The Daikaya Group is planning to open its fifth restaurant in the District, which will be the city’s first to feature Japanese-style pasta (wafu) and pizza in winter 2020.
The place will be located next to Daikaya in Chinatown at 707 6th Street, NW, and named “Tonari,” a Japanese word for “next door.”
The highly acclaimed Daikaya Group is owned and operated by three partners, Daisuke Utagawa, chef Katsuya Fukushima, and Yama Jewayni.
“At first we were a bit hesitant in taking over the space next door but we were also concerned about who might become our neighbor,” Jewayni was quoted as saying in a press release by the group. “In a sense, we really wanted to repurpose and recycle the restaurant and that’s how we arrived at Wafu Italian pasta and pizza.”
“When the space ‘next door’ became available the immediate and exciting concept that came to mind was Japanese Wafu pasta and pizza”, said Fukushima.
“Then the challenge of conveying what Wafu is kicked in. But for me Wafu cuisine has very much been a part of Japanese culture so I’m excited to have the opportunity to be able to share this special piece of Japan with diners in D.C. Ganbarimasu!”
Wafu pasta is currently an extremely popular cuisine in Japan, as well as pizza, according to the press release.
Tonari’s pasta and pizza options rely on Yokoyama Seifun, a flour mill in Sapporo, for their custom ramen noodles and to produce their exclusive Japanese style pizza dough mix.