Things are hopping near the intersection of Cornhusker and Ft Crook Rd S. A few weeks ago, a new business, Thirst Tea Cafe, opened up, and it will soon be followed by Bellevue’s first sushi train. Both businesses are a collaboration of multiple groups with some of the same investors in each group. The groups work so closely together that both businesses will be sharing a common entrance.
According to Tommy Pang, one of the joint owners of both Thirst Tea Cafe and the Sakai Sushi Train, Thirst Tea Cafe is the first original flavor-infused tea shop in the Omaha area that offers Bubble tea and Boba tea, with various flavors and toppings. Thirst Teas also offers small bites such Onigiri and Chicken Wings for a quick on-the-go eats.
“Our food is meant to be shared with the table, almost like a Tapas… small plates that everyone gets to try,” said Pang. “This is our third location but the first of its kind in the Omaha Metro with a drive-thru window.”
Pang said that their most popular drinks are Green Tea, Taro, and Island Twist, which consists of passion fruit, pineapple and mango. For food options, Pang mentioned best sellers included a few different types of Onigiri, which is made from white rice formed into a triangular shape and wrapped in nori (seaweed paper). Often times filled with spam, kani (imitation crab) and avocado. Takoyaki is also a good seller, a ball-shaped Japanese snack made of a wheat flour-based batter and cooked in a specially molded pan, and then filled with cabbage and octopus, drizzled with Takoyaki sauce and Kewpie mayo.
Thirst Tea Cafe is located at 555 Cornhusker Road, Suite 201 and is open seven days a week: Sunday-Thursday from 11am-9pm and Friday-Saturday from 11am-9pm. Thirst Tea Cafe can be reached by calling (531) 772-0508. More information can be found on their website at thirstteacafe.com.
While the cafe has been open for awhile, the Sakai Sushi Train is set to open in a few weeks.
Son Sean, one of the owners of the Sakai Sushi Train, said that ‘Sakai’ is a city located in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. It has been one of the largest and most important seaports of Japan since the medieval era. The word ‘Sakai’ is also associated with a 14th-century Japanese samurai clan.
“Plates serving the sushi are placed on a rotating conveyor belt that winds through the restaurant and moves past every table, counter, and seat,” said Sean while describing what a sushi train is. “The final bill is based on the number and type of plates of the consumed sushi. Plates are color coordinated.”
Sakai Sushi Train is the only one in Bellevue and only the second in the Omaha-Metro. “We are an innovative and tech-interactive Japanese restaurant. With the innovative system that combines advance technology, premium ingredients, and affordable prices to enhance the unique dining experience,” Sean said. “There’s a continuously rotating conveyor that offers small, color-coordinated plates. Each plate color represents a different sushi roll or small bites and price point. There’ll also be a tablet on each table where the guest can order directly from the kitchen. Certain sushi rolls and kitchen appetizers will then be sent directly to your table on a separate, second-tier train. Other options like ramen and items off of the Chinese menu will be brought out by the server. We will also have specialty cocktails that have been developed just for the restaurant.”
‘Why Bellevue?’ is a question that we often ask when a new business chooses to come to town. “Bellevue is an untapped market for what both businesses are offering,” Sean said. “We wanted to be a part of the loving community and change the landscape with our unique dining experiences.”
Pang added, “FJ Guys Inc. and Pan Wang Inc. are two different corporations that collaborated on both projects. The ideal situation would be for customers to come in for a sushi dinner and leave with Boba Tea for dessert.”
