Modernistic sushi diner rolls into town

A new locally owned sushi restaurant will be open for business on Monday, Feb. 3, in Joplin. Han the Sushi Man, 1902 E. 32nd St. Suite 7, is a sushi-only diner that offers the Joplin community a modern alternative to the usual sushi restaurant.

Owner Hein Han came to the U.S. from Burma for political reasons in 2001. He started making sushi in California and moved to Joplin in 2005 to roll sushi for the local franchise Price Cutter.

He worked there until December 2013, when he announced the opening of Han the Sushi Man.

The restaurant has a modern twist, with bright colors, a sleek checkout area and artsy hanging light pendants made by Han’s wife. For now, the dining area seats 37, but Han says he is working on a room in the back of the restaurant to seat larger parties and groups.

As for the menu, diners can rest assured their favorite rolls will be there, including the popular California Roll and Spicy Tuna Roll. Although Han wants to keep the menu exclusive to sushi, it will also include rice paper spring rolls, soup, salad, and in the near future, beer.

Han is excited to add his own recipes to the menu.

“I want to do something different. My sushi is different,” he added, hopeful that Joplin diners will embrace the change.

One of the specialty rolls is actually named for local Joplin celebrity Preston Lacy from the popular MTV show Jackass.

“He called me and messaged me on Facebook,” Han recalled, “and said, ‘Hey! I want you to put my name [and] ‘roll’ on the one I like.’”

The Preston Lacy Roll will be a spicy tuna roll on the inside, with salmon, unagi sauce and seafood sauce on the outside.

Hopeful future plans for this sushi joint include deliveries to Freeman Hospital cafeteria, and maybe Southern and Pitt State. Han also wants to grow Han the Sushi Man into a “sushi-to-go” franchise.

After Monday’s grand opening, Han the Sushi Man will be serving up rolls Monday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., including orders for curb-side pick-up.