Two years after a fire shattered the business, Yu and Jung, owners of Takashi Japanese kitchen in Royal Oak, say they are encouraged by the support they are receiving a month after reopening.
Takashi, a Japanese kitchen serving Japanese comfort food on Auckland’s Manukau Road in Royal Oak, suffered extensive damage after being targeted by an arsonist.
“It means a lot to us to be reopening Takashi at its original spot again,” they said. “The feeling of seeing our customers, and people who would drive from across town for our food, just makes me so happy.”
This was a feeling that Jung and his wife, Fukayama Yu, did not think they would ever have again.
Takashi in Royal Oak was closed since August 2023, when a fire described as suspicious by police destroyed the business.
“We had put everything into the business, and we didn’t have any insurance,” they said.
“To be honest, we did not know whether we would ever be able to reopen Again.”
They said they have always loved Japanese food, They dreamed about opening a Japanese restaurant abroad since they met in 2004 in Australia, so they went back to Japan and enrolled in a cooking school to learn professional Japanese cooking, They then chose to move to New Zealand in 2009.
For six years, he worked at Nishiki Restaurant in Freeman’s Bay before deciding to open Takashi in 2016.
Sung added that his wife “is a great chef” and his inspiration, and starting Takashi meant they could cook together and present a menu that was “close to our hearts”.
“I would describe our food as Japanese ‘heartwarming and humble’ comfort food. We want to do simple food, but do it well,” they said.
Takashi’s offerings are designed to satisfy people’s Japanese food cravings, which are great in taste but light on the wallet.
“A lot of what we have is not complex food, but common food that’s found at Japanese homes, which gives people an authentic window into the cooking and everyday life in Japanese culture,” they said.
Think donburi bowls, bento boxes, sushi, Japanese curry, and udon noodles that have uniquely Japanese flavours.
“One of our best sellers is our chicken katsu, karaage chicken, and teriyaki salmon,” they said.
“We get a lot of families eating here, and these are also dishes that the parents can share with their kids.”
After the Royal Oak restaurant was burned down, Sung said he looked at his wife and sons, ages 9 and 3, and became determined to rebuild.
“Yes, I was sad and angry at first, but then I told myself what didn’t burn me down will make me stronger,” he said.
They said they found a small takeaway shop on Dominion Road, which they opened in August last year.
After reopening Royal Oak, they said they now intended to keep both branches, but had no plans for further expansion.
“By keeping the business small, we can control our food quality, and I think we owe that to all our customers,” they said.
“Business has actually been better since we reopened, and we are truly grateful and encouraged by the support.”
They said they wanted everyone who comes to Takashi to feel like they are part of the family.
Takashi’s simple menu ranges from cozy bowls of Japanese curry, served with green salad and options of chicken katsu, karaage chicken or prawn katsu, to udon noodles with teriyaki beef, spicy or teriyaki chicken, and donburi bowls with sashimi or unagi grilled eel.
Their traditional bento boxes, which is served with sushi, sashimi, green salad, rice, and side dishes with a choice of chicken katsu, unagi, sashimi or teriyaki tofu have won many hearts.
TAKASHI JAPANESE KITCHEN
774 Manukau Road, Royal Oak.
Ph: 09 624 3543 (open Thu to Tue, closed on Wed)
TAKASHI JAPANESE KITCHEN DOMINION RD
102 Dominion Road, Mount Eden.
Ph: 09 623 0036 (Open Mon to Sat, closed on Sunday)
