Tokyo Sushi will open at 3655 E. Speedway Blvd. in Tucson, with a grand opening planned for early August. The restaurant takes over the former Izumi location and will occupy roughly 5,500 square feet. Tokyo Sushi will seat between 142 and 160 guests.
Executive chef Howard Wong serves as menu creator and operating partner. William Cheung, who also owns Hana Tokyo in Tucson, holds majority ownership. Wong and Cheung spent months developing the concept together.
A team built on hibachi roots and local experience
Wong’s culinary career began in Malaysia, where he was born, before his family moved to Stockton, California, where he was raised. At 17, Wong started his restaurant career at Hana Tokyo as a hibachi chef. Working directly in front of guests taught him the importance of hospitality, consistency, and presentation, he said.
Wong has since helped open several restaurants throughout Tucson, gaining experience in menu development, kitchen operations, and restaurant management. RA Sushi and Benihana selected and sponsored him to compete in Iron Chef Tucson 2026, Wong said, but he ultimately stepped away from the competition to focus on opening Tokyo Sushi.
“Opening a restaurant of this size takes an incredible team effort,” Wong said.
Kevin Trieu serves as regional general manager and has played a major role in team development, operational planning, and training throughout the buildout.
What to expect on the menu
Tokyo Sushi will operate as an all-you-can-eat restaurant built around fine-dining presentation. Wong says the team is not trying to build just another all-you-can-eat sushi spot. Instead, Tokyo Sushi will offer fresh sushi, sashimi, nigiri, and specialty rolls alongside chef-created signature dishes.
The restaurant will also include a full hot-food kitchen, a build-your-own ramen bar, a fresh salad bar, a dessert bar, and an ice cream station, all under one roof. Many of the sauces, dressings, and specialty recipes will be made from scratch.
Signature menu items include:
- Tokyo Crispy Tuna
- Inferno Tuna Crisp
- Tokyo Mango Salmon Crisp
- Inferno Salmon Crisp
- Lemon Blossom Hamachi Crisp
- Inferno Hamachi Crisp
- Tokyo Kani Crisp
Tokyo Sushi will also offer vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.
A new chapter for the Speedway Boulevard address
The 3655 E. Speedway Blvd. location previously housed Izumi, which opened in 2018 and built a following around all-you-can-eat sushi, ramen, and Japanese appetizers. Construction on the new Tokyo Sushi buildout began roughly 45 days before the announcement and involved a full transformation of the space.
“We believe Tucson diners appreciate authenticity, creativity, and quality, and those values guided every decision we made while creating Tokyo Sushi,” Wong said. He added that the team hopes Tokyo Sushi becomes a gathering place for families celebrating milestones and friends sharing meals.
Stay tuned for additional coverage once the kitchen is open.
For more on Tucson’s all-you-can-eat sushi scene, see Tucson Foodie’s guide to sushi in Tucson and the recent opening of Kintaro on East Speedway Boulevard.
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Article written by:
Jackie Tran
More about JackieJackie Tran is a Tucson-based food writer, photographer, culinary educator, and owner-chef of the now-closed food truck Tran’s Fats. Although he is best known locally for his work for Tucson Foodie, his work has also appeared in publications such as Bon Appétit, National Geographic, and the New York Times.
An adventurous foodie, he enjoys culinary experiences ranging from seasonal omakase to sloppily devouring green chili patty melts in his car afterhours. His favorite foods include aguachile, garlic noodles, and leftover fried chicken illuminated by the fridge light. His favorite drinks include morning micheladas, fireside imperial stouts, candle-lit negroni, and grassy mezcales.
Outside of food, he also loves playing musical instruments, karaoke, Tetris, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and petting Addie’s dog Spaghetti.
If you’d like to stalk him, visit his Instagram @jackie_tran_ or jackietran.com.
