Many of you remember when the only sushi that you could get in town was at Fugi Ya, Origami or Saji-Ya. Since then the idea of eating raw fish caught on as more and more people experienced it in California and it made its way to the Midwest.
Now with sushi becoming mainstream cuisine for anyone under 60, the Minneapolis/St. Paul and the surrounding metro area can boast of some of the best sushi restaurants in the country.
One newcomer to the scene is Soya, unpretentiously located in a small strip mall in Chanhassen just off Highway 5, not far from the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre. This small quaint restaurant not only has a large selection of sushi, but it also has a Thai menu. The place is contemporary in design and quite comfortable. There is also a homey feel to the place. It is evident that they want to please their customers. A small, but important, test of great service is when the server continues to fill your water glass without asking. (Why do servers at many restaurants have to ask to fill your water glass which ends up interrupting your conversation?)
The sushi and sashimi are very fresh evidenced by the bright clear color of the fish. All the items are plated decoratively to enhance your dining experience. The sashimi is served, on ice in a round glass bowl with a light accenting the entree. Also, the individual pieces of sushi, sashimi and rolls are large and fresh. As to the wide variety of menus items, the following are included for those who prefer something other than sushi. Hibachi dinners are made in the kitchen and served to you at your table, unlike tradional performance cooking. For those who enjoy soup, they offer a seafood soup, that includes, shrimp, scallops, squid and crabmeat. Also, the Thai menu allows for an option for those you are not sushi fans.
Appetizers…
The sushi chefs take great pride in the presentation of their creations. Soya has only been open for a few months and is already gaining a reputation in the southwest suburbs as the place to go for Japanese and Thai food. Irene and Eric moved here from New York City to open Soya. (They are related to the owner of Nakamori.) One of the owners is always at the restaurant greeting customers and making sure their experience is a pleasant one.
I would recommend the tempura banana with ice cream. It is a unique bowl of lightly fried tempura battered bananas served with ice cream. It is a delicious way to top off your dinner. It is very light, but very favorable.
Off the entry way, a fairly large sized room can accommodate large parties for birthdays, company parties and large family gatherings. It is a very nice and private area. I suggest you call ahead to make arrangement to reserve this room.
There is a modern bar at the front of the restaurant. For now they serve wine and beer.
Currently Soya is offering 15% off your entire order, including dining in and take out.
Yes, there is a lot of other great sushi restaurants in the metro area, but Soya is worth a visit. So, if you are looking for a sushi restaurant, that appeals to a wide variety of tastes I would highly recommend Soya. It is comfortable and offers fresh and attractive menu offerings. It is in an area that is underserved when it comes to Japanese and Thai food. It is nice to see that the second ring suburbs are starting to embrace cultural foods as an alternative to the chain restaurants.
Soya is located at 530 W 79th St #120, Chanhassen, MN 55317
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