Kaika Teppanyaki, the Five Points hibachi staple known for its tableside cooking shows, shut its doors July 26 for about a month of renovations and a full-on identity shift. When it reopens in late August, the restaurant will return as Iwa, trading the hibachi format for an all-you-can-eat sushi concept while keeping table service and the full bar. Owner Maggie Wang plans to retain staff through the transition, and many of Kaika’s familiar appetizers are expected to stick around under the new name.
As reported by the Jacksonville Daily Record, Wang, who opened Kaika in 2015 and also owns Sake House in Five Points, said the economy pushed her to pivot. She told the paper she expects lunch prices at Iwa to stay below $20, an 85-item dinner menu to land under $25, and a full deluxe menu to come in under $35. Sushi will be prepared to order and will include veggie, raw, hand and fried rolls, plus six nigiri options.
Location and menu basics
Iwa will take over Kaika’s existing storefront at 1012-1 Margaret Street in the Five Points corridor, the address listed on Kaika’s website. Kaika’s current online menu and reservation listings already show a strong sushi and teppanyaki focus, suggesting the new all-you-can-eat setup could lean on many of the kitchen’s existing dishes, per OpenTable.
Dining room remodel and costs
The plan calls for the hibachi grills and hoods to be removed and replaced with additional seating, effectively turning performance space into dining capacity. Wang has a buyer lined up for the hibachi setups, a move that will help chip away at an estimated $100,000 remodeling budget, according to the Jacksonville Daily Record. Fresh Start Construction of Jacksonville is listed as the contractor. Wang added that she may keep a single hibachi table for guests who still want that tableside experience, since dismantling the gas-fueled grills requires extra care.
What regulars should expect
Even with the concept switch, the service style will look familiar. Table service is expected to remain, and the restaurant will keep a full liquor bar, according to reservation details on OpenTable. Fans of Kaika’s starters should also feel at home. The current menu lists a long lineup of appetizers and sushi that the Iwa concept could reuse or adapt, per Kaika.
