Ebesu Robata & Sushi

Ebesu's Sashimi Assortment // photos Kathy Tran

Starting a new restaurant is hard. Starting a new restaurant in a different country is even harder. For the creators of Ebesu Robata & Sushi in Downtown Plano, it’s all part of their plan to share their Japanese cuisine across the entire globe. Set to become the first U.S. location, Ebesu comes from a successful line of restaurants based in Japan. The team aims to find its way in Plano by doing what it does best: bringing unique and creative Japanese sushi, robata, and drinks in a comfortable yet sophisticated environment.

Yu Naganuma is the general manager for Ebesu, which operates under the restaurant group DRC CO., Ltd. He comes directly from Japan, and is a key component in maintaining the same environment in Plano as the company’s restaurants in Japan. “This is good timing in the U.S. right now,” Yu starts, nodding to Plano’s growing Asian population. “It certainly is a culture shock, but there is good opportunity here.”

Baby Back Pork Rib // photos Kathy Tran
Baby Back Pork Rib // photos Kathy Tran

For Ebesu, presentation is everything. The interiors are simple, but welcoming. Designed by Shigeru Sato at Design Label Knot, all the lights are orange and warm, accenting the lightly colored wood slatting and tall bar stools. For film aficionados, this iconic and familiar interior design comes from the same group who created Gonpachi in Tokyo, the restaurant best known for setting the stage in the most unforgettable fight scene in the film “Kill Bill.”

Ebesu’s name matches its menu. Titled for the Japanese god of fishermen and luck, the dishes reflect a familiarity with tradition balanced with a desire for the fresh and seasonal. Items such as tender amberjack carpaccio, scallops in a tomato basil sauce, and robata-grilled salmon with haricot verts and brown rice risotto set the stage for most of the menu. Prepared by Chef Tsukasa of Washington, D.C, and reinvigorated by his recent trip to Japan, the cuisine utilizes European styles of preparation with traditional Japanese flavors. Guests are invited to dine in or enjoy a wide variety of classic and modern cocktails at the full length bar.

Ebesu Plano is hopefully the first stepping stone out of Japan and onto the global stage for this brand. “We are most excited about this move,” Yu smiles. “The flavors have to be more dynamic. They have to have more punch. This is the start of the globalizing of our food.”

Ebesu is set to open its doors in full on July 23. For those who simply cannot wait, the restaurant is hosting an exclusive, preview party on July 21.

Ebesu > Ebesu Preview Party >

 

Ebesu Robata & Sushi 
1007 E. 15th St.
Plano, TX 75074

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