Dormant for nearly a decade, Roppongi will have a reboot in La Jolla.
Motivated by La Jolla’s “good nostalgia,” restaurateur Sammy Ladeki is bringing Roppongi back to its original spot at 875 Prospect St.
Roppongi closed in 2015 and has stood empty since, though memories of its time in La Jolla prompt residents to ask Ladeki often if he’d bring it back.
“I got sick and tired of hearing it,” Ladeki joked to lajolla.ca. “We’re going to open it again; I’m looking forward to it.”
Ladeki is also planning to open a smaller Roppongi next to his Toasted Gastrobrunch in Imperial Beach.
Estimating a summer 2025 opening for the La Jolla redo, Ladeki, who also owns multiple locations of Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza and Toasted Gastrobrunch, has already had the once-trendy Prospect Street interior completely redesigned by Stephanie Parisi, who designed the first version.
“We’re upgrading the whole design,” Ladeki said.
Roppongi will employ the same chef with the same contemporary Asian cuisine on the menu, with some additions in keeping with the concept.
“People never forgot that place,” Ladeki said, surprised by the wistfulness people have for Roppongi. “Everybody talks about the old menu. We’re not going to change [what] works.”
“I’m excited about it,” Ladeki said, noting he makes his living building restaurants. “That’s what I love to do.”
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