Restaurant Review by Pamela Holz, Tree of Life Center Creative Director and Host of the “Cooking for Life” Show”
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – It had been a long day, and my nine year old daughter and I were fending for ourselves for dinner. When I suggested we try something new to her, she was game. (Having a mom who eats at lots of different restaurants has given my kids a sense of adventure.) Located on Highway 76, Kori Fusion Sushi and Chinese restaurant looked to be a convenient location to catch a quick meal.
I had eaten at Kori a couple of times before, but it was fun to see the restaurant through the eyes of a kid. “Ooooh! These lights are pretty!” “Wow, this bathroom is really dark!” were immediate observations. “This menu is really big… I have no idea what I should order!” and “What is fusion?”
That was a great question. Fusion cuisine is defined as cuisine that combines elements of different culinary traditions. The term “Fusion food” was first used in the US in the 1970s, though the concept has been around for centuries. Sushi originated in Southeast Asia, but came over to Japan in the 8th century, becoming firmly mired in the culture and cuisine of Japan. Traditionally, you find sushi in a Japanese restaurant. There are usually not Chinese dishes served in a Japanese restaurant, or vice versa. Apparently, Kori Fusion Sushi and Chinese decided they wanted to offer the best of both cuisines.
We decided to enjoy them both. We ordered The Lion King roll and an Avocado roll along with some green tea. While we waited for the rolls to arrive, we worked on multiplication facts. Our waiter noticed what we were doing, and came over with pen and paper to show us some math tricks.
The rolls arrived, beautiful in their simplicity, along with chopsticks. We had fun mastering getting an entire piece from the plate into our mouths without dropping them. Our entrees—Chicken with Garlic Sauce and Chicken Lo Mein arrived, plates piping hot and piled high. Sushi rolls with chopsticks were nothing compared to noodles with chopsticks! The flavors of the entrees were good, though there was nothing particularly outstanding about either to set them apart from other Chinese restaurant food. (Note: Our waiter was quick to point out that they do not use MSG in their food.)
As we ate our meal, I noticed there was a steady stream of customers coming in to place and pick up orders. The familiarity with which they were greeted suggested this was a regular dinner spot. With the convenient location and the enormity of menu choices, along with the option of having sushi or Chinese, or both, Kori Fusion Sushi and Chinese appears to be a good fit for feeding those in the area who have a craving for Asian cuisine.
Kori Fusion Sushi Chinese
894 Highway 76 Suite 111
Clarksville TN 37043
Mon-Th: 11 am- 10 pm
Fri-Sat: 11 am-10:30 pm
Sun: 12 pm-10 pm
931-358-5055
www.koriclarksville.com