SAKAE SUSHI ROLLS OUT KAITEN-SUSHI #2
- Sakae Sushi Opens Second Restaurant in New York City’s West Village -
NEW YORK, NY, June 16, 2008 – Sakae Sushi is extending its sushi conveyor belt to a second location in New York City. Starting June 2008, Sakae Sushi will officially open the doors to its West 3rd restaurant in the heart of West Village.
With the launch of the flagship restaurant at the Chrysler Building in January 2008, Sakae Sushi has since revived and popularized the Kaiten-Sushi, aka “conveyor belt”, dining concept in New York City. Owned and operated by Apex-Pal International Ltd (Singapore), one of the fastest-growing and most reputed Kaiten sushi brands and companies in Southeast Asia, the West 3rd location brings the total number of operating Sakae Sushi restaurants globally to 66.
“Since the Chrysler midtown location opened this year, we’ve been fielding inquiries from kaiten sushi fans and Sakae loyalists about a downtown venue,” says Lynn Teo, managing director, Sakae Sushi (USA). “Part of Sakae’s North America growth plan is to open up more locations as well, so you can imagine how thrilled everyone is about expanding into the hip West Village.
Located at 135 West 3rd Street between MacDougal St. & Sixth Ave., Sakae Sushi (West 3rd) seats about 70 guests in its more intimate 2,250 sq. ft. space. A conveyor belt of about 61 feet stretches directly from the kitchen to the booth seats, rolling out freshly-prepared, colored sushi plates. In addition to the patented “Interactive Menu” screen which customers can click and order through, the restaurant will also boast Sakae Sushi’s signature “dining tool” – the highly-anticipated self-serve water taps piped into each table for complimentary green tea refills.
Sakae Sushi, one of the Largest Sushi Restaurant Chains Globally, Leaps its Iconic Green Frog from Southeast Asia to New York City -
NEW YORK, NY, JANUARY, 2008 - In a sushi movie blockbuster, the hero leads a ravenous mob into a trendy restaurant, and in the time it takes to say Japanese, he fast-forwards plates of delectable sushi for the starving crowd. Next, he touches a mysterious screen and freshly-prepared bento boxes, ramen bowls, and yakitoris swiftly materialize in front of the mob in an orchestrated pace. He then suavely points at the built-in hot water faucets at every dining table for everyone to refill their green tea. And the grand finale - they hold their breath as he coolly shows them the check, and they rise in cheer seeing how affordably -priced their gourmet feast is.
No longer just a movie plot, just head over to Lexington Ave and 43rd Street in New York City when you need to sushi-on-demand. SAKAE SUSHI, one of Southeast Asia’s most prominent and fastest-growing restaurant brands, has made its North American debut at the iconic Chrysler Building.
Located at 405 Lexington Avenue, Sakae Sushi introduces a new landscape of fast-casual dining that New Yorkers have yet to see. This 3,121 sq. ft. restaurant also features the city’s longest kaiten-sushi, two sushi conveyor belts totaling 97 feet that roll out fresh plates of sushi and small bites directly from the kitchen throughout the day. It will also feature the Singapore-patented Interactive Menu, an integrated tool built into each table seating that allows customers to create their own orders.
Our Sakae Sushi name is well-known throughout Asia for premium food served in an innovative, fun and engaging setting, all at unbelievably popular prices, says Douglas Foo, founder of Sakae Sushi. In addition to serving the fresh, healthy and delicious food as can be expected from our kitchen, the speed and ease in which our customers can have their food served via the conveyor belt, Interactive Menu or wait staff is also signature of our business.
The first Sakae Sushi was established in 1997 by Douglas Foo in Singapore, and its formula of affordable Japanese dining, quality healthy food, and innovative technologies, became an immediate success. Managed by parent company Apex-Pal International Limited where Foo resides as CEO, Sakae Sushi soon expanded to more than 50 outlets throughout 7 countries in Asia. The newest addition is New York City – Lexington Ave, the first entry for Sakae Sushi in the United States.
