The wait is almost over. Ryokou, the new Japanese concept from MICHELIN Award-winning chef Leonard Yu of West Midtown sushi destination Omakase Table, opens to the public on Saturday, Dec. 14. Located in the Abrams Fixtures mixed-use development in the Adair Park neighborhood of downtown Atlanta, Ryokou showcases a progressive tasting menu of small plates that pays tribute to the culinary traditions of cities and prefectures from across Japan. 

“Our goal is to provide an experience and understanding of food from across Japan,” says Yu. “From the northern area, known for its crab, scallop shellfish, and other seafood, down to the southern island of Kyushu, which is famous for its wagyu beef.”

The menu of 8 courses is expected to change frequently, but some of the dishes that diners might expect include:

• Aomori gai: A sampling of some of the best seafood from the city of Aomori and the Northern region of Japan.

• Awabi kimo: Steamed, thin-sliced abalone served over rice mixed with the abalone liver.

• Kegani nigiri: Nigiri topped with horsehair crab from Hokkaido prefecture.

• Smoked wagyu: Wagyu beef from Kyushu, smoked Japanese-style in a nod to the popularity of barbecue in the U.S. 

“For dessert, we’ll be showcasing ingredients from across Japan,” says chef Paul Gutting, who is opening Ryokou with chef Yu. “The beverage menu features sake front and center, with pairings available for each course. We’ll also be offering select wines and handcrafted cocktails.” 

Ryokou’s 10-seat space promises a more intimate experience than Omakase Table, with a more contemporary feel. This is all by design, Yu says. “With Ryokou, we want to highlight the cooking methods, rather than the aging, as we do with the nigiri at Omakase Table. The idea is to take our guests on a culinary journey and introduce them to new dishes, flavors, and techniques. And I want Ryokou to be a little more fun—we’re still traditional, but not that traditional.”

Reservations are recommended and can be made via Resy. For more information about Ryokou, please visit ryokouatl.com or call (347) 977-7229.