When ICHI sushi shuttered its doors last year, things were looking grim for lovers of their signature omakase. Now, only a year later and we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Former ICHI sushi chef Erik Aplin has confirmed that he will be opening a restaurant of his own at the former location of ICHI Sushi, 3369 Mission Street. The new concept is called Chisai Sushi Club and will feature many familiar faces from the ISHI sushi team.
Featuring 500 square feet of space and a total of 22 seats in all, Chisai promises to offer an intimate experience where patrons can connect with the chefs directly and become more involved in the experience. In fact it was precisely that level of intimacy that made Erik want to reopen the ISHI space instead of securing a potentially bigger location somewhere else.
Expanding on the original vision set out by the ICHI team, Erik envisions his own restaurant as a kind of “club” (hence the name) that will be more accessible to locals than the former restaurant. He wants to prioritize a feeling of belonging and create a restaurant experience where customers feel welcomed and understood. The intimacy offered by the ICHI space was the perfect way to foster those feelings.
Erik and the team are currently shooting for a Fall opening. At the moment, they’re in the process of redesigning the interiors and hanging up new signs. For anyone interested in testing out Erik’s culinary prowess, he also offers private dining and catering through his company Ost.
