Kobuta & Ookami plans to open its third restaurant in Mountlake Terrace in early 2027, co-owner Sue Phuksopha told What Now Seattle. The partners are working through permitting for the new location.
The business currently operates locations at 121 15th Avenue E. on Capitol Hill and 17026 Avondale Way, Suite A, in Redmond.
After eating tonkatsu on trips to Japan and Vancouver, the partners wanted to open a restaurant devoted to the Japanese pork cutlet. Their many visits to Japan also inspired the yokocho concept: small restaurants tucked into dining alleys.
The name comes from The Three Little Pigs, originally representing three siblings and Phuksopha. A fifth partner later joined them. “So now we have four piglets and the wolf,” she said.
Executive chef Don Tandavanitj oversees kitchen operations alongside Dee Tandavanit and Ping Vimonaroon, both sous chefs and kitchen managers. Dew Tandavanit manages front-of-house operations, while Phuksopha handles business operations and finance.
The existing restaurants serve pork, chicken, and prawn katsu. Cutlet sets come with rice, miso soup, shredded cabbage, and pickles, while other preparations include curry and cutlets simmered with egg and sauce. Katsu will remain the focus in Mountlake Terrace.
“We are probably going to add some new menu items for the new location, but we’re still working on it,” Phuksopha said.
For their third restaurant, the partners looked beyond Seattle and Redmond.
“We want to expand to the north so customers have easy access to our restaurant,” she said, citing the traffic customers face on the drive to the existing locations.
Finding a location farther north took time. The partners initially looked in Lynnwood and Kirkland before finding a space in Mountlake Terrace. They spent time at a neighborhood coffee shop getting to know the area.
The new restaurant will give them more room to develop the yokocho design.
“We will bring a nice restaurant and serve comfort food. We are really paying attention to the design on this one, so we are really excited to open,” Phuksopha said.
Follow Kobuta & Ookami on Instagram for construction and opening announcements.
