Hip Japanese restaurant Ozumo joins San Jose's Santana Row, highlighting its focus on a Japanese beer garden, sake lounge and a delicious izakaya menu. Founder and owner Jeremy Umland launched his first location in San Francisco in 2001 with the idea of combining a sushi bar with a robata grill and sake lounge. The new San Jose location features an all-new outdoor Japanese beer garden to elevate the scene in Uptown Oakland. Umland calls this location something that's a modern-day izakaya, where there is a fuse of both drinking and eating.
The kitchen is run by Salvador Alvarez, who received training from master sushi chef Kaysuta Uechi. The menu will feature classic izakaya dishes including Gindara (black cod), Shio Koji-marinated chicken and chilled Somen noodles with uni. The drinking options will include Japanese craft beers, with the classic Japanese "big three" -- Sapporo, Asahi and Kirin -- reigning the outdoor beer garden to give it a more traditional vibe. The indoor lounge will focus more on Japanese sake and whiskey.
Contemporary Izakaya Lounges
Ozumo Izakaya Incorporates a Beer Garden and Sake Lounge
Trend Themes
1. Japanese Izakaya Culture - Opportunity to further integrate the concept of izakaya, combining drinking and eating, into contemporary restaurant experiences.
2. Outdoor Beer Gardens - Disruptive opportunity to create modern, elevated beer gardens inspired by Japanese culture.
3. Craft Sake and Whiskey - Market potential for introducing and showcasing a wide selection of Japanese craft sake and whiskey in lounge settings.
Industry Implications
1. Restaurant and Hospitality - Opportunity to create innovative dining experiences by incorporating the izakaya concept and Japanese beer gardens into restaurant establishments.
2. Alcoholic Beverage - Potential for growth in the market for Japanese craft beers, sake, and whiskey, especially in lounge settings.
3. Event Planning and Design - Disruptive opportunity to design and curate unique outdoor beer garden experiences that blend Japanese traditions with modern aesthetics.