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Banzai! A Sumo-Sized Sushi Special in Tower District
David Taub Website photo 2024
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 3 years ago on
January 24, 2022

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Like many restaurateurs, David Rasavong is second-generation. His parents operated restaurants in San Francisco and Fresno, and joining them seemed natural.

David Taub

“In my mid-20s, I decided, maybe I do like this, and I jumped into the restaurant industry,” Rasavong said.

Last year, he opened Banzai Japanese Bar and Kitchen (603 E. Olive Avenue, Suite C in Fresno) in the Tower District.

He also operates the Lincoln Pub & Grub next door.

Sushi Sized for a Behemoth

“They’re definitely a lot more out there in terms of they’re really large, they’re in your face.”Banzai Japanese Bar & Kitchen owner David Rasavong

Sushi is on the menu as part of Banzai’s specials for Restaurant Week. Thirteen area eateries are offering specials for $20.22 as part of the California Restaurant Association, Fresno chapter event that runs through Sunday, Jan. 30. A full list can be found here.

“Restaurant Week is very exciting for us, just because it’s January and historically restaurants are slower because after the holidays. People are kind of a little bit more low-key. They don’t go out as much,” Rasavong said.

The week offers restaurants a showcase to try new menu items.

“They’re definitely a lot more out there in terms of they’re really large, they’re in your face. And, at Banzai, we want to have fun and this is a fun way to introduce something that’s different and see how people respond,” Rasavong said.

Banzai is selling three sushi-themed meals.

The Yokozuna roll is a deep-fried sushi roll with yellowtail and salmon, topped with scallops, shrimp, tempura, tobiko, green onion, and unagi. It also includes a beer.

“Yokozuna, because I grew up a wrestling fan, and Yokozuna was a big sumo character, and this is going to be our biggest roll on the menu,” Rasavong said.

In the 1990s, the WWF champion Yokozuna was a 500-pound monster of a man. Yokozuna is also the title of a sumo grand champion.

The other specials include:

— A sushi bento box featuring salmon belly sashimi, choice of California roll or spicy tuna roll, house salad, and rice;

— “Tsunami Roll” which is yellowtail, salmon, cucumber, and avocado topped with a variety of fish, Tobiko, unagi sauce. and macadamia. The special includes a beer.

Banzai named one of its sushi specials after WWE Hall of Famer Yokozuna. (WWE)

A Family Tradition

Rasavog’s parents — Khamminh and Bounma Rasavong — moved to Fresno, convinced by relatives that the city was a place where their restaurants could thrive. They owned Thai Palm House and Mama’s Asian Noodle House. David, born in raised in San Francisco, followed his family to Fresno.

“I never even heard of Fresno when that happened. My mother and my older brother came and they opened up the restaurant. In the summer of my 21st birthday, I said, Hey, why don’t I just, for the summer, move to Fresno to help them out? And when older brother sees younger brother come do everything, he told me you’re staying,” Rasavong recalls.

For David, his motivation for running a sushi restaurant in the Tower District was to carry on the legacy of the now-relocated Tower Sushi.

“Because of that, there was a need for Japanese in the Tower District. I was a little bit apprehensive because I come from a Lao-Thai background when it comes to cuisine. But my chefs are so amazing,” Rasavong said.

Rasavong met his head chef, Nestor Ha, when he hired Ha to cater his wedding rehearsal dinner. Along with sushi chef James Sitthi, they worked together to develop the menu.

[Correction: an earlier version of this story listed Sitthi as head chef. He is the sushi chef.]
Above: The bento box special for $20.22 at Banzai Japanese Bar & Kitchen. (GV Wire/David Taub). Below, the Tsunami roll includes a beer. (GV Wire/Johnny Soto)

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David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

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