Temaki Sushi Bar Brings 'High Quality, High End' Sushi to Media

The storefront at 19 S. Olive Street has housed several sushi restaurants in its day, but as of last month, calls it home. Owner John Taddei and executive chef Aki Lee seek to offer high-end, high-quality, affordable sushi to customers at the new Media restaurant.

"We cater to people who love sushi," Taddei said simply. " … We take pride in all our different specialty rolls, and what we like to promote is that we are high end and our quality is impeccable."

Born and raised in Havertown, Taddei has lived in Media for the past 15 years with his wife and kids. Temaki is his first restaurant venture.

"I enjoy [sushi], my kids enjoy it, my wife enjoys it; it seems the more I eat, the more I want to learn about it," he said.

It's that love that led to Temaki, situated in downtown Media close to the courthouse. "I think [Temaki is] the perfect match for the location," Taddei said. "Me being from the area and knowing the people and the community—I just felt like it would work."

Temaki's executive chef, Aki Lee, comes to Temaki following almost 30 years in the Manhattan restaurant industry and before that, five years as a sushi chef in Japan. Taddei met Lee through a mutual friend.

"[Lee] was looking to relocate; I met him in Chinatown in Philly and we hit it off really well, and I knew he had the same vision as me. ... He's the inspiration behind this place—him and all his dishes," Taddei said.

Lee personally inspects all the fish used at Temaki before it enters the restaurant to ensure that it is fresh and top quality. He uses a variety of fruits to complement many of his sushi dishes.

"It's very different from what you're used to seeing at typical sushi restaurant, a different flavor," Taddei said.

Temaki's menu features 24 types of rolls (most between $3 and $5.50) and 14 different specialty rolls ($7.50 to $15.95), including Taddei's favorite, the Tuna Tuna roll: spicy tuna, seared sesame black pepper tuna and mango with crunchy topping and ponzu sauce ($12.50). Another favorite, and one of Lee's specialties, is the Deluxe Roll: avocado, cucumber, asparagus, mango, white fish, kiwi, mango, strawberry, jalapeno and tobiko ($12.95).

The menu also includes a variety of sashimi entrees, cold and hot appetizers and hot entrees like grilled Chilean sea bass ($22.95) and chicken teriyaki ($12.95) for "that one person in a group who doesn't like sushi," Taddei said.

All items are available for eat-in, take out, or free delivery.

The restaurant is aiming to keep prices affordable, particularly in areas like its lunch specials. Monday through Friday, Temaki offers two rolls of your choice, plus soup and salad, for $9.95, or three rolls plus soup and salad for $12.95.

"Our hope is you're like lunch so much, you'll come back for dinner," Taddei said.

Temaki had a soft opening on the last Wednesday of May, Taddei said. There will be a grand opening in "the very near future."

"We're always striving to improve it—to make it the best quality. When people come in here we want to wow them, to love us, to love the service; our goal is high end, not just in the neighborhood, but also in the county; we feel we're there and we want to be known for high quality," Taddei said.

Temaki Sushi Bar:

19 S. Olive Street, Media || 610-566-5363 || temaki-sushi.com

• Eat-in, take out, free delivery
• Free lot, metered street parking
• Reservations accepted
• Lunch: Mon – Fri: 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Dinner: Mon – Thurs: 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Friday: 4:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.; Saturday: 2 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday: 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Check out the full menu online http://www.temaki-sushi.com/menu.html