A Japanese chef’s choice dining experience is coming to University Town Center
The second phase of James Beard-nominated restaurateurs Jimmy and Johnny Tung’s plan at the University Town Center is nearing an opening date.
The brothers, who recently opened Zōtō Sushi, are opening Yūgen Omakase at 190 N. Cattlemen Road in December, according to a news release. A specific opening date has not been announced yet.
Yūgen is located next to Zōtō.
The Tung’s Yūgen concept is a 10-seat, reservation-only chef’s counter. Executive chef Atsushi Okawara, who previously led the kitchen at Miami Beach’s Den — a Michelin one-star restaurant — heads Yūgen.
New Japanese restaurant planned at UTC
The restaurant is an omakase, which means dining is “face-to-face with the chef,” according to Michelin. Omakase’s literal translation is, I’ll leave it up to you, but when used at restaurants it means, chef’s choice.
Okawara, who has 20 years of experience, will have a multi-course kaiseki menu at Yūgen that focus on hot and cold Japanese dishes.
A type of fine dining, kaiseki provides an intimate dining experience with a chef showcasing various cooking methods, including grilling, steaming, simmering, frying and raw preparation.
Okawara’s menu uses ingredients sourced from Japan.
“Kaiseki allows me to showcase the full spectrum of Japanese cuisine, beyond just sushi,” Okawara said in a news release. “The dining experience will still be about trust — leaving your evening in the hands of the chef.”
Yūgen set to open in December
The Yūgen space is a 1,000-square-foot dining room.
In addition to Okawara, Yūgen’s general manager is Janet Kim, who previously managed New York City’s Masa, which has three Michelin stars. The restaurant also tapped Michelin’s 2023 Sommelier of the Year Benjamin Coutts to work alongside beverage director Daniel Lugo to curate Yūgen’s wine, sake, cocktails and other beverages.
Lugo has previous experience at Michelin-starred restaurants.
In addition to Yūgen and Zōtō, the Tungs own Kōsen in Tampa.
“Many of our guests making the trip from Sarasota to Tampa for Kōsen’s chef’s counter encouraged us to bring this style of dining to their city, showing there was a real demand for it locally,” Johnny Tung said in the news release. “Seeing that kind of response to Kōsen made it clear for us that we needed to expand in the Tampa Bay area. With its world-class beaches and rising reputation as a travel destination, Sarasota felt like the perfect next stop.”
For more information or to sign up for its preview week, visit YugenFL.com.
