A first-of-its-kind Japanese gastropub is getting ready to open in Jacksonville Beach
Promising to be the first-of-its-kind, a Japanese gastropub is preparing to open in Jacksonville Beach from the founders of a nationwide Pan-Asian restaurant chain.
Izakaya Ko plans to open next month at 1198 Beach Blvd. Suite 9. The restaurant is a new concept from restaurateur brothers Jimmy and Johnny Tung, who founded Bento Asian Kitchen + Sushi in Gainesville in the summer of 2002.
The new restaurant replaces the Beach Boulevard Bento, which recently closed along with its sister restaurant at 50 Riverside Ave. in Brooklyn Place near downtown Jacksonville.
Remaining open is Bento Asian Kitchen + Sushi at 4860 Big Island Drive in The Markets at Town Center.
Izakaya Ko is a joint venture of the Tung brothers and Adi Wiwaran, former head chef of Norikase, a popular upscale omakase and hand roll sushi restaurant at 9734 Deer Lake Court in Tinseltown. The brothers also own Norikase, which evolved from a Bento restaurant.
“We were inspired by Jax Beach’s laid-back beach vibes and decided to open this concept near the beach," Johnny Tung said in announcing the restaurant. "This will be Jacksonville’s first izakaya-focused restaurant.”
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Izakaya literally translates to "stay-drink-place" and is Japan’s unique version of a traditional pub.
"Widely known for its laid-back atmosphere, small plates and vast drink selection, an izakaya serves as a social hub where friends and co-workers gather to grab a drink, settle in and get comfortable," according to the restaurant.
Izakaya Ko's will feature hot and cold small plates, yakitori and kushiyaki along with sushi and sashimi and nigiri, beer and sake.
The menu is being finalized. But offerings will include Binchotan charcoal-grilled meat skewers, shareables like takoyaki and karaage, hokkaido scallop carpaccio and sushi and sashimi staples. A selection of curated Asian beers and sake — all intended to complement the menu — will be featured.
Jacksonville Beach will be the first and only location of Izakaya Ko, Bento Group marketing director Ledy Saengphaxay said.
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The restaurant is designed by Jacob Portillo. It will have 60 seats in the dining room. There will be a 10-seat sushi bar where casual omakase will be offered with multiple seating times nightly, Izakaya Ko officials said. It will open for dinner daily.
Teresa Stepzinski is the dining reporter for the Times-Union. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @TeresaStepz or reach her via email at [email protected].
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Izakaya Ko, a unique Japanese gastropub to open in Jacksonville Beach
