Glu Hospitality and Philly’s Sushi Whisperer Kevin Yanaga announce the opening of Izakaya by Yanaga in Fishtown at 1832 Frankford Avenue. Yanaga brings over 10 years of experience in the the top sushi restaurants in the region, including at Izakaya at Borgata, Double Knot, Pod, Morimoto and Zama. After working with Stephen Starr, Michael Schulson and some of the biggest names in the business, Yanaga will now open his very first restaurant as Executive Chef and Partner. For his first outing, Yanaga will debut two concepts under one roof. Izakaya by Yanaga will open first just in time for fall dining season, followed by chef’s tasting room Omakase by Yanaga in late fall. Izakaya will open for a Labor Day Weekend preview on Thursday, September 2 to Saturday, September 4, 2021, from 5:00pm to 10:00pm nightly. After closing for Labor Day and additional interior work, Izakaya will officially open for regular daily service starting on Thursday, September 9, 2021 with weekly hours running Wednesday to Sunday, 4:00pm to 10:00pm nightly. Reservations are available now by calling 267-758-6275. Reservations will also be available on Open Table starting this week. 

“I am proud to team up with Glu Hospitality for my very first restaurant,” says Yanaga. “The restaurant will feature two separate and unique concepts under the same roof. Izakaya by Yanaga will offer a more casual dining and bar experience for locals, catering to the surrounding neighborhood and repeat customers. When it is ready, Omakase will offer a higher end dining experience that is more upscale, personalized and intimate. There will be a higher price point with expanded sake and Japanese scotch and whiskey program, plus exclusive cocktails paired with the offerings.”

He continues, “I wanted to offer a restaurant experience that is currently lacking in the Fishtown, Kensington and Northern Liberties area of Philadelphia. Those three neighborhoods are full of such exciting and boundary-pushing restaurants, and this seemed the perfect place to break out on my own and add to the mix. I wanted to create a new restaurant that is friendly and approachable, yet has a second side with elevated food and drink selections not typically seen in our area. We want to be both a neighborhood restaurant for locals, as well as a culinary destination for people traveling across and into the region.”

For the new restaurant, Yanaga and Glu will feature two side-by-side concepts in 2,500 square feet of space. Izakaya will operate in the front bar and front dining room with around 60 seats, with Omakase to operate the private dining room in the back with around 12 seats, located through the double doors in the middle of the restaurant. Below ground, the basement level features a giant kitchen that gives ample space for the two concepts to co-exist and thrive side-by-side.

First to open will be Izakaya by Yanaga, a fresh and fun Japanese cuisine concept that will feature traditional dishes plus Yanaga’s modernized twist on the classics. The hot section of the menu will showcase the same expertise and attention to detail as the sushi and raw side of the menu. Dining and kitchen service will be free flowing, whereas guests are encouraged to order a number of small and large plates to enjoy and share. The culinary team will prepare an ebb and flow for the dishes, and send them out as prepared to create an experience that is unique for every visit. Dishes at Izakaya will be a mix of hot and cold, cooked and raw, and small and large plates. Dishes will be priced and portioned perfect for sharing. 

At the bar, look for a vast selection of Sake options, most of which are not currently available anywhere else in the city. Additionally, bar patrons will find a selection of eight hand-craft cocktails that use ingredients from the kitchen to optimize pairings of food with drink. Additionally, there will be six beer and cider beers on draft, as well as in bottles and cans. The beer program will focus on Japanese beers, locally made craft beers, unique ciders, seltzers, as well as a few American favorites. The bar program is rounded out by the wine program, with around a dozen selections available by the glass and bottle.