Roy's Hawaiian Fusion Restaurant Set To Shutter La Jolla Location This Weekend After Nearly 20 Years In Business

February 26, 2020

Celebrity Chef Roy Yamaguchi's namesake Roy's Hawaiian Fusion restaurant in La Jolla will shutter this weekend after nearly two decades in business. The downtown San Diego location will remain in business.

Known for its its Pacific Rim Cuisine, Roy's is the brainchild of James Beard Award-winner and Tokyo-born celebrity chef Roy Yamaguchi, who opened the first Roy's Restaurant in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1988. At one point, there were 31 Roy's locations around the world, but the number has dwindled in recent years. In 2000, Yamaguchi sold his interest in the mainland US locations of Roy's restaurants to Bloomin' Brands, parent company behind Outback Steakhouse and other eateries. Yamaguchi retained control and ownership of all Hawaii-based locations. In 2015, Bloomin' Brands sold the mainland U.S. Roy's operations to Texas-based United Ohana for $10,000,000, citing lack of strategic focus for development as a reason. The Hawaii locations remain under the ownership of Roy Yamaguchi.

The Roy's La Jolla restaurant was opened in April 2001 and will shutter after end of service on Saturday, February 29, just shy of its 20 year anniversary. Many are speculating that the restaurant is being displaced due to the installation of a new trolley line in La Jolla but others believe it has been struggling for some time. There are also rumors that the La Jolla branch aims to relocate to another space nearby. The downtown San Diego Roy's location will remain in business inside Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina. 

Roy's La Jolla is located at 8670 Genesee Avenue in San Diego's UTC area. For more information, visit roysrestaurant.com.