Yoya Takahashi, a beloved yakitori and sushi chef who also owns the Smokmoc Yakitori pop-up, is preparing to open a new restaurant called Homareya at 145 E. 4th St.
Born and raised in Kyoto, Japan, chef Yoya Takahashi moved to Los Angeles, hoping to become an actor like his grandfather back home. Instead, he met his mentor and found his passion was in the practice and art of sushi. He eventually brought this passion to Hamasaku as Executive Sushi Chef, where he pushed and evolved the tastes of long-established clientele and gave the restaurant new life in Los Angeles’ dynamic culinary landscape. Now, Takahashi is getting ready to open his own restaurant.
“Yoya is just someone that is so widely respected,” Midnight Oil owner Leonard Chan tells Longbeachize. Before hearing about the plans for Homareya, Chan planned on creating an izakaya space for the chef within his restaurant. “The moment I heard he would be opening an izakaya space, I immediately went back to the drawing board and opted for a Chinese apothecary concept instead. There’s just no way we could compete with someone like Yoya’s talent.”
Homareya is set to open right next to Milana’s New York Pizzeria in the former home of Fresh Kabobs. He tells What Now Los Angeles that they expect a soft opening in June, but an exact opening date is unknown because they are still in construction. Ideally, the chef would like to have everything completed by mid-June 2025. When the new concept opens later this year, customers can expect a welcoming eatery featuring Japanese drinking and bar food, such as his loved yakitori, tartare, nigiri, and seafood.
