A new takeout spot for sushi, ramen and poke is coming to Crystal City.
The eatery, Okinami, is expected to open at 244 19th Court S. in four to five months, owner and longtime chef Yong Kang told ARLnow.
The restaurant’s menu is still in development, but it will mainly function as a carryout on the ground floor of The Grace and Reva apartments, next-door to Toastique. Kang plans to have seating for eight guests across roughly 900 square feet.
The restaurant’s name, which means “offshore wave,” is inspired by the iconic woodblock print, “The Great Wave off Kanagawa.”
A regional chef for decades, Kang’s culinary history goes back to 1987, when he started a local chain of restaurants called Osaka. He left the business in the late 1990s to work for Sodexo food services.
The Crystal City spot will be Okinami’s first location. It’s the latest restaurant to appear on The Grace and Reva’s ground floor, joining a wave of new culinary tenants like Flight Wine Bar, Bar Chinois and Bar Colline.
It’s been an active season for retail in Crystal City. A couple new vendors are arriving at Water Park as Twins Ace Hardware and Paris Baguette plan openings over the next few months.
