The Allentown fine dining scene is about to get a little bit finer, with an izakaya assist from one of the best in the business. A new day is dawning for Okatshe- Jose Garces’ temporarily retired Japanese concept-in the Lehigh Valley later this year, reports the Philadelphia Business Journal.
Although the concept is projected to open in the not-too-distant second quarter of 2025, an element of mystery continues to linger. Garces and his group have not yet revealed the precise location of Okatshe, however the restaurant is confirmed to be headed for Allentown’s bustling downtown district.
Garces, an Iron Chef with several lauded concepts to his name, first debuted Okatshe in the Tropicana Atlantic City in 2017. The restaurant, which closed down in 2021, is certain to become a vital component of Allentown’s dining community. Garces states that the city’s renaissance is reminiscent of Philadelphia’s in the early 2000s, a prospect he finds fertile and exciting. He states: “This harkens back to when I first got to Philadelphia in 2001 and saw an opportunity to create special dining experiences for a market that I felt was right.”
While it is unclear whether or not Okatshe’s second iteration will deviate in any significant ways from its original location, it is certain that the Japanese eatery will bring something unique and innovative to local foodies. The concept’s Instagram page describes its cuisine as: “Chef Jose Garces’ playful, modern take on a traditional Japanese izakaya, sushi, and ramen.”
