Hana is that neighborhood restaurant where everyone knows your name, one that draws a lot of repeat business for neighbors within walking distance and nearby.

    No, it’s not a bar like Cheers; rather an inviting eatery that opened in April 2007 that specializes in sushi and traditional Japanese fare, with fish imported fresh from Japan, Canada and other locales.

Rick Hashimoto, sushi chef at Hana Japanese restaurant, and Kazuto Kishino, head chef of Hana’s, display their sushi and tempura selections in their signature wooden serving boats (photo courtesy of Hana).

    This family-owned and family-friendly restaurant is located in a former restaurant site on 7th Avenue just north of Missouri in a small strip center. The new owners removed some cabinets, replaced the air conditioner and did a cosmetic facelift. The result is a casual relaxing atmosphere with an open kitchen concept, one in which you can see everything going on at the sushi bar.

    This 1,300-square-foot eatery, which seats 38, has an open host area containing nine interior tables. There also are tables outside with heaters.

    The servers are friendly and warm and strive to make their customers feel welcome and at home, and actually get to know them by name. They answer diners’ questions and offer menu suggestions, including insights into the specials that are listed on the wall board.

    The sushi chef and main cook have more than 20 years of sushi preparation and Japanese food experience, from working at other restaurants, primarily in California. They serve their sushi and sashimi in striking wooden boat trays, often with a small lit flame, to kick their presentation up a notch from other Japanese restaurants.

    “We wanted to create an alternative for neighborhood residents that was close by and somewhere they could feel at home,” says Lynn Becker, one of the owners. “We keep the food consistent and maintain rapport with our customer base. Of all of our achievements, the relationships we’ve forged with our customers mean the most to us.”

    Hana serves both lunch and dinner. The lunch menu includes a variety of appetizers; a selection of salads; noodle entrees that are served with green salad; soups, sushi; and Hana specials. The bento box lunches are very popular and range in price from $8.95 to $15.25. The boxes are served with salad, rice and assorted side dishes. The tofu salad and the Hana bento, complete with tempura and sushi, are customer favorites. The dinner menu is similar to lunch, minus the bento boxes.

    The entrees and appetizers are artistically presented and feature unique sauces. The owners pride themselves on their fresh fish selections, which are extensive. Their sushi and sashimi menu is broad. Customers are particularly fond of the shrimp and steak dinner and the Hana Katsu, ($16.95), a butter-infused deep fried chicken entrée.

    Among the Hana specials are the Hana Yasai Suki, assorted vegetables simmered in a Japanese broth ($16.95), and the Hana Gyuniku, a choice New York steak served with cooked onions. The poki chips—deep-fried gyoza skins with tuna and crab—are a popular appetizer, as are the spicy tuna rolls and blue fin tuna sushi.

    Dinner entrée choices include grilled Atlantic salmon, tempura shrimp and white fish, rib eye steak, a lobster tail served with a choice rib eye and fresh ahi tuna in a special sauce. Dinners are served with soup, salad and rice.

    Save some room for desert. You’ll find cream-filled tempura or choose from vanilla, mango, strawberry and green tea ice cream. Or try the Hana an mitsu, a selection of jelly accompanied by mandarin oranges and red bean paste and topped with a cherry.

    Hana is a BYOB restaurant, which means you can bring your own beer, wine and sake. Soft drinks and tea are offered on the menu. You can dine in or call in and carry out. If you have a party of six or more, call ahead for availability.

    Hana is open Tuesday to Friday for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dinner is served Tuesday to Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday night 5-10 p.m., and Sundays from 5 to 9 p.m. No lunch is served on the weekends and the restaurant is closed Mondays.

    Hana’s is located at 5524 N. 7th Ave. Call 602-973-1238 or visit www.hanajapaneseeatery.com.