FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Fort Lauderdale’s restaurant scene is heating up with a new spot that blends Japanese and Peruvian flavors.
Sakana Nikkei is the creation of two local women who are bringing their family’s culture to the table.
The women behind it told Local 10 that Sakana is about more than food -- it’s about family, heritage and flavor!
“I welcome all the food lovers -- they’re going to love it, not regret (it),” owner Rosemary Batzel said.
Sakana Nikkei brings Japanese and Peruvian cuisine together in one unforgettable concept.
“Nikkei means the Japanese immigrants that were born in Peru,” Batzel explained.
“We kind of made like a mix -- with our culture and family recipes,” owner Kimoi Castillo added.
Sitting right on the water in the heart of Fort Lauderdale, Sakana is as much about the view as it is the flavors.
“We have 3,000 square feet. We can fit 100 people here and 50 people outside,” Batzel said.
At the heart of Sakana are the two women carrying on their families’ legacy through food.
“My grandfather has a restaurant in Peru -- my mother is the partner with my cousin, who is my business partner right now,” Batzel said.
That tradition lives on in dishes passed from their kitchen to your plate, like with the Hamachi tiradito -- yellowtail flown in fresh from Japan or the Sakana sushi roll.
“We have the sushi roll with Peruvian ingredients. So we have the Japanese techniques with Peruvian flavors,” Batzel said.
And if you’re craving something heartier, the short ribs melt off the bone after being slow-cooked for hours with homemade mashed potatoes and Peruvian peppers.
Sakana Nikkei is open this weekend from noon until midnight.
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