At Big Fish Restaurant & Bar you're one of the family

John Mullen • March 20, 2018

Where people who love great food gather...

(OBA®) - When Leck Lilayuva, who owns iconic Big Fish Restaurant & Bar with his wife, Jana, was a kid his dad would wake him up at the crack of dawn to help handle the truckloads of fish that arrived daily at his fish distributing business.
 
“As a young boy he would wake me at 4 in the morning banging on my window because the house was right behind the restaurant,” Lilayuva said. “It wasn’t a restaurant at first, just a shop. He’d wake me up to come shovel ice, pack fish.”
 
His dad was also later the owner of a Niki’s and there Leck would put on an apron and work wherever needed in the restaurant.
 
“Somebody said Niki you need to open a restaurant to sell all this fish and seafood you get,” Lilayuva said. “So, he opened a restaurant. I was in the restaurant business from 6 or 7 years old busing tables. I remember at 11 or 12 years old washing dishes. At 15 and 16 years old I was actually waiting tables.”
All of these experiences left a lasting impression on young Lilayuva.
 
“I told myself ‘man, this is the worst business ever,’” he recalled. “’I will never open a restaurant and never have anything to do with fish.’ But here we go.”
 
Now he’s again handling fish daily and running one of the most popular restaurants in South Baldwin County. He cuts fish filets and steaks most mornings before returning at night to run the night shift.
 
Lilayuva and wife, Jana, are now looking back at a successful eight-year run that started three months before the BP oil spill sullied the 2010 tourist season. It’s become Emeril Lagasse’s go-to place when he brings his sports fishing yacht to the marlin tournaments at The Wharf each May and July.
 
“On his way in he usually calls us and say I’m on my way in town, I need a reservation for seven or eight people, his crew,” Lilayuva said. “He comes in the night he gets here and then usually comes in for lunch the day after the tournament before going home.”
 
Lagasse loves the sushi but sometimes will just order a bunch of different things for him and his party to sample, Lilayuva said.
 
“They usually crush the sushi and saki,” Lilayuva said. “Recently they have been smorgasbord it. They’ll get the dinner Asian fried rice, a couple of types of fish, two or three different appetizers. They’ll have like a buffet spread and they’ll pass it all around. It’s all pretty cool.”
Cooked Big Fish Style

Cooked Big Fish Style


In the summer season, Big Fish will serve up to 500 customers a night clamoring for the succulent sushi and fish served “Big Fish Style.”


“Big Fish style is whatever fish you chose, it’s sautéed with house seasonings over jasmine rice and sautéed spinach with fresh ginger and fresh scallions,” Lilayuva said. “It’s got like a sherry soy broth in the bottom of the bowl.”

 

In the peak season, the restaurant will have 12 or 13 different varieties of fish available and the most popular is the offering Big Fish Style, Lilayuva said.

Chili Garlic Sashimi: star of the sushi menu

The star of the sushi menu, he said, is the Chili Garlic sashimi. It comes with cubed tuna and avocado, tossed with cilantro and a special chili garlic sauce, served in a wonton cup and drizzled with sweet soy reduction.

 

But the real star of the sushi, Lilayuva says, is his sushi chef, Mimi Yi.

 

“We got Miss Hollywood over there, Mimi,” Lilayuva said “She’s been here longer than she’s been anywhere. She’s worked at every place or Asian restaurant that sold sushi on the island from years ago. She’s been here almost five. She’s family.”


Family was the driving force behind what Leck and Jana envisioned when they decided to open their own place. And that means not just the customers but members of his staff as well.

“I think the most important thing about Big Fish in our customers’ eyes, they tell us on a daily basis ‘every time I come here I feel like I’m at home because y’all are like family,’” he said. “That’s what we wanted when we very first opened. That’s what we’re still trying to instill in our staff. Treat ‘em like they’re family. That’s the number one goal. Everyone’s family.”
 
Somehow, over the years, the pair’s family, casual restaurant evolved into something akin to fine dining while retaining the family feel.
 
“It just kind of gravitated toward that,” he said. “We just wanted a nice place, casual. We’re at the beach if you’re wearing a tank top it doesn’t matter. But now it kind of does because of the clientele that we’re getting.”
 
Though not a trained chef Lilayuva created the Big Fish menu and it reflects an Asian influence from his six or seven years living in Europe and Asia.
 
