May 6, 2024

With fresh seafood flown in twice a week, Pho Thai Sushi Bar opened today in downtown Sioux Falls.

That freshness will set the new offering apart from other sushi offerings in the city, said Kim Ueng, who started Pho Thai with a partner in 2019 in Shriver Square at 11th Street and Phillips Avenue.

Customers will be able to tell the difference, he said.

“They can tell the difference between a good burger and an old burger. They will tell the difference between a good sushi and a best sushi. … Not everybody can keep up with freshness because it’s so hard.”

The key to that is high-quality fish that is never frozen. Ueng said he pays more to bring in seafood from places like Japan, Hawaii and Alaska. He loves to talk to customers about the differences, including how, for example, the dark red color of the tuna is because it’s fresh, not because it has been treated with carbon monoxide.

Even the rice is higher quality, Ueng said. “We use premium, Japanese-grown rice that we have a contract with farmers.”

Prices are similar to other sushi restaurants because he’s keeping the margin lower, he said.

Customers will find sushi, sashimi, salads, maki rolls and chef’s special rolls, like the Sioux Falls Roll with shrimp tempura, cucumber and spicy tuna.

Some of the special rolls have fun names like Zombie, Lady Gaga, Green Caterpillar and Snowman.

The sushi bar seats 12 people at a high-top counter facing the windows along Phillips Avenue.

Three tables also offer seating for 12 people.

The chef works from a sushi bar in the room, which was a former hallway into Shriver Square. Ueng, who has more than 10 years of experience, and another chef he hired from California are doing that work.

Customers can enter the sushi bar from the lobby or through the restaurant, which features Vietnamese and Thai dishes, along with a few Chinese ones. Diners in either space can order from both menus.

“I got a lot of help from the landlords, and I got a lot of help from my engineer design. I wanted a cozy Japanese vibe, and this is what they gave me.”

Hours are the same as Pho Thai: 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.