Sake master Ayaka Ito plans to transform Sushi Gaga into a sake-focused bar on June 5 at 634 14th Street in Downtown.
If you enjoy Japanese culture and gastronomy, Sake Bar Gaga aims to offer an immersive experience centered around Japan’s most iconic alcoholic beverage. The concept features a 10-seat space with a curated selection of more than 20 sakes, chosen by Ito and rotated seasonally, according to San Diego Magazine.
Owner Ayaka Ito has built a strong reputation in San Diego over the past decade for serving standout Japanese food and drinks. Locals may recognize her work from concepts such as BeShock Ramen, Asa Bakery, Sushi Gaga, and Bar Kamon, each offering a unique focus, from ramen to a kissaten-style café experience, tea, and pastries.
Guests have long enjoyed great food and drinks while learning more about Japanese culture through Ito’s concepts. Now, Sake Bar Gaga shifts the focus more directly to sake, offering a refined experience in a space designed specifically for it.
Chef Ryan Miller, who oversees the menu at BeShock and Bar Kamon, has created small plates designed to complement and elevate each sake. Both Ito and Miller recently traveled to Tokyo to train under Marie Chiba, a pioneer in food and sake pairings, owner of the renowned sake bar Eureka, and a Sake Samurai, an honor awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to sake culture.
“I originally moved to the US to open BeShock, to spread sake culture here in San Diego,” Ito told San Diego Magazine.
