Samurai Blue is about 10 minutes from my house so I was able to watch the construction of the building from the first time I noticed it earlier this year. It’s funny how we never notice much when old things disappear and new things appear. I’ve been eyeballing it for a few months now and figuring out when I had time to go. A couple weeks ago, I got the chance to finally go when I interviewed owners Rosa and Yung Kim. The restaurant just opened in August and I can see why folks love their food.

Here’s an excerpt from the article about Samurai Blue relocating:

“Wife-and-husband duo Rosa and Yung Kim have relocated the signature sushi at Samurai Blue’s second location to the Carrollwood area of Tampa. A little over a month ago, their new restaurant quietly opened at 13703 N. Dale Mabry Highway, which previously housed an auto shop.

“This time around we didn’t do a grand opening because we were trying to get construction done ASAP,” according to co-owner Rosa, who also serves as general manager. “As soon as everything was done, we opened the next morning.”

In 2001, the original Samurai Blue outpost premiered at Centro Ybor in historic Ybor City. The inspiration behind the restaurant, as Rosa tells it, is pretty simple.

“The way of life for the samurai is with their sword, like how the knife is a way of life for the sushi chef,” she said, adding that the “blue” in Samurai Blue represents her favorite color. “We just want an establishment where you come in for any occasion and feel like you’re at home.”

The opening of Samurai Blue Westchase followed in 2006. When it came time to renew the restaurant’s lease, the Kims went another route, opting instead to move their second location to a different part of Tampa. Carrollwood became their number-one choice.”

To learn more about Samurai Blue, click here.