SUSHI CRAVING? HOW TO FIND THE BEST RESTAURANTS
BY KIM PETERSON
December 25th, 2006
What: SushiMonsters.com, a Seattle-based Web site about sushi
Who: Vivian Hua, co-founder
What it does: The site is all about the sushi experience, from how it's made to the best places to find it. It delves into the history of sushi, and how its origins were in Southeast Asia, where people would pack fresh fish in with fermented rice as a preservation technique.
History: Hua started the site in July with two brothers, Posa and Lenny Chhun, and the goals of helping people find sushi restaurants and serving as an all-around sushi resource. The site is Seattle-centric, though it has recently branched out to Portland and the San Francisco Bay Area, Hua said. The founders want the site to become the place for people nationwide to find sushi restaurants.
No profits here: This isn't a money-making operation, although the site does show advertising from Google's network. The three founders are in their 20s and have learned a lot about search-engine marketing and driving traffic to the site. The profit part can come later.
Most popular: The how-to videos on the site are definitely the most popular feature, Hua said. Usually, they show local chefs doing things like making sushi, cutting the rolls and transporting them to a plate.
Why sushi?: "It's a cultural experience so it's a little different than going to McDonald's," Hua said. "You actually have to learn about the food to be able to eat it."
Sushi etiquette: It's perfectly fine to eat sushi with your hands, according to the site. But don't order too much. Wasting food is considered rude in Japan.
Top recommendation: Hua is reluctant to name one sushi restaurant as the best in town. But when pressed, well, "Mashiko's in West Seattle is pretty great."
