The popular Japanese ninja-inspired Sus Hi Eatstation is getting ready to open at the end of April here in the Nonahood. We sat down with husband and wife dynamo duo owners Teresa and Robert Ly to chat about their upcoming restaurant and life in the Nonahood.

What do you love most about living in Lake Nona?  

We’ve lived in Lake Nona for a little over 10 years now when there wasn’t much in the area. Funny thing was, Robert and I didn’t know we lived less than 10 minutes from each other when we first met. You can say our relationship started in Lake Nona and has been a huge part of our life and growth. Besides the special place that Lake Nona holds in our hearts, we also love all the growth we’ve seen this past decade. It brings us tremendous joy to see more businesses and more people flood into the area. We are super proud to be a part of the Lake Nona community!!

What are some of the biggest changes in the food scene you have noticed in Lake Nona?

Well, we now have ubereats, so that’s a big one! Seriously, though, some of our favorite restaurants are literally in our own backyard, which is rare to say considering how picky we are as food lovers. There’s just so much growth, and we’re happy to be a part of it.

What are some of your favorite places to eat in Lake Nona?

Robert: I absolutely adore Nona Blue. The chef there just knows his stuff. You want a medium rare ribeye? That’s what you’re going to get.

Teresa: I would love to see more Asian spots but am happy to be close to Durian Durian when I’m craving some chicken panang curry or Thai hot drunken noodles.

Tell us about what is Sus Hi Eatstation – what can new customers expect to find and eat at the restaurant?

Sus Hi Eatstation is a fast-casual, customizable sushi restaurant. Our rolls, bowls, and burritos are served assembly-line style, and built fresh, right in front of you. What customers can expect when they visit is a fun, unique experience. We do sushi differently.

What are the most popular dishes at the restaurant?

People love our sushi bowls. We’re a great place for sushi beginners because we have a lot of cooked options like steak, grilled chicken, and shrimp tempura. My husband’s favorite bowl is chicken tempura, steak, spicy salmon with cheese, bacon, tempura flakes, cucumber, avocado, jalapeños, sweet potato flakes, fire sauce, and mango habanero sauce. Me? I keep mine simple, and I’m definitely a roller. My favorite thing to make is krab and shrimp tempura rolls with cream cheese topped with volcano, scallions, and nori seasoning with sweet soy sauce (eel sauce). Rice fries and krab rangoons are super popular, too!

Sus Hi Eatstation Lake Nona, 9680 Narcoossee Rd. #102, Orlando, FL 32827, sushieatstation.com, opening late April 2018.

One Year Update –  Pig Floyd’s Urban Barbakoa Lake Nona

Known for their succulent barbecue ribs and Latin fusion flare, it’s been one year since Pig Floyd’s made a huge splash on the Lake Nona food scene. We catch up with owner Thomas Ward to get the skinny on how things are going and what’s new.

Ward tells us, “Lake Nona has been a great second location for us. As we started, we had so much support from the community that sometimes we weren’t able to properly take care of our guests. As time has passed, the waters have calmed down, and we have been working hard on consistency and timing. We want to be in Nona for a long time.

“Our taco specials and our bento box combos are super popular. Because the Nona community is so focused on health and the quantity of food, these two items are good value for the amount of food served. So, we are currently working on some more taco additions and working on adding beef ribs as a weekly special. We want to focus heavily on building an efficient menu that can be executed every time.

“We love being part of the Lake Nona community and appreciate all the support that we have gotten from the local residents. If there’s any way we can make your experience better, don’t hesitate to let us know. Thank you from me and all our staff!”

Pig Floyd’s Urban Barbakoa Lake Nona, 9680 Narcoossee Rd. Suite 103, Orlando, FL 32827, pigfloyds.com.

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Ricky Ly is the author of the Food Lover’s Guide to Orlando and founder of the local Orlando food blog TastyChomps.com. He has lived in the Lake Nona area for more than 10 years with his wife, May, and baby daughter. He also serves on the board of directors for Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. Have tips on new favorite eats? E-mail him at [email protected] or join the conversation online at the Orlando Foodie Forum on Facebook.