A new brunch restaurant called Banju is slated to open in Carmel-by-the-Sea later this year, adding another new dining concept to the city’s growing restaurant scene. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Banju is planned for the southwest corner of San Carlos Street and Sixth Avenue.
The restaurant belongs to Ashley Wolff of Korean spot Jeju Kitchen, where Wolff’s menu features dishes such as gochujang-topped tater tots, Korean barbecue wings, and kimchi macaroni and cheese. Among the standout offerings are crispy arancini stuffed with kimchi fried rice and melted cheese. The dish combines a crisp exterior with chewy rice and a gooey cheese center, while kimchi adds a bright, tangy, and savory note to the mix.
Banju will take a different direction, as a “nostalgic” brunch restaurant. The restaurant will be part of an unusually active period for Carmel’s restaurant scene, which includes five new food businesses that have opened in Carmel-by-the-Sea and Carmel Valley over the past year, while several more are in development.
Details about Banju’s menu have not yet been announced. Its planned location is near several established Carmel restaurants and businesses, including Stationæry, which occupies a nearby courtyard at San Carlos Street and Sixth Avenue. The opening is currently expected in late 2026.