Like all of Sakae Sushi’s fans in Asia, customers here will soon be acquainted with Sakae Sushi’s straightforward three-tier pricing: $1.90 for multi-colored plates; $3.90 for pink plates: and $6.90 for premium red plates. The ease and convenience of having a hot water piped to every dining table, and along the conveyor belt, will also delight customers who can have freshly steeped green tea any time they want.
We believe that eating fine Japanese food need not be expensive. At Sakae Sushi, we offer every dish at wallet-friendly prices, and still maintain our high food and service standards that is expected of good, reputable Japanese restaurants, emphasizes Foo.
The extensive menu offering more than 200 culinary delights includes classic rice and noodle bowls, bento boxes, sashimis, hot plates and Japanese steamboats, soups and Sakae specialty salads, and more. Prices range from $8.90 for Teriyaki Chicken Udon, $13.90 for a deluxe Bento Box of Unagi Kabayaki & Mix Fry, to $26.90 for fresh Sashimi Prime. There is also a Seasonal Menu and a perennial Kids’ Menu, featuring fun, tasty and healthy-cooked Japanese bites for tots.
We are really excited to celebrate the opening of our first Sakae Sushi in New York City on our 10th anniversary, says Lynn Teo, managing director, Sakae Sushi (USA). Whether it’s fast and healthy Japanese food you want from our conveyor belt, an entertaining interactive-dining experience with friends, or a quick lunch meeting with business associates, our Lexington Avenue location is going to be the place for all New Yorkers and visitors alike.
Sakae Sushi (Lexington Ave) serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, and its operating hours are 7:00 am to 12 midnight. The location also does deliveries and take-outs. The restaurant will have a healthy Japanese Take-Out Breakfast menu for its morning customers. A 24-hour delivery service will also be launched by 2008. Customers can visit the web site, or call 1-877-SAKAE-USA for more information.
Editor’s Note: For more information on Sakae Sushi, to obtain images, or to speak with Douglas Foo, CEO, Apex-Pal, and/or Lynn Teo, managing director, Sakae Sushi (USA), please contact Vivien Teo / Christina Antoine at 646-723-2320 or email .
About Sakae Sushi
Sakae Sushi is a trendy, quick service kaiten (conveyor belt) sushi concept that was started in Singapore in 1997. The restaurant offers diners a unique dining experience, staying true to serving fresh foods in a fun-filled environment at budget prices. Under the management of Apex-pal International Ltd., Sakae Sushi also pioneered the concept of the Interactive Menu, tiered-plate pricing, and incorporating built-in hot water taps for a fuss-free, efficient dining. Today, Sakae Sushi is associated with food and restaurant innovation excellence. In 2003, the Sakae Sushi brand was conferred the Singapore Promising Brand award. Currently, Sakae Sushi can be found in Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and the United States, totaling 56 outlets.
About Apex-Pal International Ltd (SGX: Apex-Pal)
Apex-Pal is a homegrown leader in providing innovative food and beverage solutions. With more than a decade of experience under its belt, the Group constantly breaks new grounds offering Singapore a taste of international dining through brands including Sakae Sushi, Sakae Teppanyaki, Sakae Pizza, Hei Sushi, Sho-U, Crepes & Cream and Uma Uma Men. It is supported by Nouvelle Events, the only specialist caterer in Singapore that offers an award winning and unique patented portable kaiten (conveyor belt) sushi experience. In addition, the Group is involved in franchising its brands, food import and distribution as well as business-to-business supplies.
Listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange since 2003, Apex-Pal has more than 70 outlets in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Hong Kong and United States. The Group remains committed to global growth by exploring new emerging markets such as the Middle East, Mongolia, Hungary and Vietnam. In FY 2006, Apex-Pal achieved a record profit before tax of S$6.7million on the back of a strong turnover of S$66.6million.
