A new Japanese restaurant is poised to move into Gastown, though the familiar space will be run by a familiar name from the local food scene.
Takenaka, which operates a sushi-centric food truck and a charming onigiri café in East Vancouver, has hung its flag in the window at 52 Powell St.
The vacated restaurant space was previously the home of Rodney's Oyster House, which quietly closed down at the very end of 2023. The two-storey restaurant had been in business in Gastown as Rodney's since 2012, when the brand expanded its Vancouver footprint.
Takenaka began as a venture to showcase the culinary creations of Chef Shogo Takenaka, who is well-known in Vancouver for being in the kitchen of popular Japanese spots Raisu and Kingyo Izakaya.
Among Takenaka's signature specialities are chirashi bowls, featuring seafood artfully presented atop rice, as well as bento boxes, which showcase an array of seasonal small dishes. Last year, Takenaka's onigiri cafe made its debut in the restaurant space at Coho Commissary on East Georgia Street (also the home of Takenaka's truck ops).
Additionally, Takenaka is among the many exciting local businesses that will have a presence at the revitalized Lonsdale Quay food hall in North Vancouver.
For its Gastown venture, a representative for Takenaka tells V.I.A. by email that the plan is to launch this spring for dinner service, offering a casual dining experience and a menu that includes dishes featuring uni and oysters. Takenaka has found that their uni onigiri has been popular at their café, but for Takenaka Gastown, guests can enjoy the seafood delicacy - and the whole menu - with Japanese sake and beer.
Takenaka is hopeful they can get the doors open to the new restaurant sometime in May.
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