Exploring Cobo Sushi's Evolution in Boone

A spread of Cobo’s unique and delicious sushi rolls Photo Cred: Cobo Sushi Website, Sushi Gallery

Lillian Anderson, Staff Writer for the WHS Powderhorn

When you think of the iconic food of Watauga County, sushi or Asian cooking isn’t always the first thing that comes to mind. Often we associate this area the traditional cooking the South is famous for, like the fried chicken and mashed potatoes of The Daniel Boone Inn or the delicious biscuits of King Streets Betty’s Biscuits. However, throughout the past few years the cuisine of Boone has slowly expanded, welcoming restaurants that represent cultures outside the Appalachian Mountains, and Cobo Sushi is one such restaurant.

“At Cobo, we serve primarily sushi with a variety of entrees for people that maybe aren't all about sushi, so we can offer the Cobo experience to everybody,” explained Joseph Miller, owner of Cobo Sushi. “We also have more comfort food driven appetizers, and a full sushi menu. And then, we also have hibachi, some steaks, things like that.”

Cobo’s successful 12-year history in Boone has attracted customers from all over to experience its mouth watering take on Asian cuisine, but the idea for Cobo dates back far before its opening in 2013. 

“I had been doing sushi in Colorado for a long time,” explained Miller.  “I had been into the business. I was from Boone, and was used to working in restaurants with high end food and cocktails. When I was in college at Appalachian State, you could go to a restaurant in Boone and you could only get beer or wine. So in 2008 when I heard that Boone had passed Liquor by the Drink, I saw an opportunity to do an upscale restaurant that not only offers upscale food and culture, but martinis and cocktails and a service in that industry.”

Beyond its unique, luxury atmosphere, Cobo offers immaculate service to both its guests and employees who are always seen as the highest priority. 

“To me, employees and providing a good work atmosphere for your employees will always be important,” said Miller. “ If you work hard for them, then they'll work hard for you. And then along with that, I find consistency of your product really important, so just being able to deliver the consumer what they got last time over and over again at the same quality.”

Cobo’s commitment to quality has made it a stand out among the restaurant scene in Boone but other characteristics have helped it to step into the spotlight as well. Cobo exemplifies the unique evolution of food in Boone, expanding past the reaches of North Carolina. Customers are not limited to just a few options; they can taste food from around the world while remaining within Watauga. Cobo’s success draws from this idea.

“What makes Cobo unique, especially when it opened 12 years ago, is that it was different,” explained Miller. “So it was a different kind of style of a restaurant for Boone. It was a new sushi restaurant at the time, I was offering different cocktails that Boone didn't have a lot of at the time, as far as the bar program went. Now, there's a lot of restaurants like that around here, but now the restaurant scene has really evolved to feature many types of food. One thing we did hear a lot, especially when we first opened, was that when they come into Cobo, they feel like they've stepped out of Boone for the evening, and I think that is really important."