Writer / Matt Keating
Photographer / Jamie Sangar
A warm and welcoming atmosphere is the first thing you notice the moment you walk in the door at Kobayashi Sushi and Asian Kitchen.
The courteous staff, the aroma of fresh food that whets your appetite, and the relaxed environment immediately make you feel as if you have made new friends.
Co-Owners Jet and Lisa Lin make you feel right at home in their comfortable restaurant located at 2295 Greenfield Ave.
“When people come in here, they quickly become like friends to us,” Lisa says. “We have been here for six years, and in that time, we have seen a lot of loyal, repeat customers and have been able to build up a good business. We interact with the customers as friends. People love the food and the family feeling they experience here, and they keep coming back for more.”
Before moving to Noblesville, Jet worked for his aunt at the first Asian and Sushi restaurant in Fort Wayne.
“After Jet worked for her for several years, we decided to start our own business,” Lisa says. “We almost went to an area near Chicago, but we did not like all of the traffic there.”
The Lins chose Noblesville as the ideal location for their restaurant, and the rest has been history.
“We rolled the dice and took a chance,” Lisa says. “We became entrepreneurs, and it paid off. I love the way Noblesvile is so family-oriented and safe. You have the charm of a small town, but you are so close to the big city of Indianapolis. Noblesville has also grown so much since we have been there, and we have loved being a part of that growth. The support we have received from the community has been great.”
Fresh Ingredients
Lisa says one of the key ingredients to Kobayashi’s success is that everything is made fresh.
“We have fresh fish brought in twice a week from Chicago,” Lisa says. “We make all of our own sauces and salads dressings in-house. Our customers appreciate the quality and care we put into everything we make, and we have over 12 years of Sushi experience.”
Lisa’s favorite Kobayashi Asian Kitchen dinner is The Penang Curry. She also loves The Flaming Playboy Roll, with spicy tuna and fried shrimp topped with cooked shrimp, mayo, teriyaki sauce, siracha, jalapeño and “yummy” sauce.
“We serve it on fire,” Lisa says. “It’s like our own Bar-B-Q Sushi Roll. It tastes great.”
The sushi meals include The Atomic Shrimp Roll with fried shrimp, crab meat inside, tuna and salmon on top with spicy mayo. The Aloha Roll with shrimp tempura, crab meat, pineapple, avocado, on top with chili sauce and The Snow Roll with spicy tuna, fried shrimp, outside with super white tuna three sauce topping. These are just a few of the multiple sushi options.
“Customers have told us they enjoy the wide variety of choices,” Lisa says.
Asian Kitchen Dinners include Kung Pao Chicken, Hot and Spicy Chicken, Peanut Curry, Mongolian Beef, Teriyaki, Sesame Chicken, General Tao’s Chicken, and bun bo hue, among numerous other meals.
Grateful Everyday
Lisa says she is grateful for every day she has at Kobayashi. In 2010, she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. She says she has several radiation treatments that were rough.
“When I was later recuperating from my treatments, we decided it was time to make our dream of opening a restaurant become a reality,” she says. “We later opened Kobayashi, and it was a dream come true.”
Lisa is cancer free today, and her optimism is shared by her family, which includes daughter, Amber, 8, and her numerous friends and customers at Kobayashi.
“I love meeting new people and welcoming them here,” Lisa says. “It seems like every year in August, when the new school year starts, we meet new families. Over the past three years, some of the kids we used to have come in have gotten older and moved on, but we welcome the chance to meet new clientele and have them enjoy the great food and atmosphere.”
Kobayashi Sushi & Asian Kitchen
2295 Greenfield Avenue, Noblesville, In 46060
Phone: 317 774-8188
Website: kobayashisushi.com.
Lunch: Monday-Friday: 11:30 a.m. -2: p.m. Saturday: Noon- 3 p.m.
Dinner: Monday- Thursday: 4:30-9 p.m. Friday: 4:30 p.m.. – 10 p.m. Saturday: 3 p.m. – 10 p.m. Sunday: Noon-8:30 p.m.
