After 23 years in business on San Diego's bustling 5th Avenue in the Gaslamp, Taka Sushi has been acquired by the team behind South Bay-born Karina's Mexican Seafood, and the popular Japanese restaurant will be reopening this week with plans on redesigning the space in the coming months.
Founded in 1996 by Yoshiaki and Cindy Nishiba, Taka restaurant closed this past September without notice and many loyal customers feared the rising costs of doing business in San Diego had claimed its latest victim. Fortunately for sushi lovers, the longtime Japanese restaurant was purchased by Karina's Group with plans on redesigning the space and reopening next year with an updated aesthetic.
"Taka has been our go-to spot for sushi for many years," explained Karina's Group Partner David Contreras. "As long-time customers, we’ve gotten to know Chefs Maru and Makoto well and were absolutely thrilled when they approached us about partnering with them on the future of Taka. Their experience and talent are extensive and have enabled Taka to be recognized as one of San Diego’s top sushi restaurants. We want Chefs Maru and Makoto to continue to do what they do best while offering our design and operational support to help enhance the restaurant’s dining experience even further."
Founded in 1981 by Don Arnulfo Contreras and his wife María Inés Curiel, Karina's Mexican Seafood has expanded to five locations spread around San Diego, as well as Savoie Italian Eatery in Chula Vista. In 2016, the company partnered with Saffron Thai founder Su-Mei Yu to provide operational support at her historic Mission Hills restaurant and expanded the concept with a new location in La Jolla that unveiled last year.
Taka will reopen this Thursday, November 7, with the same look and feel as customers have come to know, although the eatery plans to close in the coming months to renovate with a new design, hoping to have a grand re-opening after the first of the year. The menu will stay mostly the same with the addition of a new cocktail program.
Taka is located at 555 Fifth Avenue in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter.
