DuBOIS — An authentic Japanese restaurant featuring fresh, house-made cuisine served with lots of culture will open its doors at the Sandy Plaza in DuBois next week.
Located in the former Napoli Restaurant and Pizzeria location at 5800 Shaffer Road, Extreme Japanese Restaurant will operate seven days a week on a first-come, first-served basis, with no reservations, said owner Qing, an experienced chef known for being a “rocket fast” sushi maker.
Hours will be Monday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Originally planned to open on Monday, June 22, the business has delayed its opening by one day to Tuesday, June 23.
Manager Trish Moore said this is the third restaurant she and Qing have partnered together to operate, having known each other for seven years.
Qing first tried to find a place to open his business in DuBois in 2022, but was unsuccessful until he returned in 2025 and learned of a storefront for sale in the Sandy Plaza. He said he very much appreciates DuBois and its people, and feels this is a unique business to offer for the community and surrounding areas to enjoy.
The Extreme Japanese Restaurant menu includes hibachi dinner and lunch options, featuring vegetables, chicken, N.Y. strip, shrimp, scallops and salmon; sushi lunch specials; Thai cuisine, such as classic “pad Thai,” Thai fried rice, green and red curry and more; combination dinner and lunch options; lunch and dinner bento boxes; several teriyaki options and more, as well as appetizers like crab rangoons, chicken and shrimp tempuras and edamame; soups and salads; sushi and sashimi, with more than 50 options for rolls listed on the menu for sushi lovers.
The restaurant’s hibachi dishes will be made in the kitchen due to spacing and ventilation, Moore said. Customers will be able to watch their sushi being freshly crafted behind the counter.
Moore said they have become accustomed to a formula that works well over the years, with experienced chefs running the back-of-the house and seasoned managers like herself manning the front. When these two cultures come together, they have the “perfect formula,” she said.
Moore and Qing said they have been renovating the space for a while now, focusing on a welcoming atmosphere for customers. According to its employees, one of the signs on the wall says it all — “Together, we make one big beautiful family.”
Moore said she has worked in a restaurant since she was 17 years old, racking up 32 years of experience under her belt. She praised her employees at the restaurant, referring to them as “amazing staff,” and a good group of people.
“These guys are so passionate,” she said of the chefs, noting they are there every day staying dedicated to what they do.
Everyone’s experience and passion for the cuisine and the people is what makes them “like one big family,” the restaurant partners said.
Besides accommodating dine-in customers, Moore said the way this cuisine is prepared makes it sustainable for takeout orders. She noted that it’s what got them through the pandemic at their last place of business — offering sustainable food options.
Qing was inspired to open this restaurant because he truly enjoys preparing the foods for people to enjoy, while offering another needed dining option in the area. He said it’s important to him that customers can come sit and savor their meal, while taking in the overall experience.
In the future, they are considering adding a small-scale bar area, as right now, the restaurant is BYOB.
Extreme Japanese Restaurant will also offer an online ordering option when it opens. Qing and Moore noted they are still hiring front-of-house employees at this time.
AloJapan.com