A NEW Japanese restaurant at Ponce corner Suazo Streets in Davao City is banking on the emerging market in the food industry - the millennials.
The restaurant, named Taichou Izakaya, offers what the owner claimed as "authentic Japanese cuisine experiences" and is now doing good business even just nearly three months in the industry.
"It is making good business in Davao because the market is up for something new to eat, especially for millennials, they like to explore new dishes. We have regulars who look for our food offerings, I think it's good," said Scian L. Lindo, owner of the restaurant.
The restaurant, he said, is more of a neighborhood place where people can laugh loud, slurp, and be as they are. It was launched last October 21, 2016.
The restaurant, which can accommodate only up to 16 persons at a time, is open from Mondays to Saturdays, 6 p.m. to 12 midnight.
The place also has no wi-fi connection as the owner encourages for people to interact.
Lindo said he decided to put up his own restaurant in Davao City to bring his wonderful Japanese cuisine experiences to his hometown.
"From my observation, the Japanese restaurants here lack the authenticity of a Ramen that is served in Japan, it tastes really different. Sometimes I got dismay because I know how it should taste like, so I bring it here," he said.
Ingredients of most of his recipes are ordered from Japan monthly.
Lindo earned several short courses like those from Yamato School before venturing into the business. In his restaurant here, he offers a Tonkutso Ramen, southern Ramen mostly found in Fukuoka, his most favorite type of Ramen so far.
"My vision is for the people to come here (in his restaurant) and be educated about what is Ramen, how it is supposed to be. I want them to experience what I tried in Japan," he said.
"What I'm trying to say, my Ramen is as authentic as it can be, I envision my restaurant as a pub wherein people who are looking for authentic Ramen and other Japanese dishes in Davao would head here automatically," he added.
For next year, new things are up for the menu of the restaurant. Lindo said they will be introducing another type of Ramen.
"Now, I want to concentrate and maximize here, no expansion plans yet. I want this to be like a shop for the neighborhood, when you say Ramen, they would go to Taichou Izakaya," Lindo said.