Zumi Modern Sushi quietly slipped into soft-open mode last Monday in Southlake, taking over the former Coolgreens space and, for now, sticking to a reservations-only game plan while the team fine-tunes service. The concept mixes classic nigiri and sashimi with big, showy "modern" rolls and a compact, cocktail-heavy bar program. It is the latest project from local restaurateur Jackie Kaewlamduan and chef Pae Suphakit.
Who’s behind the new spot
Kaewlamduan is already familiar to local diners for her Ka Thai restaurants, while chef Pae brings experience from high-end sushi kitchens along with a technical background the team says shapes their precise cuts and plating, as reported by CultureMap Fort Worth.
Where it sits and the build-out
The restaurant occupies a roughly 2,578-square-foot suite in the Kimball Oaks shopping center off Southlake Boulevard. Project records from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation list the build-out and an inspection-complete status for "Zumi Modern Sushi." Community Impact previously covered the planned conversion of the former Coolgreens, along with Instagram teasers that popped up during construction.
Menu and mood
The opening menu divides sushi into familiar maki, including spicy tuna, shrimp tempura and salmon-avocado, and larger "modern" rolls like the Sake Flame, Toro Special, Seared Tuna with crispy onion and Tuna Wasabi. Inside, the room leans dark and sleek, with black marble tables, U-shaped backlit wall modules and a 10-seat L-shaped sushi bar. The team is pouring cocktails alongside rich, dessert-focused finishes, and manager Jada Phommavong said they are staying reservations-only for now while they get their rhythm down.
What it adds to Southlake
Kaewlamduan's Ka Thai story is detailed in a Dallas Morning News profile, and the paper also chronicled the 2023 closing of Yutaka Sushi Bistro, an Uptown fixture whose exit shook up the Dallas sushi landscape. Zumi gives Southlake its own chef-driven sushi option as the suburb's dining lineup continues to broaden with independent and regional concepts.
For the moment, Zumi remains in soft-open mode with reservation-only seating. The team expects to extend hours and open more slots for walk-ins later this month. Southlake diners looking for a higher-end sushi experience now have a new place that bets on technique while still serving the kind of eye-catching rolls that tend to pack suburban dining rooms.
