Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Restaurant offers a taste of Japan
A new restaurant promising authentic Japanese food is to open up in the heart of Canterbury.
The Happy Samurai in the Marlowe Arcade is the brainchild of David Smith, who hails from east Kent, and his Japanese wife Setsuko.
They wanted to give diners an experience like that in the Land of the Rising Sun.
David said: “We came back to Canterbury after a long time away and decided we wanted to go into the restaurant trade ourselves.
“We saw a real gap in the market and decided to exploit it because there was nothing really doing the authentic experience.
“What we will do is replicate what you get in Japan.”
David and Setsuko, who are both 44, met while working in Hong Kong. Her background is in food while he has worked in marketing and technology.
As they work towards an opening date of Monday, August 1, the couple are adding unique touches to their product.
They have installed TVS on each of the tables and will offer customers free tea.
There is even a restaurant mascot called Koji, the eponymous Happy Samurai.
David added: “Koji’s happy when there’s fresh and authentic food being served, but boy does he get mad when it’s not.
“He reflects our four core values of authentic food, totally healthy, good value and having fun.”
The Happy Samurai will specialise in Japanese ramen, katsu curries and fried noodles. It will also serve sake, the rice wine central to the Japanese dining experience.
The restaurant is one of three new businesses in the Marlowe Arcade
Australian novelty chain Smiggle and Cornish clothing and homeware shop Seasalt have also occupied retail units.
Log on to www.happysamurai. co.uk for more information.