Popular Sushi Restaurant Moves to Sparks

The popular sushi restaurant that used to be on Skyline Drive in Reno moved to 1495 East Prater Way in Sparks and its new and existing customers are thrilled with Hiroba’s accessibility.

Leilani Iyulo, a Sparks resident and server at Hiroba for the past two years, likes that it moved closer to home and finds that the space is ideal for offering better customer service.

The plan five years ago was for Hiroba to open two locations in the Reno-Sparks area. That was finally able to happen when the two original owners split ways and one of them moved the business- and its name- over to Sparks.

“We have a lot of customers from the first location coming over here,” Iyulo says. “The other day a customer came in with her 2-year-old and I remember when she was pregnant! I’ve noticed that we have a steadier pace, the wait time isn’t as bad, and the service is a lot better,” she adds in comparing what the old location was like compared to the new one.

“We do things a little different here in how we approach customers, set tables, and using our new POS (Point of Sale) system,” she says. Reopening in June of last year, Hiroba gets a good amount of customers from Reno and Sparks as well as Lake Tahoe and surrounding areas. “We’re in a better area with Legends and other businesses close by. (Our location) at Skyline was kind of hidden,” she says.

Hiroba has always been known for its reasonably-priced, authentic sushi rolls. It is continuing to offer its All-You-Can-Eat lunch for $18.95 ($23.95 dinner), free sake (for those 21 and up) Monday-Thursday, and AYCE 10-stamp card. Hiroba’s menu hasn’t changed at all, still offering my favorites such as the Sunflower roll (made up of spicy tuna, cucumber, banana, and krab mix) due to its spicy kick and complementary banana flavoring and the decently-sized Guapo roll made of cream cheese, crystal shrimp, cilantro, avocado and krab mix.

Hiroba also offers unique items such as green tea cheesecake or custom-made dessert rolls. After every meal, the staff serves its guests a cut orange with plum wine drizzled on top. For the non-sushi people, Hiroba can even cook up chicken teriyaki or bulgogi (marinated sliced beef with Korean BBQ sauce).

The most popular items on the menu are the Guapo, Hiroba, Donald Duck, Mickey, and Snow Mountain sushi rolls. “But everything is awesome,” Iyulo says. “I like the special yakiton appetizers and the R&B roll- it tastes super fresh with cucumber and tuna. I eat here way too much- at least twice a week. It’s tempting because I’m already at work, but it’s a nice place to hang out even when I’m not working,” she says.

Residing in Spanish Springs, Will McDermott was hired at the new Hiroba two weeks after it opened and enjoys his first serving job.

“All of the employees are very diverse, this place has a tight-knit family-like feel and I’ve never felt that in any other job before. I like talking to people and being in a social, fun environment. I see many familiar faces in here all the time,” he says.

On a late Saturday afternoon, Hiroba is busy and the sous chefs are chatting up the customers at the bar. One sous chef says he’s been at Hiroba since its beginning and likes the Sparks location much better. “It’s smaller and easier to manage,” he says.

“I love Hiroba, it’s a very family-oriented environment with good energy, and the food is delicious,” Iyulo says.

“It’s hands-down the best sushi in town,” McDermott adds. Hiroba Sushi is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.