Tokyo Grill will open its seventh location in Memphis in the old Shang Hai space at 1400 Poplar near Cleveland.
The first Tokyo Grill opened on Park in 2011.
Expect the same menu, says owner Aaron Liu. “It’s the same style, same concept,” he says. The large menu offers Japanese fare such as bento boxes, sushi, hot pots, noodle dishes, tempura, and more.
Liu says he had been wanting to expand into Midtown for a while now. He looked on Madison but said parking is pretty sparse for businesses on that street.
The 1400 Poplar space has lots of parking and is in a highly visible spot. But Liu says he’s had to do a lot of work on the building — new appliances in the kitchen, a new roof, new paint on the exterior and interior.
One thing he’s keeping are the red tiles on the ceiling. “They’re antique, unique. You can’t buy them anymore,” he says. “They are artwork.”
The plan right now is to open in the next couple weeks. Liu says that they’ve already passed all inspections but he needs time to rest and get ready for the new restaurant.
“You have to love your customers,” Liu says. “My customers gave me the chance to grow my restaurant.”