“When I was in Asia I would sit there and watch them cook on the streets,” he said. “So, when people ask ‘where’d you learn to cook?’ I say literally on the streets.”
 
The menu sticks to the traditional fare you expect from Gulf Coast restaurants but those years of Asian influence can be found throughout the Big Fish menu.
 
“When we started writing the menu we incorporated all these Asia seasonings,” he said. “I didn’t want to open an Asian restaurant I just wanted to have southern flair but Asian ingredients to make it a little different, not the same as the other restaurants down here. Twist it up a bit.”
 
The nightly packed houses during the summer season and weekends during the shoulder seasons have shown he and Jana are on to something.
 
“It just gets busier and busier every year,” he said. “Our slowest months are November and December but even in November and December, we have strong weekends. Our November and December are mostly locals. I know we enjoy, Jana and I, enjoy that the most because it’s all familiar faces. It’s like going to Cheers.”

Share this article w/ Friends...

Project to Add Irrigation and New Sod to Ball Fields
By OBA Staff July 1, 2025
Foley, Ala. — (OBA) — The City of Foley is moving forward with additional enhancements at Mel Roberts Park. The park, located on Cedar Street, will see a second round of upgrades paid for by savings from a previous project. The Foley City Council approved the new phase during a recent meeting. City officials say this w
Orange Beach City Hall
By John Mullen July 1, 2025
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — During July, Orange Beach is planning to celebrate Parks and Recreation Month in a big way. At its next meeting, the city council will declare the month as Parks and Recreation Month and the department has several events to mark the occasion.
Boat Explosion Rocks Safe Harbor Marina in Orange Beach
By Jessica A. Taylor June 30, 2025
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — A developing story is currently underway in Orange Beach, Alabama, where the Orange Beach Fire and Rescue team responded to a rapidly escalating boat fire shortly after 4 PM. Upon arrival by boat, firefighters observed an intensifying blaze on the vessel, identified as the “ANDIAMO.”
Gulf Shores City Hall
By OBA Staff June 30, 2025
Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) — Mayor Robert Craft of Gulf Shores released a statement today, June 30, 2025, addressing the recent federal immigration investigation at the Gulf Shores High School construction site. The mayor's statement underscores the city's support for Homeland Security's enforcement.
Full Moon Paddle Set for July in Orange Beach
By OBA Staff June 30, 2025
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — The Wind and Water Learning Center in Orange Beach is preparing for its next Full Moon Paddle. The event gives the public a chance to enjoy Wolf Bay by moonlight while supporting a meaningful cause. Organizers say it’s a relaxing and rewarding way to spend time on the water.
Your Guide to a Busy Week of Summer Events on the Gulf
By Jessica A. Taylor June 30, 2025
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — As June comes to a close and July kicks off with a patriotic bang, the Alabama Gulf Coast is packed with opportunities to explore, celebrate, and unwind. From early morning nature programs to late-night fireworks, this week offers a steady rhythm of events for all ages and interests.
Independence Day Festivities Set to Light Up the Coast This Week
By R. Ken Cooper June 29, 2025
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — The Fourth of July lands on a Friday this year, but the celebrations last for several days along the Alabama Gulf Coast. From Foley and Gulf Shores to Orange Beach and Perdido Key, cities and venues are gearing up for fireworks, live music, fun runs, and plenty of patriotic spirit.
New Safety Rules Set for Baldwin County High School Games
By OBA Staff June 29, 2025
Robertsdale, Ala. — (OBA) — As families across Baldwin County enjoy the summer break, school leaders are already preparing for the new school year. A series of safety updates will be rolled out this fall at high school sporting events.
MAAAC Gala Returns to Perdido Beach Resort for Sixth Year
By OBA Staff June 29, 2025
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — The Makos Academics, Arts and Athletics Club (MAAAC) will host its Sixth Annual Gala on Saturday, August 9, 2025, at the Perdido Beach Resort Grand Ballroom. The event offers an evening of elegance, entertainment, and community support. Guests can look forward to music, delicious food and drinks, exciting silent auctions, and the chance to connect with others who support Orange Beach students.
Alabama Sets New Saltwater Fishing Limits for 2025
By OBA Staff June 28, 2025
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) has updated its saltwater fishing rules for 2025. These changes affect bag limits, size limits, and possession rules for several species.
Show More