CONCORD, CA (July 29, 2025) — You might call me a sushi-holic. Consuming this raw fish delicacy has always been one of my culinary favorites.

So when a new Japanese restaurant opens around town, I’m normally not too far behind.

While briefly mourning the closure of Kinja, I eagerly entered the doors of Wasabi at 2218 Willow Pass Road in Concord (925-391-9991). Inside I found chef-owner Palm Prakotpol and her husband Andy.

The pair share a home in Concord, where they relax cultivating a vegetable and flower garden. In the past, they worked in several restaurants and owned the Bronze Buddha in Concord.

For Wasabi, they hired culinary experts to transform their vision of a creative presentation of an ancient cuisine. “We have always loved this food and looked forward to putting our own spin on taking traditional dishes a step further,” the chef explained.

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This was a bold choice as within a mile of Wasabi are six eateries with similar menus. Concord is lacking a decent Greek or an authentic Southern Italian restaurant while Asian, Mexican and Middle Eastern foods are abundant.

Huge portions

Prakotpol’s version of Japanese food is less traditional than that found at long-closed Suwa or at Tachi in the Clayton Valley Center. Serving huge portions, their specialty rolls need to be segmented as they are too large for one bite.

We especially liked the Titan Roll filled with crispy shrimp tempura, spicy tuna, salmon, avocado and maguro, dipped in a sweet unagi sauce. We savored each piece, much like a Whitman’s Sampler. Also to be enjoyed are combinations of unagi (eel), soft shell crab, tobiko (flying fish roe) and other raw fish delicacies.

You can order Wasabi’s specialty rolls in a fried and baked format if you prefer them warmed.

Their made-from-scratch sauces are a key component of the raw fish selections. I especially liked their wasabi gonzo and spicy mayo that helped propel traditional rolls into superstar status.

Balancing the flavor profile of their sushi selections is an excellent wakame seaweed salad. Its sesame finish complements other menu items.

After gorging on multiple appetizers, it may be advisable to return to Wasabi for partaking in their main dishes. There are many traditional options, such as beef and chicken teriyaki, tonkatsu and udon soup.

Main course

For me, bento boxes are the best way to enjoy the main courses. They include a single entree plus tempura, miso soup, salad, rice and a small sushi item such as a California roll or maguro. My favorite bento entries are the salmon teriyaki (rare) and the fried dark chicken karaage. (Katsu is made with breast meat.)

Bento boxes provide an excellent value, where two can dine reasonably without taking out a second mortgage.

“Knowing competition is tough, we wanted to have our restaurant offer great fresh food but also present a decent price,” the chef noted.

After a filling meal, our hosts brought us a sample of green tea and mango mochi ice cream to complete our excellent dining experience.

A wealth of choices

For other quality Japanese experiences nearby, younger people flock to I Love Teriyaki & Sushi across from the Brendon Theatre on Galindo in Concord. It offers an informal atmosphere with decent food. Next door is Ramen 101, featuring udon noodle soups.

More upscale is Sushi Ragu behind Park & Shop, which has a similar menu and price range to Wasabi. They prepare food in traditional Japanese style, providing decent value for diners.

Close by are Benihana, Mikuni and the Fuji Buffet, to name but a few of the Japanese restaurants that are part of the local culinary scene. The Mexican variety is the only ethnic cuisine with more eateries.

No doubt Japanese food is a popular choice for the residents of Concord and surrounding communities.

Contact Rich Eber at richeber9@gmail.com.