The Most Anticipated Seattle Restaurants | Kukai Ramen Ditches Bad Name

Welcome to CascadiaWire, a weekly collection of restaurant news from up-and-down the Pacific Northwest corridor.

WINTER TRACKING—Seattle saw an explosion of exciting new places to eat all across the city last year, and there doesn't seem to be any sign of a slowdown for 2016. Here's what Eater Seattle will be looking forward to in the next few months.

SWITCHEROOS—Kukai Ramen & Izakaya, a Japan-based chain with three locations in the Seattle area, has announced it is changing the name of its entire chain. It will henceforth be known as Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya. The restaurant's website details the amusing backstory of the name and the reasoning behind the change. Among other reasons, "kukai" means "poop" in Hawaiian. The name change took effect across the brand on January 1.

SPOKANE—If you've been rooting for Seattle chef Jason Stratton on Top Chef this season, you have another Washingtonian to pull for. Chef Chad White, who was born in Spokane, will return with a restaurant called Native Post & Provisions, set to open in late spring or early summer. White will primarily work in Spokane, but he's closing neither his San Diego restaurant Craft Pizza Company, nor his Tijuana spot La Justina. He'll split time between the two areas.