Tasu Asian Bistro opens in Cary’s Waverly Place

Tasu Asian Bistro has opened its second location, bringing its popular sushi and Asian fusion concept to Cary’s Waverly Place.

Tasu’s food, which centers around sushi, covers the full range of Asian cuisine, said Steven Famiglietta, chief operating officer of Shiki Sushi in Durham and Tasu Asian Bistros, which has another location in Brier Creek.

The menu is similar to those restaurants. In addition to sushi specials, the menu features a mix of Chinese, Japanese and Thai dishes, along with Hibachi dishes, noodles and curry dishes. There also also are burgers made with wagyu meat, poke bowls (fish served over rice) and an Asian feast that combines the menu’s highlights for two.

“We hit every Asian authenticity in our ingredients and we import them to make it as authentic as possible,” Famiglietta said. “When it comes to the owners being of Vietnamese descent, they in turn put an emphasis on the pho, and also Saigon street noodles, which is a mainstay in street food in Vietnam.”

Famiglietta said the diverse cuisines at existing Waverly Place restaurants was part of the attraction to opening there. The shopping center at the corner of Kildaire Farm and Tryon roads, is home to a new Gonza Tacos Y Tequila, Enrigo Italian Bistro, Famous Toastery and Taziki’s Mediterraean Cafe.

“In this plaza, with the draw that’s here, it makes a perfect mix, an eclectic mix, with Enrigo, Gonza and ourselves to draw more people to the plaza,” Famiglietta said. “It makes it more desirable as well.”

Tasu had a location in Cary Crossroads but closed in May 2016. Famiglietta said opening in Waverly Place so soon after closing the Cary Crossroads location is unrelated. He said the Waverly Place location was found after the Cary Crossroads property already had been sold to a developer.

Tramy Tran, one of the owners of the new restaurant, said she had heard residents asking for an Asian restaurant in Waverly Place.

“I live near here, and I love this area,” Tran said. “I’ve always thought we needed a little Asian restaurant, and I heard people saying ‘We need an Asian restaurant.’”

The restaurant group has made an effort to contribute to charitable organizations. In the past, Tasu and Shiki Sushi have contributed to the Tammy Lynn Center, which helps people with developmental disabilities, as well as Rehema Homes in Kenya and Nairobi, which provide housing for orphans.

This month, Tasu is continuing charitable efforts by raising money for an organization that provides bulletproof vests for police dogs.

Info: 525 New Waverly Place, Suite 103, Cary, shikitasu.com, facebook.com/TasuWaverly/

This story was originally published June 6, 2017 at 8:00 AM with the headline "Tasu Asian Bistro opens in Cary’s Waverly Place."