O-Ku is preparing to bring its contemporary Japanese dining concept to Winter Park, with a new restaurant listed as “coming soon” at 805 S. Orlando Ave., Suite E, Winter Park. The restaurant’s official website confirms the upcoming location as part of Minnesota Row, a reimagined mixed-use destination formerly known as Winter Park Business Center.
The new restaurant will introduce O-Ku’s approach to Japanese dining to the development, where the company describes the setting as a blend of traditional influences and contemporary design. According to the restaurant’s website, the surrounding Minnesota Row project is being transformed into a walkable destination featuring dining, retail and creative spaces, with landscaped outdoor areas, open greens and a central gathering plaza.
Established in 2010 by Steve Palmer of The Indigo Road Hospitality Group, O-Ku has developed a restaurant concept centered on authentic Japanese flavors and modern culinary presentation. Its official website describes a menu spanning sushi, sashimi, nigiri and maki rolls, alongside cooked entrees and smaller plates. Guests can also find dumplings, robata skewers and vegetarian and gluten-free selections.
The restaurant’s culinary approach also places an emphasis on seafood sourcing and presentation. According to O-Ku’s website, its chefs work with fish from international markets as well as local sustainable sources, incorporating these ingredients into signature rolls, temaki and chef-driven specialties. Curated omakase offerings provide another part of the dining experience.
The beverage program complements the menu with specialty cocktails, food-friendly wines, small-production sake, domestic and international beers, and zero-proof selections, according to the company’s website.
The restaurant has invited prospective guests to sign up for updates about its opening date, pre-opening events and early reservation opportunities.
