Look Inside Woodbridge’s Lantern-Filled Izakaya

Red, white, and blue paper lanterns light up the room at Woodbridge’s newest restaurant recruit, Katsu Detroit. The bona fide Japanese izakaya opened its doors to the public on Friday, December 28, bringing with it a slew of rotating specials ranging from charcoal grilled meat to soba noodles.

Partners Katsu Yama, Roy Chen, and Joshua Chiatovich aimed to bring a classic Japanese pub atmosphere to the corner restaurant at 5069 Trumbull Ave., which seats between 40 and 50 people. The interior of the restaurant is decked out in floor to ceiling dark woods and bamboo shades. The main dining room at is a mix of longer communal tables, booths, and bar stools, while a raised platform near the windows sports tatami-style tables set low to the ground with cushions instead of chairs. Customers enter the restaurant through an arched walkway between the corner of the building at Katsu’s colorful neighbor Armageddon Beachparty.

On the menu at Katsu expect to see eight to 10 specials daily with yakitori in options like chicken skin and thigh, alongside champon (a regional noodle dish from Nagasaki, Japan), tamagoyaki (a Japanese rolled egg omelet), and ramen. The restaurant also offers a full bar with sake, shochu, and Japanese high balls.

Photographers Michelle and Chris Gerard paid a visit to the new restaurant ahead of opening night. Take a look around Detroit’s casual, new Japanese restaurant in the gallery below.

Gerard + Belevender

Katsu Detroit is located at 5069 Trumbull Ave.; open 5 p.m. to midnight Tuesday through Sunday (closed Monday).

• Japanese Izakaya Katsu Detroit Debuts Friday in Woodbridge [ED]
• Japanese Izakaya Aims to Bring Charcoal Grilled Meats to Woodbridge in November [ED]
• Woodbridge’s Dining Scene Is Getting a Major Upgrade [ED]
• All Openings Coverage [ED]
• All Eater Inside Coverage [ED]