This Japanese spot’s OG location closed, but the brand lives on
When you think of Japanese food, what’s the first dish that comes to mind? For many, it would likely be sushi.
But there’s so much more to Japanese cuisine – ramen, yakitori, shabu-shabu and curry, just to name a few. Fourteen years ago, Kuniko Ozawa decided to embark on a career change from tech sales to the restaurant industry, motivated by the lack of Japanese restaurants highlighting non-sushi dishes in the Bay Area. Her first restaurant highlighted yakitori in Los Altos, her second, ramen in Santa Clara. She opened a total of five concepts (including kaiseki and Japanese Italian fusion) with locations all over the Bay Area.
Now, she’s slowing down operations. I talked with Ozawa to find out why and to learn what the future of her brands entail.
Stay tasty,
Adrienne
‘It’s about time’: A Bay Area restaurateur steps away from her prominent ramen chain as a new sushi spot opens under its name
After a 14-year reign as a top ramen spot in the Bay Area, Orenchi Ramen is down to one location – and its founder has stepped away from the brand entirely.
A celebrity chef makes Sunnyvale moves, a coffee chain expands along the Peninsula and Callao will host its grand opening
- A James Beard Award-winning chef and “Iron Chef” and “Top Chef” winner will open her newest restaurant Valley Goat in Sunnyvale early next year.
- Coffeebar, an Italian-influenced cafe with locations in Menlo Park and Redwood City, is opening another shop on Monday.
- Rose Tea Lounge opened its fourth boba shop Oct. 26 in Cupertino.
- Oh Baby Sushi, a family-owned and operated Japanese restaurant since 2014, soft opened its third location in Sunnyvale Oct. 16.
- Stanford University now has a Wetzel’s Pretzels, owned and operated by father-son duo Varuzh and Harout Abgaryan.
- Callao, a Peruvian restaurant in Los Altos, is hosting a grand-opening celebration and networking night on Thursday from 5-7 p.m.
- The ACC Network is featuring places to eat and drink in Palo Alto in tomorrow’s new episode at 7 p.m., including Palo Alto Creamery, Garrod Farms, Tamarine and more.
Thai tea toast at Sweet Maple
There’s no shortage of Asian fusion brunch along the Peninsula. In 2022, Sweet Maple opened in Palo Alto and Kan Kiin opened in Daly City, earning a spot in the Michelin Guide earlier this year. Last year, Son & Garden opened in Palo Alto. And just this year, Taste and Glory opened in San Mateo and Breaking Dawn opened in Los Gatos.
And while each brunch spot has its own strengths and weaknesses, I keep coming back to Sweet Maple, with its vibrant selection of cocktails, espresso beverages, sweet and savory dishes, energetically upbeat vibe and, of course, its Millionaire’s Bacon.
Most recently, I tried Sweet Maple’s seasonal Thai tea toast ($17), and it was fantastic. A cubical Thai tea flavor bomb, this buttery toast is filled with a Thai tea molten lava sauce and topped with fluffy Thai tea whipped cream. Caramelized almonds add an extra crunch, and a bruleed banana adds extra dimension. As a Thai tea lover, I was very pleased.
It’s practically a requirement that you order the Millionaire’s Bacon ($14) when you dine at Sweet Maple. It’s rich, meaty, smoky, spicy and sweet, with a flavor profile similar to that of an amped-up barbecue sauce. And while I do enjoy the Millionaire’s Bacon, it may not be for everyone. Because the bacon is so thick, the fat isn’t fully rendered and therefore isn’t crispy. Its texture is more like pork belly than traditional American bacon.
For a nonalcoholic beverage, I usually opt for the ube latte which, despite the purple potato’s popularity, is still not commonplace along the Peninsula. At $8 it’s a bit steep, but its light nutty vanilla flavor and gorgeous purple hue makes it worthwhile.
Sweet Maple, 150 University Ave., Palo Alto; 650-521-0764, Instagram: @sweetmapleofficial. Open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
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