Kevin Guo, the manager of Sakura Restaurant, is happy with how his family’s company has recovered from the pandemic’s hardships. Sakura, like many other restaurants, had challenges such as a labor shortage and increased food prices, particularly on imported fish from its Japanese exporter. Sakura overcame these obstacles by limiting its menu to to-go orders, which many consumers took advantage of. Sakura eventually made a return.
It greeted guests back for indoor eating, and sales have been restored to pre-pandemic levels. The workforce has also returned to pre-pandemic levels.
Sakura debuted in La Plaza Grande on Bichara Boulevard in 2010.
The opening happened after a long trip that began in the city of Fuzhou in Southeast China. Guos’ father, Zhen Guo, gained a love and enthusiasm for Japanese food, particularly hibachi while working there.
Zhen traveled to New York City in the 1980s, where he learned about new dishes and the Japanese restaurant sector in the United States.
He worked hard to improve his cooking skills and finally started his own restaurant.
Zhen learned about a job opening at a Japanese restaurant in Orange Park, Florida, around 2000. At the time, Florida was recognized for its restaurant jobs and entrepreneurial prospects. Zhen applied for the position, was hired and served as a sushi chef there. Kevin traveled from China to Florida shortly after to study under his father.
Zhen honed both his sushi-making and business skills throughout that period. When the new decade arrived, he realized his goal by relocating to The Villages and opening Sakura Restaurant with Kevin.
Kevin is the current owner and manager of Sakura.
Sakura has debuted a new menu with popular dishes such as the shrimp tempura roll, chicken hibachi, Sakura roll, steak hibachi and more. Sakura has a location at Colony Plaza as well.
“We provide the freshest ingredients,” Kevin said. “We supply the best raw fish and the freshest fish in The Villages. We have the fish come in three times a week. That way, the fish has good quality and good flavor.”
Call Sakura at 352-205-8864 for additional information about the Lady Lake location. Visit sakuraladylake.com to place an order.
