We recently connected with Sara Nam and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Sara thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So, what do you think about family businesses? Would you want your children or other family members to one day join your business?

As a veteran of the family business world, I respect all the work and sacrifice that families put forth in their businesses. Mom-and-pop, hole-in-the-wall stores — whatever you want to call them — seem to defy the odds and that is what I admire about them. I have been engaged in the family restaurant world from a young age, and in my experience, many families have little to no formal training. Whether that be accounting for expenses, creating products, or advertising the business, family-run operations must learn these skills through experience. I think when a family business does well, that business is just a testament to the hard work put in to get to that point.

I also believe family businesses are the heart and soul of the local community and culture. You feel special when you’ve been frequenting that local hidden gem and the shop owners know you by name. Word spreads around and, in a matter of time, all the locals know that family business. What especially inspires me is how small business can now use social media to leverage themselves to reach people they previously would not have reached. I appreciate how family businesses can thrive in markets dominated by big businesses, while also maintaining their distinct charm. These businesses truly add character to their cities and neighborhoods, and naturally, people associate places with the stores that serve them.

Sara, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Edoko Omakase is about presenting our guests the freshest sushi and Japanese cuisine. We proudly specialize in omakase, in which the guest will leave it up to the chef to serve an array of dazzling and innovative dishes. At our restaurant, all are welcome to enjoy DFW’s finest fusion of ambience, creativity, and flavor. Dallasites won’t be able to taste the flavors of Japan anywhere else.

Our restaurant was established to address the need for Japanese cuisine with an original flair in the DFW area. With Executive Chef Keunsik Lee joining us from the restaurant’s founding, we have been fortunate to share our love for quality sushi and omakase with our guests. Edoko Omakase also boasts a diverse selection of sake that must be paired with our dishes — something people would be hard-pressed to get elsewhere.

One thing I am proud of is our next-door cafe that is currently in the works. We will proudly serve Japanese coffee, known as Ogawa, and we are excited to serve up sushi, sake, and coffee all in one building. Those who dine at our establishment will be exposed to freshness, innovation and originality.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

We like to offer something to look forward to. For example, we will periodically host a sake pairing where the clients are served specially curated sushi-sake combinations. As seating arrangements for the pairings are limited, our guests constantly sign up for the pairing events and, as a result, these events pique the curiosity of more and more guests. You could say we offer incentives for our clients on top of the menu we already have.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

We have brought more attention to omakase cuisine not only to Las Colinas but the entire DFW area. Our willingness to diversify and expand the sushi experience has built our reputation, and we look forward to building upon our reputation further. Edoko Omakase wants guests to indulge in new combinations of flavor, style and presentation and we gladly accept the challenge of spearheading creativity in the sushi dining experience.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.edokolascolinas.com
• Instagram: edoko_omakase

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