A corner storefront on Croskey Street in West Passyunk is now home to Panco, a pickup-only takeout spot serving Japanese comfort food from a kitchen so small that its owner works it essentially alone. Chef Ryo Igarashi opened the shop.
A Deliberately Small Operation
Igarashi is both chef and owner of Panco, which sits at 2300 S. Croskey St. in South Philadelphia, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. The building itself dates to 1925 and spans roughly 1,400 square feet, per property records from Story House Real Estate. That modest footprint suits Igarashi's approach: he has said a one-man restaurant operation is well established in Japan, and he wants to bring that same established-market idea for Japanese takeout to Philadelphia, the Inquirer reports.
Helping out at the counter is Maya Igarashi, a high school senior, according to the same account. The lean staffing reflects a deliberately minimal setup.
Igarashi's Restaurant Career
Igarashi worked in Philadelphia restaurant kitchens before opening Panco.
Maru Global Takoyaki, Igarashi's venture on South 10th Street, served takoyaki and other delights, according to Philadelphia Magazine. A building fire forced the shop's closure in January 2012, and Igarashi won a food truck later that year to keep the business going — though his career was interrupted when he suffered a massive blood clot in his head that required emergency brain surgery, the magazine reported at the time.
Katsu and Japanese Comfort Food
Panco serves Japanese comfort food.
Mains top out at $22, with appetizers running about $10, per the same account.
Part of a Growing Katsu and Yoshoku Scene
Panco's arrival lands amid a broader wave of yoshoku-focused dining in the city. The Royal Sushi team opened Dancerobot in Rittenhouse Square in September 2025, featuring yoshoku staples like katsu curry and kare pan, according to the restaurant's own site. Elsewhere, PungNyeon Katsu on North 5th Street has carved out its own niche serving Korean-style tonkatsu with house-made fruit-and-vegetable sauces, as reported by the Inquirer.
For now, Igarashi is focused on the essentials: he has said he wants to test the market and see which menu items catch on before considering any expansion. Panco is open from 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, with details available at pancophilly.com.
