The Rise of the Japanese Pub in Metro Detroit
A duo of izakaya-style Japanese restaurants have opened in Detroit’s Woodbridge neighborhood and Ferndale.
Click the audio player above to hear the full conversation. CultureShift airs weekdays 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. on 101.9 WDET–FM Detroit public radio.
If you’re overwhelmed by the wave of new restaurants opening throughout metro Detroit, don’t worry — CultureShift has you covered.
Each week, we talk with Detroit News reporter Melody Baetens to give us a seat at the table of latest dining options–like the wave of Japanese-style pubs opening in Ferndale and Detroit.
“The first one that opened is Antihero in Ferndale. It’s been packed every time I’ve gone by there,” says Baetens. “(Antihero has) Japanese small plates. They have noodles. Bao buns. Lots of veggies. The goal here is to fill your table with a bunch of small plates.”
A more traditional izakaya recently opened in Detroit’s Woodbridge neighborhood called Katsu Detroit.
According to Baetens, Katsu is a slightly more “traditional Japanese style” place to eat compared to Antihero.
“You’ve got more signage in Japanese. The menu has Japanese writing on it,” Baetens says. “You’re going to see lots of grilled yakitori. Lots of vegetarian options.”
Eater Detroit reports that Katsu Detroit will have eight to 10 daily specials with yakitori in options like chicken skin and thing as well as tamagoyaki (a Japanese rolled egg omelet).
Click on the audio player above to hear the full conversation with Detroit News reporter Melody Baetens about some of the newest Japanese restaurants to hit metro Detroit.
