A family-owned sushi restaurant is preparing to open soon in Old Town with a menu full of Thai and East Asian specialties.
Interior renovations for Akeno Sushi are wrapping up at 611 King Street, where co-owner and veteran restaurateur Eakachai “Sean” Promsiri hopes to open for business by the end of the month.
Replacing a vacancy left by Java Grill, the new two-level restaurant will be equipped with a full-service bar and sushi bar on the first floor.
A menu is still in development, Promsiri said, but it will be similar to Akeno’s existing locations in D.C. and Fairfax County. Those spots offer sushi and Japanese specialties like donburi and ramen, as well as a variety of cuisine from Promsiri’s native country, Thailand.
Promsiri intends to place a greater emphasis on Japanese and Chinese food in his new Old Town dining room, which will have space to accommodate between 110 and 130 guests.
This is the restaurateur’s fourth project, following the other Akeno locations and Noodles on 11, a now-closed Chinese restaurant in D.C. Promsiri is joined by his wife, Ekon Promsiri, and business partners Sittiporn Anegvithakosol and Sicha McKinney.
“I always bring my son and my family to go to Old Town to see the river,” the owner said. “I thought it would be a great opportunity to be in Old Town.”
Promsiri said he looks forward to building strong community relationships as Akeno Sushi debuts in its new neighborhood.
“The more time you spend on the restaurant, you see customers, you know, you have more connections,” he said. “They are not just your customers. A lot of them become my friends, my close friends too.”
