By Karen Kennedy
“Delicious cuisine.”
That’s what “Hino Oishi” translates to from Japanese. It’s also a new sushi and hibachi restaurant that recently opened its doors in Carmel.
And it’s not easy to find.
The address of the restaurant is 10491 Walnut Creek Drive. Both Mapquest and my GPS placed that squarely in the center of a lovely housing edition just north of 106th Street, just west of Towne Road.
Obviously, that’s not where it is.
Hino Oishi is in a strip mall in the southeast corner of the intersection of 106th Street and Michigan Road, but you can’t see it from the road. It’s behind a Chase bank and next to a Goodwill store.
It’s worth looking for, because it’s not just the cuisine that’s delicious; the surroundings are gorgeous, and the sushi and hibachi chefs are absolutely charming. It’s a fantastic addition to the Carmel dining scene.
The menu features many of the standard options for sushi and hibachi, but standout items include: Chilean Sea Bass, cold water lobster tail, Asian short ribs, panko-crusted fried oysters and USDA-choice steaks hand-cut daily.
For dessert, try a house-made green tea macaroon or the yuzu-ginger crème brulée.
While the 120-seat restaurant is owned by an out-of-state group, its general manager is Carmel resident J.D. Zou, who oversees a staff of 20.
The chic and urban interior was created by a New York designer, and one of the four sushi chefs was brought in from New York as well.
“We use only the finest, freshest fish available and the greatest quality ingredients,” Zou said. “And welcome children; we have a great kid’s menu. We also offer gluten-free tamari soy sauce.”
The space features an intimate sushi bar which adjoins to the main bar, and the bar dining area is lined with booths. The hibachi area is very large, with nine hibachi stations, each with nine to ten seats.
There’s also a private dining room, which can accommodate groups of up to 15.
Hino Oishi
10491 Walnut Creek Drive, Suite 160 in Carmel
Open seven days a week, from 11 a.m.
228-0888
www.hinooishi.com
