Kai Modern Japanese Kitchen in downtown Aurora recently celebrated its grand opening, with normal hours to start next week.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday brought together community members, elected officials, city staff and representatives of the Aurora Regional Economic Alliance to celebrate the new restaurant coming to the historic Hobbs Building.
Aurora Mayor John Laesch, just before the ribbon-cutting, said he was “really excited to see this restaurant opening” and to see business partners Jay Punukollu and Harish Ananthapadmanabhan continue to invest in the city’s downtown.
That investment helps to support the entire “ecosystem” downtown, which also includes the Paramount Theatre and other entertainment destinations, according to Laesch. And in turn, he said, the theatres and other venues support the downtown’s restaurants.
Punukollu — co-owner of both JH Hospitality Group, which Kai will be a part of, and JH Real Estate Partners, which redeveloped the Hobbs Building — said just ahead of the ribbon-cutting that his group tries to create full-service concepts with an “upscale” feel to them, but more importantly, that are also approachable. Staff have worked hard to keep prices low, he said.
“Once you guys actually go online and look at the menu, hopefully you all feel that way,” Punukollu said.
Kai Modern Japanese Kitchen is notable because it brings sushi to downtown Aurora, Laesch said, which city staff in particular are excited about.
The restaurant’s sushi menu ranges from $8 California rolls to a $19 “Surf and Turf” roll that includes lobster and seared Wagyu steak.
Ramen is also a part of the restaurant’s menu, ranging in price from a no-protein Shio Ramen at $14 to a Pork Chashu Tonkotsu Ramen for $19.
Kai Modern Japanese Kitchen is also set to feature a variety of other entrees, including Miso Yaki Salmon at $23, the Monsoon Vegan Curry and Tofu at $16 and the Hibachi Fried Rice ranging from $11 to $16 depending on the choice of protein.
The online menu lists a large number of starters from $6 to $15, including two types of edamame, crab rangoons and “Jalapeno Salmon Poppers.”
Kai is also set to offer a special lunch menu featuring sandwiches from $13 to $15, rice bowls from $16 to $19 and bento boxes starting at $15, the latter of which come with miso soup, the choice of one sushi roll and the choice of two sides.
The restaurant’s regular hours — which from Tuesday to Thursday are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday to Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and on Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. — are set to begin on May 20, one week after the ribbon-cutting took place.
Reservations are now available for as early as May 20 at: kaijapanesekitchen.com/reservations
Ananthapadmanabhan, the other co-owner of both JH Hospitality Group and JH Real Estate Partners, said that it has been a “journey” to get to this point.
“We have continued to believe in Aurora,” he said. “We are not done yet. There is more to come.”
Kai Modern Japanese Kitchen is in the Hobbs Building’s corner spot, at 2 N. River St., that used to hold Leilani Asian Fusion. The previous restaurant closed last July just a few weeks before its one-year anniversary after disagreements within the business partnership, among other challenges, and is in the process of moving into another downtown location.
Ananthapadmanabhan said that he wishes everyone the best and wants to see more restaurants in downtown.
And JH Hospitality is doing its part to open more spots downtown, too.
The basement under Kai, formerly a part of Leilani, is set to be made into its own separate business: a lounge and speakeasy called The Copper Dome, named after the historic onion dome of the Hobbs Building. It could be opening by the end of June, according to Ananthapadmanabhan.
In addition to drinks, the lounge is expected to offer small plates from the three upstairs restaurants at the Hobbs Building. It may one day offer main dishes, too, but not at first, Ananthapadmanabhan previously said.
After The Copper Dome is open, efforts are set to shift towards creating a gaming lounge in the basement of the Hobbs Building’s other two restaurants, Touche French Creole and Giardino Trattoria & Pizzeria.
Like The Copper Dome, this gaming lounge is planned to be a separate business but will offer small plates from the three upstairs restaurants.
The Hideout, as it is set to be called, is expected to feature shuffleboard, pool tables, dart boards and a two-lane mini bowling alley, plus its own bar.
That project is going to take several months to complete, Ananthapadmanabhan has previously said, and could possibly open in the late fall.
rsmith@chicagotribune.com
