COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — From the man behind Columbus-area restaurants 1126 Sushi and Song Lan, an Asian kitchen is now open in the Short North.

Daniel Chen’s third restaurant, 698 Asian Kitchen, is located in the former El Segundo Mexican Kitchen building on 698 N. High St. It held a soft opening over the weekend before officially opening for full service on Monday.

General manager Barrackus Crawford said the restaurant will be a bit different from Chen’s other eateries.

“Most of [Chen’s] other concepts are heavier on the sushi, this time we’re going to lean a little bit more toward some of our hot food items,” Crawford said. “Traditional Chinese cuisines and different things like that.”

Although 698 Asian Kitchen still serves sushi, it’s not the focus of the menu. Crawford compared the restaurant’s cuisine to Asian fusion, adding that the food will be authentic. He noted that Chen and many members of the kitchen staff are Chinese.

The Asian kitchen’s menu offerings include hibachi, laksa, katsu, tempura, dim sum, and recognizable items like General Tso’s chicken and braised beef short rib. There will also be more unique dishes, such as a fried squid udon noodle and crispy tuna with truffle oil.

“It’s kind of best to get some of the people in there that are more attracted to some of the approachable things and then kind of ease them into the other things,” Crawford said.

Drinks feature a variety of Asian staples: Kyushiki, or a Japanese old fashioned; Kikori, which is a Japanese whiskey; gin and tea, plum sake and a lychee martini. The eatery will also serve a handful of wines that Crawford said can’t be found at many other local spots.

In addition to dine-in service, 698 Asian Kitchen will offer carryout and third-party delivery. It will be open Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and again from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. It will be open on Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.