At Don Sushi, a fusion of Mexican and Japanese flavors

Don Sushi, a unique fusion restaurant blending the flavors of Japanese and Mexican cuisine, opened its doors in Wasco in August. The restaurant is the collaborative creation of owners David Sauceda, Baudel Guerrero and chef Kevin Vizcarra.

Vizcarra, who has been cooking since the age of 16, says his passion lies in the reactions of customers as they experience his dishes. "What excites me most is seeing the look on customers' faces when they try our plates. And also, the possibilities that cooking offers you-possibilities you won't find elsewhere."

One of the most popular dishes on the menu is the "40 Roll," a fusion roll made with crab, fried shrimp, chipotle sauce and eel sauce. Another standout is the "Octopus Zarandeado," grilled octopus with a mustard-like flavor blended with spices and their signature sauce. "It's the sauce that gives it a unique touch because we invented the sauce here. The entire menu draws inspiration from Sinaloan cuisine, where we're from. Our food is a fusion of Japanese and Mexican," says Vizcarra.

In addition to sushi, Don Sushi serves seafood and hot dishes, including shrimp in green sauce, shrimp in spicy diabla sauce, and a customer favorite, Cajun-style Louisiana shrimp. "We've received great feedback. Most people come to try the sushi, which is the focus of the restaurant. Many customers are familiar with the Japanese concept of sushi, but they give our version a try and end up loving it," adds Vizcarra.

Sauceda emphasizes the restaurant's dedication to keeping their sushi faithful to its Sinaloan roots, while adding modern touches. "In the U.S., you'll find many references to Sinaloan sushi, but we believe they are somewhat outdated. We strive to stay as true as possible to the origin, while embracing the new style of Sinaloan sushi," he explains.

Don Sushi prides itself on using fresh, high-quality ingredients. Their homemade sauces, including soy sauce, are made with the freshest ingredients. They source seafood such as scallops and octopus from Baja California and meats locally. Their natural drinks, including their signature hibiscus (Jamaica) beverage, are made in-house. "We extract the concentrate from the hibiscus flower to create our house drink. Our portions are large, too," Sauceda said.

Customer Maria Reyes shared her experience: "This is my third time here, and we keep coming back. The flavor is great and authentic. The dishes are different – we had the seafood tower, the G-roll and oyster shots. It's fresh, the service is good, and we always take some to go."

Saucedo said they chose Wasco as a location to open because Baudel was born here. "We wanted to start this project in his hometown. We even have a roll in memory of Wasco, the 'Tiger Roll,' as Baudel was part of the WHS football team."

Guerrero, proud of opening Don Sushi in his hometown, said, "I'm excited and honored. It means a lot to come back after graduating nine years ago and be able to contribute and share this with my family."

As for the future, the team has ambitious plans, "Our next location will be in Bakersfield. People are already asking for it, and we plan to launch our second location there in three months. Within a year, our goal is to have three locations, with the third in Visalia," Saucedo said.

Guerrero added, "That's our goal, and we've had a great start. It's been busy, and we've been well received by Wasco and surrounding areas, including Shafter and Bakersfield."

Don Sushi, 922 7th St., is open Sunday to Thursday, 12 -8 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 12 -10 p.m. For more information, call 661-759-6099.