SHAW: Daikaya Partners Announce 2nd Sapporo-style Ramen Shop - 'Haikan' - to Open at Atlantic Plumbing Building in Shaw, Spring 2016

The talented team behind popular DC-based Sapporo ramen shop and izakaya – Daikaya - including partners Daisuke Utagawa, Chef Katsuya Fukushima, and Yama Jewayni - are thrilled to announce that their 2nd Sapporo-style ramen shop – ‘Haikan’ – is slated to open at JBG Companies Atlantic Plumbing building in Washington DC’s highly anticipated and up and coming culinary mecca Shaw in spring 2016. In addition, a third restaurant from the Daikaya team – Bantam King (700 Fifth Street NW, Washington DC) – featuring chicken ramen and Japanese fried chicken, is scheduled to open shortly after Haikan - also in spring 2016, just around the corner from Daikaya ramen and izakaya.

Located at 805 V Street NW, Washington DC, Haikan will feature 2,120-square feet on the ground level of JBG Companies Atlantic Plumbing building and will offer a completely original selection of Sapporo-style ramen, different from the assortment of ramen currently offered at Daikaya. 

In addition to ramen, Executive Chef Katsuya Fukushima is also experimenting with offering a selection of Japanese-inspired small plates, priced between $8 to $10 each, such as ‘Beef & Broccoli’ with fried broccoli, gomae sauce, and teriyaki beef jerky, Pork Dumplings with crispy garlic, soy vinaigrette, and rayu, and Japanese Cucumber and Pickle Salad with yogurt, shiso, and yuzu, just to highlight a few dishes in-the-works. The ramen shop will offer seating for 85 with 55 seats indoors, and 30 seats outdoors, including an intimate bar area with seating for up to 10. The bar program is slated to take cues from big brother Daikaya offering up an extensive selection of sake, Japanese beer, Japanese whisky, craft cocktails, and more.

“With over 1,000 ramen shops in the city of Sapporo alone, we’re excited to bring a completely original line-up of Sapporo-style ramen to our guests with the opening of Haikan in Shaw this spring”, said Daisuke Utagawa, one of three partners at Daikaya. "Through Haikan, our goal is to further connect, educate, and transport our guests to Japan through offering authentic Sapporo-style ramen, and with that being said, the menu will showcase a fresh new line-up of Sapporo-style ramen completely different than what is currently served at Daikaya ramen. For instance, just to highlight a few ramen options in the works, Haikan is planning on offering a unique Shoyu ramen highlighting the classic Showa period focusing on flavors from when Sapporo Ramen first developed becoming its own distinct style of ramen in Japan. We will also be offering a new twist on miso ramen celebrating some of the team's favorite miso ramen enjoyed during our research and development trips together in Sapporo."

After joining several of the Daikaya partners on two separate research and development trips to Japan seeking inspiration – first for Daikaya ramen shop and izakaya, and again for Haikan which also inspired the team to spontaneously add another restaurant project to the mix - Bantam King – for Washington DC after encountering a large number of chicken ramen shops during their eating adventures, Brian Miller, Senior Project Designer at Edit Lab at Streetsense, signed on to assist with providing the design foundation for Haikan.

“The vision for Haikan’s design grew out of a link between design in Japan and Washington, D.C. from the late 1950s to 1970s, the time ramen first exploded in popularity and the Sapporo style of ramen was developed. In Japan the Metabolism movement looked to modular design and crystalline forms to steer postwar growth, while in D.C.”, said Brian Miller, Senior Project Designer at Edit Lab at Streetsense. “Brutalism led to massive forms achieved with humble materials, a step away from the city’s neoclassical roots. Today the heritage of Metaobilsm and Brutalism is disappearing, and Haikan claims the corner of the muscular Atlantic Plumbing building with an homage to both. Deeply fluted concrete block walls, and old design brought back into production for this project with a new mold, line the bar and West wall. A plywood triangular coffered ceiling stretches through the space, directing light and controlling acoustics. Colored tile fields and brass accent the wood and concrete, and the long ramen line sits directly across from a 20’ door that pivots open in warm weather. The ramen counter and bar are thick solid oak, made to patina over time and show the life of the space. Under the overhang of the building, the patio holds a long table and bold signage, marking the corner of 8th & V St for year-round ramen.”