There isn’t any sushi in downtown Tucson since On a Roll closed off Congress Street in July and there definitely isn’t any ramen. But that’s all about to change with Goodness Juice Bar owner Brandon Katz’s newest venture. Obon, a casual Japanese fusion dining spot located in the former Gio Taco space, will offer both ramen and sushi, but that’s just part of the story.
Katz says the name Obon comes from a traditional Japanese Buddhist festival celebrating family and your ancestors that includes drinking, dancing, eating and more. Similarly, Katz says his new restaurant is designed to draw large parties with “family style” Japanese fare.
In the kitchen, Paulo Im crafted a menu featuring three ramen options, nine specialty sushi rolls, a menu of traditional and modern nigiri, crudos, steam buns, noodles, salads, limited entrees, tempura and even bibimbop. The ramen is available with traditional tonkotsu (pork), shoyu (soy) or the house ramen, which offers a blend of both broths. The rolls blend veggies like asparagus, mushrooms, avocado, cucumber and more with fresh fish and shellfish.
“I’m excited to get back into sushi because sushi is what I know,” Katz says, referring to his work with Ra Sushi in the past.
Katz says the restaurant will also cater to late night crowds with a limited menu running until midnight and a walk-up to go ramen option available on the weekends until 2:30 a.m. He also wanted to draw the business crowd in with happy hour
“Downtown has been missing a place for a light bite,” he says. “We’ll be able to offer a cocktail and a snack.”
Behind the bar, Katz enlisted former Scott & Co. bartender and ex-sushi chef Matt Martinez to create a list of cocktail offerings that could both be executed quickly but still offer unique and inventive flavors. One such option is the housemade shiso green apple soda with shochu, which will be available bottled and on tap. A list of sake, Japanese and Taiwanese whisky and classic ramen-paired beers Kirin will also be available.
“What I’m really focusing on is creating a unique and personalized experience for each guest at the bar,” Martinez says. “That and offering a comprehensive spirit list that made sense with the menu.”
Obon will open at 350 E. Congress St. at 4 p.m. on Thursday, August 13, just two days before the Obon celebration kicks off in Japan. For about a week, Obon will only be open for dinner, but after that, you can stop in to try out the new casual in vibe, upscale in décor spot for lunch as well.
“This corner desperately needed a Japanese restaurant,” Katz says. “We’re excited to be here because it’s the gateway to downtown.”
Check out the Obon menu:
Editor’s Note: This post has been updated to reflect new information regarding Obon’s hours.
This article appears in Aug 6-12, 2015.
So what were his skills at Ra Sushi?
He was in charge of half the company during the ‘good times’…. before the company was bought out and turned into a TGI Fridays of Sushi. He also worked for Katsuya in Los Angeles, the highest grossing sushi concept in the country. Trust me, OBON is going to kick ass!!
– former RA Employee (during the good times)
I’ve got $5 on “closed within a year”
Some people are just so negative
$5? Make it $1000 and you have a bet. This will be a huge success.
Make it $1000 and you have a bet.
$12.00 for ramen?!?! Ridiculous! Especially since its doesn’t even cost that much in Japan. Then you got Korean lets throw in come other country’s food in there and call it Japanese. RA ain’t shit. This place is just like that place. A bunch of nonsense. As a person from Japan, food here the worst attempt at it. Orion beer for $10 when its sold at the store for $4? Ridiculous. This place is definitely gonna close. Obon a Japanese holiday is like day of the dead. Worst name possible
@Obon is going to be awesome! Katsuya is not the highest grossing sushi concept place in the country. Its not even best 20. Nice try
Hold on Neil Katz restaurant owner says lets bet $1000 if it fails or not in a year. Where is this $1000 coming from if it fails? If it fails it means you have no money
Same last name, not the owner, everyone. We appreciate all feedback, and hopefully for us hat $5 bet loses ;). Closing business’ are not good for anyone, including the public. We wish all locally owned business’ the most success possible and will support you all in anyway. We hope for everyone to give us a chance and hopefully we can impress. See you all soon.
– Team Obon
Team Obon. I wish you and your business much luck! We will be there. May the negativity wash off your back and success come your way! Local business all the way!
冒涜
Best of luck Team Obon. It’s always so sad when people root for small businesses to fail. Because the opposite of owner based restaurants, is wall to wall TGIFridays, Applebee’s, Bubba Gumps and Outback “Steakhouse”. Owning a restaurant is a very difficult business. And the costs of running a restaurant are overwhelming. People who complain about the prices in the menu’s should feel free to continue to frequent Panda Express and enjoy their sushi from Circle K or Walmart. I for one am up for a new Japanese restaurant downtown that can bring it! Arigatō
Haters to the left. The food is fantastic! Many wishes for continued success!
SAB you wouldn’t know what good Japanese food is so your comment is laughable at best.
Oh I’m sorry King of Japanese Food/International Renown Japanese Food Expert aka “OBON ISN’T JAPANESE FOOD” I didn’t mean to offend you. This lowly peasant simply wanted to express her love of the restaurant she went to. She did not mean to undermine your vast knowledge of Japanese cuisine. I promise to only share your opinions and your opinions alone. I should know I am not allowed to have my own personal opinions on food. Am I allowed to eat there still? Because honestly I really liked it. I know it is wrong, but I just can’t help it sir. The Tataki Maki was so flavorful and the cocktails mixed to perfection. Please don’t punish me!
Bahahaha some drunk bitch on a rampage about some new place that opened in town and had to flock to like sheep. Yeah you can Tataki my Maki if you only knew what it meant. Raw fish, rice, seaweed and soy sauce doesn’t mean its japanese food retard . Totally agree with Obon isn’t japanese food.
I think I struck a nerve. My job here is done 🙂
WTF is going on here? Jesus that SAB is a troll from hell. BYE
Dang!.. Guess I struck more than one nerve 🙂
Thought this was about ramen not some crazy women arguing with other commentators. I think you should get off your phone SAB and give up.
Hold up… Wait a tick…. I posted a super short comment that did not single a person and i get attacked. I send a funny reply… I get called a “drunk bitch” and told I can “Tataki my maki” whatever that means. I simply reply that I must have hit a nerve to get attacked like that and proceed to get called a “troll from hell”. I again state that I must have struck nerves and then get called crazy and that I should give up. Give up what exactly? I simply gave my personal opinion about the restaurant that opened. The food was good. The cocktails were good. I am obviously the evil bitch troll stated above. Smh
Neil Katz you owe A00 $5 or $1000. He said you would close within a year. Monday the 17th you closed. Pay up. SAB Sabrina Mesa
Obon is one of the best things that has come to Tucson in a long time.
feels good knowing that Obon is still open 🙂
Too bad you weren’t part of the $1000 bet…that probably never happened anyways.