After more than a decade serving signature sushi creations and family-favorite hibachi cuisine, Derek Chang’s Koto of Japan is closing its doors. The restaurant’s last day is Saturday.
Chang, who moved his restaurant to 2562 Citiplace Court nearly five years ago from its previous, longtime location of 3023 College Drive, will be returning to his native Taiwan, where most of his family still lives, to begin doing missionary work. A spokeswoman at the restaurant tells Daily Report that Chang had been considering the move for some time, and when one of his hibachi chefs recently left he decided it was time to go home.
“He took it as kind of a sign that it’s time to move on and pursue something he has wanted to do for a long time,” says Sarah Hughes, a longtime employee of the restaurant.
Chang is in talks with a potential buyer, who wants to take over the business and continue to operate it in the same location using some of Chang’s recipes, Hughes says. However, no deal has been finalized.
In other restaurant news, the space at 11777 Coursey Blvd. vacated last year when the north Louisiana-based Portico closed gets a new tenant this weekend. Boil and Roux, a new seafood restaurant, opens Sunday.
As its name suggests, the restaurant will specialize in boiled seafood as well as in south Louisiana roux-based classics such as gumbo and etouffee.
Maurice Walker is the entrepreneur behind the new venture. He has worked in restaurant kitchens before, most recently at Ralph and Kacoo’s, but has never owned his own establishment.
“I grew up in a family that enjoys cooking and I love to cook,” he says. “I think it’s fun to see the different directions people take with a dish.”—Stephanie Riegel
