Traveling from her home in Grants Pass, Ore., to San Francisco and back, Hwa Mei Keller would continually pass though Redding and notice that something was missing.
A teppanyaki table at Kobe Seafood and Steakhouse.
“There were no teppanyaki tables,” said Keller, who owns three restaurants in Grants Pass, Ore., one in Eureka and one in Dallas.
Teppanyaki tables are where Japanese chefs make a show out of cutting up and preparing steak and seafood dishes for customers right in front of them. Keller’s Kobe Seafood and Steakhouse restaurant will do exactly that when it opens Monday in the Gateway building in downtown Redding.
The restaurant features a compelling streamlined contemporary design by Redding’s Lorie Burch (who consulted with Keller), punctuated by large abstract works by Eureka artist Richard Duning. It will display the teppanyaki cooking artistry of five chefs whom Keller has brought to Redding from all across the country. Kobe will also be a sushi restaurant and wine/beer bar.
(From left) Gateway building owner Brent Weaver discusses last minute plans with owner Hwa Mei Keller and manager Christie Chiang.
The restaurant, which anchors Brent Weaver’s two-story Gateway building on the corner of Shasta and Market streets, will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.
“Teppanyaki is really fun for families, birthday parties, all types of parties,” said Keller, who came to the United States from Taiwan in 1991. “I think people will really enjoy and love it.”
Keller’s daughter, Christie Chiang, will manage the restaurant, which will employ between 20 and 30 people.
“We think it’s going to be a great addition to Redding since there’s nothing like it,” said Chaing. “We’re going to have great lunch specials to accommodate the businesses around here.”
The restaurant features a translucent sushi bar.
Teppanyaki dinners include chicken, New York steak, lobster, salmon, shrimp, filet mignon, vegetarian, scallops and combinations of all those. Dinners will range from $14.95 to $39.95 and include soup, salad, an appetizer, vegetables and rice. Teppanyaki lunches will range from $7.95 to $14.95. There will be a great range of sushi options including nigiri, sashimi, temaki and a variety of specialty rolls.
The works of Eureka artist Richard Duning are featured in the restaurant.
The restaurant will be somewhat segmented between its sushi and teppanyaki areas. Diners will also have the option of sitting at a long sushi bar, featuring a translucent counter that cycles through different colors.
The restaurant’s tagline is “food, flames and fun.” The Japanese teppanyaki-style of cooking was made famous by Benihana, a chain that started in the 1960s and still operates nearly 100 restaurants.
Located on the same block as the soon-to-open Maxwell’s Downtown Eatery (end of June, beginning of July), Kobe Seafood and Steakhouse joins a growing list of unique downtown restaurants, including Grilla Bites, Maritime Seafood and Grill, Tapas Downtown and Vintage Wine Bar and Restaurant.
Keller and Chiang said they’re excited to contribute to the energy and growth of downtown Redding.
Here’s hoping that all those businesses benefit from each other’s presence.
Jim Dyar is a news, arts and entertainment journalist for A News Cafe and the former arts and entertainment editor for the Record Searchlight’s D.A.T.E. section. Jim is also a songwriter and leader of the Jim Dyar Band. He lives in Redding. E-mail him at jimd.anewscafe@gmail.com.
