Beshock Ramen Team Ready To Unveil Three New Concepts In San Diego's East Village

August 17, 2023

The team behind San Diego's BeShock Ramen & Sake Bar is nearly ready to unveil three new bar and restaurant concepts under one roof in downtown San Diego.

BeShock Ramen & Sake Bar co-founder Ayaka Ito earned a Sake Master Certification in 2014 and spent three years traveling to over 100 ramen houses around Japen to learn about the craft. With her family's support, Ito built her first ramen shop, Three Little Pigs, in her home village of Nagoya, Japen, where she developed many of the recipes that she would eventually bring to downtown San Diego with the 2016 launch of BeShock Ramen & Sake Bar at the corner of Market and 13th Street. Ayaka also operates a BeShock Ramen location in Japan, a second San Diego branch within The Shoppes at Carlsbad, and is the founder of the annual San Diego Sake Festival.

Last year, Ayaka and her partners Masaki Yamauchi and Kumi Ito signed a lease to take over the East Village space that previously housed the short-lived Melvin Brewing. Located less than 400 feet from BeShock Ramen, the unit will house three unique concepts, all accessible through one entrance. 

Upon entering the space, guests will first see Asa Bakery, a tearoom, cafe and gathering place inspired by the Japanese kissatens popular in Ito's home city of Nagoya, Japan. Expect a menu of coffee and Japanese tea drinks and a bakery case filled with pastries, breads, and more. Sushi Gaga sits beyond the bakery and will offer an omakase-exclusive experience with an ever-changing nightly menu and seating for only 10 guests at a time. Lastly, Bar Kamon is an elegant cocktail bar that will transport guests back in time to Japan's Taishō era.

Asa Bakery opens on August 18, Bar Kamon on August 23, and reservations for Sushi Gaga will become available starting September 1 for seatings beginning September 15. For more information, follow Sushi Gaga on Instagram and check out the photos below from photographer, Kimberly Motos.