fusion Cuisine at 988 Franklin Avenue, represents her first foray as an owner.

The 988 Franklin Avenue address previously housed Jin East; however, Kinha Sushi is under new ownership and has added some wrinkles to the menu. Wang vows to compete on the strength of fresh, quality food, especially fish.

Wang is well aware that numerous Asian-style restaurants have made inroads into Garden City in recent years, which means restaurant goers have plenty of choices.

“I know there is a lot of competition around here. I have to make good quality food, otherwise I cannot survive myself,” she said.

Kinha Sushi had a good night Saturday, as all tables were filled, and were quickly turned over after patrons left.

Kinha Sushi describes itself as a unique high-concept restaurant. Wang’s emphasis on quality starts with the fish. She serves Scottish salmon, which is popular in fusion cuisine, and her tuna comes fresh daily from select Japanese fish markets. “I put a lot of emphasis on the quality of the food,” she said.

Kinha Sushi retained former Jin East kitchen chef Yu San, and Wang brought in Jason Chen as the new sushi chef.

The biggest change from the former Jin East is the Hibachi entrées, which Jin East did not have. The Hibachi entrees range from $15 to $25. To target the lucrative lunch market, Wang is offering a wide selection of “Light Lunch” items centered on salads. She said office workers, especially women, do not want to eat heavy during lunch and instead want fresh, healthy foods. She is trying to accommodate them with numerous salad combinations for $9: chicken apple, shiitake and avocado, duck, sashimi, rock shrimp tempura and pepper tuna tataki.

Kinha Sushi is offering a 15 percent discount during January for all customers. The offer was originally for take-out orders but Wang has extended it to dining- in customers provided they bring the coupon.

The restaurant is open 11:45 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, Fridays until 11 p.m., Saturday from 12:45 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. For information, call 516-877-0888 or visit kinhasushi.com. All major credit cards are accepted.