A new Japanese restaurant will be opening next summer at Junction Krog District.
Yuji is a new concept from Atlanta restaurateur Alex Kinjo named for his best friend, Yuji Matsumoto. It will bring a Kaiseki-inspired menu with fresh and seasonal dishes to Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward, with two outdoor bars and a 1,670-square-foot patio where it will serve cocktails, beer and sake on draft. Kaiseki is a traditional multi-course Japanese dinner, typically served with sake, and it has a long history in Kyoto, Japan.
Yuji will also have a walk-up window with a touchscreen display for to-go orders. Inside, the restaurant will feature Japanese wallpaper and Hinoki wood accents.
The restaurant will be joining YEPPA&co, an Italian concept that was the first restaurant tenant signed at Junction Krog District, a project from national developer Portman. Both restaurants are expected to open in summer 2024.
“For a BeltLine-facing project like this, it was especially important for us to bring in exceptional, true-to-Atlanta concepts that share our vision for creating experiences that seamlessly blend with the character and soul of the neighborhood,” Dotan Zuckerman, Head of Retail and Activation for Portman, said in a press release. “Yuji comes from one of Atlanta’s best, and we couldn’t be more excited to debut its flagship location at Junction Krog District. With construction complete and two chef-driven restaurants announced, we know that this will become a vibrant and activated gathering place for the community.”
Junction Krog District is a Class-A office building with ground-floor retail space fronting the Atlanta BeltLine. It is located at the corner of Irwin Street and Auburn Avenue and across from Krog Street Market. In addition to the 135,000-square-foot of office space, it has a 7,000-square-foot public porch. Portman plans to bring live music and pop-up bars to the porch in the coming weeks.
Portman recently purchased 1.3 acres adjacent to Junction Krog District where the firm will plan a second phase for the project.
