Daniel Maurer Zen 6 opened in December. Ippin opened last weekend. And now Mentaikou is planning to bring ramen and sushi to 324 East Sixth Street, just a couple doors down form Zen 6.
According to a liquor license questionnaire, the 72-seat restaurant will have a 15-foot sushi bar and will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. (and till midnight on weekends). It replaces Calcutta Restaurant on Curry Row, between First and Second Avenues.
It isn’t the only ramen spot on the horizon: Ivan Orkin, the owner of two Tokyo noodle joints who drew lines to Momofuku during his guest stint there in July, is planning a 56-seat spot with enclosed backyard at 25 Clinton Street. It’ll be a “fun but serious artisanal noodle shop,” according to the liquor license questionnaire.
In other Japanese-restaurant news, Bugs, which opened without a liquor license in August, is now serving beer (Sapporo Reserve, Orion, Echigo Koshihikari) and sake (Kikusui, Suigei, Taisetsu).
And Natori is under new ownership. Okayama Hideyuki previously owned Zen Restaurant, a block away at 31 St. Marks Place, according to a liquor license questionnaire.
Finally, Kamui Den, an under-the-radar spot that served midnight ramen, has closed. There’s a for-rent sign on the window and the number has been disconnected.
