New Korean and Japanese grill opens in former Prime Steakhouse space in Rockford
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — A new restaurant serving authentic Korean and Japanese cuisine including a wide range of sushi and sashimi has opened in the former Prime Steakhouse on the city’s east side.
Sushi KO: Korean and Japanese Grill fills the space at 6565 Lexus Drive, which is off East State Street and Trainer Road near Beefaroo. Prime quietly closed about two weeks ago, and Wednesday was opening night for Sushi KO. Prime had been in business since 2022.
“It was time to turn over a new leaf,” said Matt Idzikowski, the owner of Prime and an owner and business partner in the new enterprise. “We are excited to start this new chapter.”
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Sushi KO is co-owned and run by brothers Steve Han and Kyoung moon Han, the latter who simply goes by Han. The natives of Korea are both chefs who spent years honing their craft in their home country before coming to the United States.
Han said they want to share their passion for Korean and Japanese cuisine with Rockford region, and hope to create an atmosphere where every feels welcomed and appreciates the care they put into each dish.
The brothers have spent years in the restaurant industry, including partnering with Idzikowski to take over management of Omakase at 223 E. State St. in downtown last year.
At Sushi KO, they’ll offer traditional Korean dishes such as bibimbap, a rice bowl topped with fresh vegetables, gochujang sauce and your choice of bulgogi beef, chicken, spicy pork or kimchi and mozzarella cheese. It’s served in a Korean style hot stone bowl.
There is also a variety of ramen, including bulgogi beef, spicy seafood and black garlic, among others.
They also offer nigiri sushi and sashimi and a variety of rolls such as the signature Flaming Dragon, a flaming roll that comes with shrimp tempura, cream cheese and avocado topped with seared eel, onion flakes and eel sauce.
Idzikowski described it as an “elegant” level of cuisine.
Appetizers include Korean kimchi pancakes, Korean seafood green onion pancake, jalapeno poppers, egg rolls and other traditional starters.
There’s also avocado ball — a compact blend of spicy crab, spicy tuna, stuffed avocado, house ginger dressing and eel sauce — and monkey brain, which is spicy tuna and crab meat wrapped in avocado and deep fried with spicy mayo, eel sauce and crunch.
Idzikowski made the decision to close Prime at the same time as Taco Libre, a street taco shop and tequila bar that opened late last year at 501 E. State St., filling the former Vintage 501.
Taco Libre is now listed for sale for $500,000 through Coldwell Banker Realty.
About | Sushi KO
Where: 6565 Lexus Drive, Rockford
Open: Tuesday-Sunday
Hours: 11:30 a.m. am to 2 p.m. (lunch); 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. dinner
On the web: sushikorockford.com
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This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas
