Frisco’s Sushi NuNu Pairs Uchi Technique With Tokyo’s Freshest Imports

Dallas experienced a brief wave of sushi culture last year, during which all these shiny, new restaurants had one thing in common — fish imported daily from Toyosu Market in Tokyo.

The Toyosu Fish Market is one of Tokyo's largest and most famous markets. It sells and auctions fish from all over the world. Dallas restaurants know it best for auctioning bluefin tuna, but it also imports a variety of different kinds of sushi.
For imports, it's all about who you know because there's a hierarchy for who gets the best fish. High-dollar restaurants come way before any lesser-known shops, which is why it's practically mandatory for omakase restaurants, and a subtle, but important nod that separates some sushi restaurants from others.

Namo, Tatsu, Mabo and Uchi, among other two-syllable-named restaurants, are a handful that have access in Dallas. So what happens when a chef from one of these restaurants leaves and opens his own space? Well, he takes his Toyosu Market hook-up with him.

In October 2023, chef Sunny Song parted ways with one of Dallas' most popular sushi restaurants, Uchiko, to open Sushi Nunu, his own low-key restaurant in Frisco that parallels a daily sushi restaurant one would visit in Japan: all quality, but none of the pretentiousness.
Sitting at the sushi bar gives one the best view of the daily offerings imported from Toyosu Market. Bluefin tuna in three formats is available, but obviously, one should always try the bluefin otoro (tuna belly). Other featured items are kanpachi, a type of amberjack and engawa, a special muscle from a flounder fin.

The menu blends traditional sushi restaurant fare with more casual Japanese dishes, such as shishito peppers, fried rice, katsu, udon, rice bowls, and, of course, not-too-sweet desserts.
We made a subtle dent in the menu with our order: karaage chicken, pork chicken dumplings, negi hama roll, mach maki roll, a Dallas roll, two pieces of hotate (scallop sushi) and a complimentary kasugo dai from the sushi counter.

Karaage is a staple at any Japanese restaurant. Every place does it a little differently, but you can't beat the spicy chicken with a tangy mayo dipping sauce. The dumplings were the ideal balance between steamed and crispy, and we'll most certainly be back for the stuffed jalapeño peppers and ikageso, fried squid leg with kimchi sauce.
Our favorite of the three rolls was the Negi Hama, which balances texture and flavors. Put hamachi or any other tuna in a roll with fresh ingredients, and we're sold. We didn't touch our soy sauce for the entire meal, and that's a tell-tale sign of a successful sushi night.

After trying scallop sushi at Tatsu, I made a point always to order it when I am out because it's consistently a standout. If the quality is right, the scallop is buttery, sweet and just a little salty. It all blends seamlessly into one bite, and if you ever want to branch out from your typical order, this is an excellent way to do it.
Sushi NuNu is a destination for casual and serious sushi lovers where you really can come as you are and have fresh-as-we-can-get-in-Texas fish. Let it be known that while it may be a "hidden gem" for Dallasites, Frisco is already filling the dining room on Saturday nights.

Sushi NuNu, 12275 University Drive, Monday/Wednesday-Friday, 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. & 4:30 p.m. - 10 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.; Sunday, 12 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.; Tuesday, closed.