Portland Is Getting a ‘Mountain Izakaya’ With a Michelin-Starred Restaurant Alum and Famed Bartender

The city is getting a new venture from Submarine Hospitality, Portland Monthly reports: Takibi comes from Joshua McFadden’s restaurant group and lauded bartender Jim Meehan from New York, and will boast a Michelin-starred restaurant alum as executive chef.

Takibi also comes from Japanese outdoors store Snow Peak, and will open in the back of the company’s upcoming store in Northwest Portland. Seating 75 with room outside on a covered patio with fire pits, the restaurant and bar will be a “mountain izakaya,” according to Submarine Hospitality founding partner Luke Dirks.

Alex Kim, a newcomer to Portland who spent time at the Michelin-starred Kajitsu in New York City, the three Michelin-starred Benu in San Francisco, and, most recently, at the three Michelin-starred Kikunoi Honten in Kyoto, Japan, will be helming the kitchen. Kim will be collaborating with McFadden on the menu, of which details are slim, though McFadden describes it to PoMo as, “What Italian cooking is to Ava Gene’s and Tusk is to the flavors of Middle Eastern cooking, Takibi will be to Japanese food.” Kim will be borrowing Pacific Northwest ingredients, including foraged items, as well as camping cooking styles to add to his extensive culinary background.

Meehan’s cocktail menu ideas have yet to be fully released, but the bartender and author told PoMo that he will draw heavily from local products, including spirits, wines, and beers. He also mentioned his approach would be rooted in classics, saying, “My favorite cocktail bars in Japan focus on classic cocktails, often with innovative twists, and we will, too.” Considering Meehan’s aplomb with creative drink building at bars like New York’s PDT, it’s easy to anticipate something special with his first Portland-based bar.

Takibi is set to open in late spring at 404 NW 23rd Avenue.

• Joshua McFadden and Bar Legend Jim Meehan to Open Takibi [PoMo]
• Submarine Hospitality [Official]
• All Takibi Coverage [EPDX]