Taking over for Village mainstay Haru Sushi, Akari is focusing on fish and families, its new owner, a seasoned sushi restaurant manager, says.
With new owners, a new name and renewed commitment to serving The Village, Akari Sushi has taken over for Haru Sushi at 7441 Girard Ave.
Akari focuses primarily on sushi, said new co-owner and manager Chenda Choeum, who took over in January. At Choeum’s other restaurant, SoCal Sushi in Normal Heights, “we’re known for our seasonal fish list,” she said.
Akari operates similarly, rotating through local items that other restaurants don’t carry, she said. “And then we put our own little twist to it, … at a reasonable price.”
Akari serves “affordable, good sushi,” Choeum said, along with a few teriyaki bowls and other items.
Haru’s owner and chef, Nak Joon Kim, had planned to shut down the business and walk away due to health issues. Choeum learned about Kim’s plan as his daughter works at SoCal Sushi and told Kim she’d take over to keep the space open.
After a two-month closure for remodeling, the restaurant reopened, now called Akari Sushi.
Akari means “light” in Japanese, “because it just felt right being in La Jolla, so vibrant and rich,” Choeum said.
Choeum is also excited to welcome families into Akari, she said, as Choeum has kids herself and prides herself on running a “very kid-friendly, very family-oriented” restaurant.
Akari will soon begin serving a weekday happy hour from 3 to 5 pm with a $5 menu, wanting to offer local parents with children at nearby schools, music or martial arts classes “a quick bite or dinner for when it’s a long day or a long week,” Choeum said.
Akari is open from 3 to 9 pm Tuesday through Thursday and noon to 9 pm Friday and Saturday.
