Rayza's Restaurant, Daphne

By: Gina Lanaux

There has been a lot of buzz about a new Asian Fusion restaurant in Daphne, so on Friday night, my party of three happily set off for the 20-minute drive, to experience the much-talked-about place. Reservations are recommended, so we were early birds and a table was ready for us at 5:15 pm. At 6:45 when we were finished, the establishment was packed! This tells us they are doing something right!

A brand new eatery, established in 2023, sushi, steak, and seafood are their specialties. On Highway 90, the location is easy to find, and the atmosphere is pleasing, decorated in soft, muted colors with big abstract paintings adorning the walls. A large sushi bar at the back attracted customers, and the staff welcomed us warmly. Lydia, our server, was attentive, and at my request, Laura, owner, and wife of Chef Rayza, came to the table and told me their story. 

Laura, a Mobilian, and Chef Rayza, from Jakarta, Indonesia, met at Chuck’s Fish restaurant in Tuscaloosa, where she was a server and he was head chef and sushi roller. They fell in love, married, and came to Mobile to help open Chuck’s Fish in Mobile. Settling in Daphne with two children, they wondered what was next for their careers. Laura entered a corporate wellness position because she had a degree in Exercise Science, while Rayza enrolled in Highland’s College to pursue what he thought could be full-time ministry.  After much prayer and reflection, they decided to create their own restaurant. Here is Chef Rayza’s story.

Most of his childhood in Indonesia was spent in the kitchen where he fell in love with the art of cooking. Rayza landed his first job in the kitchen of a 5-star hotel called Nikko. At 19, he left his country for Dubai, determined to turn his passion for food into a career. He studied his art meticulously and learned the ins and outs of the entire hospitality industry. 

After developing a solid foundation in the Middle East, his journey to the US began in the galley of a cruise ship. As a chef on this ship, he held many different positions and gained valuable experience. After 20 years in the industry, Rayza’s dream is now a reality, and the cuisine at his new venue is incredible!

We wanted to try everything and vowed to all order something different and allow each other to taste it. Laura made some very good recommendations, so we started with something I always order at Asian restaurants because it's so healthy, Seaweed Salad. The serving was generous and fresh with a perfect sesame dressing. 

My husband and daughter ordered miso soup and coconut soup, which are favorites of ours. All the appetizers were exceptionally good and we were excited to order the entrees. Julia chose the catch of the day; swordfish served on cheese grits with asparagus and napa cabbage slaw. The curry cream sauce on the fish was divine. 

Martin and I had sushi; he had a spider roll and I had a C Roll. A C Roll is baked scallops, shrimp, and bacon, topped with smoked salmon. The presentation was beautiful and it too was simple, fresh, and delicious. The spider roll was Futomaki style, which means the seaweed was on the outside, sort of an inside-out roll. It was made with soft shell crab, avocado, green onion, and sweet soy. 

Sushi is truly an art form and these rolls were pleasing to the eye and the palate. Homemade coffee ice cream and homemade yuzu ice cream were the perfect ending to our dinner. Yuzu is an Asian citrus fruit which is a combination of both lemon and lime and the ice cream was so flavorful that we all agreed it was another “best we’ve ever had” dessert. 

Good Food with a Purpose is the tagline on their website, Rayzasrestaurant.com. They have partnered with Wycliffe Bible Translations and give a portion of their sales to help those who don't have a bible translation in their language. Their current mission is to serve guests culturally- diverse food with bold new flavors.  I would say mission accomplished!  

Rayza’s is open for Lunch Thursday - Saturday 11 am -2:30 pm and Dinner, Tuesday -Saturday 4:30 -9:30, and closed Sunday and Monday.  The Scenic 98 Coastal area is lucky to have this high-quality establishment in its midst.