Kenny Kim and Misako Ohba are two of the hardest working young restaurateurs in Columbus these days. The duo launched Foodie Cart in 2010, serving up unique Japanese Crepes to passers by. In 2011, they threw a one-two punch and opened Freshstreet Takoyaki in the Short North (which is no longer open) and Freshstreet Yakitori (originally opened as Section 8 Yakitorium). If they didn’t have big plans for 2012, you’d think something was wrong.
Well, fret no more. Kenny and Misako are hard at work on a new restaurant concept in a new location that will add a twist to the food they’ve been perfecting down the in the Brewery District. The result will be known as the Bincho Taqueria.
“Basically this concept is the fusion of Japanese bincho yakitori/kushiyaki skewers with authentic mexican tacos,” said Kim. “We will add our own touch to the different salsas and sauces available. The cool thing about this concept is the variety of different Japanese-Mexican tacos we can create.”
On this new restaurant concept, Kim and Ohba are partnering with Erik Till and Lisa Edge from the Commonwealth Sandwich Bar. The location has yet to be fully secured, but it will be located somewhere in the southwestern section of Weinland Park, walking distance from both the Short North and OSU.
Bincho will feature daily skewers and special skewers, somewhat similar to the offerings at Freshstreet Yakitori. The restaurant will be open for lunch, dinner and late night snacking.
“This concept should be a lot of fun for everyone and we don’t think it exists in the country, so it would be a nice to put Columbus on the map,” added Kim. “Everyone we are working on this project with is super creative, and everybody’s creativity rubs off on everybody else.”
For additional news, stay tuned to the latest on Freshstreet’s Facebook Page.