Community Spotlight – Awabi Sushi Bar

Published on May 31, 2024

Did you know that May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month? On May 7, 1843, the first Japanese immigrant arrived in the United States. Since 1990, Americans have celebrated Asian American and Pacific Islanders’ (AAPI) contribution to our country. Whether in sports, medicine, science, arts, education, and so much more, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have made a tremendous mark. 

To commemorate AAPI Heritage Month, we recently stopped by Awabi, an Asian American-owned restaurant on the Winchester Old Town Walking Mall. Awabi is Japanese for the shellfish Abalone, a delicacy in Asia and around the world!

Awabi owners Marcus Doe and Emma Lee, who both have Korean ancestry, are master sushi chefs with 32 years of experience preparing and serving the ancient Japanese cuisine. What sets their sushi apart is the perfect balance of flavors, the freshness of the ingredients, and the meticulous preparation that goes into each roll. For the last 14 years, they have operated Awabi and brought fantastic sushi to Winchester.

As you might imagine, you can’t learn how to make sushi on YouTube! After serving in the U.S. Army in South Korea, Marcus studied as a sushi chef for eight months at the prestigious Sam Sung Culinary Academy in Seoul, where he learned the basics of sushi preparation. 

Becoming a sushi chef, however, also requires several years of working as an apprentice before being recognized as a professional sushi chef, or “shokunin.” Proper sushi preparation requires a sophisticated understanding of fish handling, expert knife skills, rice preparation, and knowledge of how much vinegar to use with different types of fish.