Alameda Business Spotlight: Yellow Tail Japanese Bistro

Owners: Gary Wong, Brian He, Joe Dang and Grace Fung

When did you move to your new location? Joe: We opened April 22. It took almost a whole year to remodel the place. We ripped everything out—we opened up the ceiling, redid the electrical, redid the walls.

It seems much bigger than your old location. What’s the seating capacity? Gary: The restaurant can now seat up to 100 people. The upstairs is available for private parties.

What are some of the special rolls you serve? Gary: We’ve invented so many over the years. Girlfriend roll, burrito roll, ninja roll, sumo roll. We take special requests, and if we don’t have a particular type of fish that a customer wants, we will special order it. Joe: Gary always asks the customers what kind of fish they like and makes something to their taste. Brian: I like spicy food so my roll, Brian’s roll, is made with spicy tuna, inside and outside, topped with seaweed salad.

Who supplies your fish? Gary: Our supplier is a Japanese company. They import the fish from Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam and Canada. We still get some fish from Japan.

Have customers expressed concerns about the safety of the fish after the nuclear plant leaks in Japan? Gary: I always tell customers not to worry about it. The FDA is really, really strict.

I see a blowfish over the sushi bar. Do you serve fugu? Gary: No, you have to have a license to serve that. We got that one as a gift from a friend of mine who caught it in Thailand.

Why did you choose to stay in Alameda? Joe: Customer loyalty. The majority of our customers live in Alameda. After a while, they become more than customers. They are our friends.

is now located at 1332C Park St.