Roka Akor has signed a lease for its second Arizona restaurant, trading its Scottsdale exclusivity for a spot in Gilbert's Northside at SanTan Village development. The contemporary Japanese restaurant, known for its robata grill, sushi program and Kobe beef, will occupy a 4,336-square-foot space with a 1,000-square-foot patio on South SanTan Parkway, with an opening slated for mid-2027.
The deal was first reported by azbigmedia.com on October 19, 2026, ahead of the Phoenix Business Journal story on October 23, 2026. Additional details were laid out by azbigmedia.com, which confirmed the Gilbert restaurant will mark Roka Akor's sixth location nationwide and second in Arizona. The exact street address has not yet been revealed, according to the same report. Once open, the Gilbert restaurant will bring the brand's signature robata grill, sushi program and Kobe beef to the East Valley.
Roka Akor currently operates its Arizona flagship at 7299 N. Scottsdale Road, along with one restaurant in San Francisco and three in the Chicago area, per the report from whatnow.com. The Roka concept originated in London before the late Dr. John N. Kapoor brought the brand to Scottsdale; his family now oversees the restaurant group through JNK Concepts, the outlet notes.
A Growing Mixed-Use Hub in Gilbert
The Gilbert restaurant will anchor space within Northside, a 20-acre mixed-use development whose first phase includes six buildings and more than 37,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, according to the same azbigmedia.com report detailing the project's tenant roster. At full build-out, Northside is planned to include restaurants, retailers, a 134-key hotel and future mixed-use assets, according to a report from w-retail.com.
As of August 2025, Northside was approximately 60% leased, with just five suites — ranging from 1,490 to 4,336 square feet — still available, the same w-retail.com account noted. Audra Travis of mhg Commercial Real Estate represented Roka Akor in its lease, azbigmedia.com reported.
Other Tenants Signing On at Northside
Roka Akor joins a growing list of businesses committing to the development. Perry's Steakhouse & Grille announced in May it would lease 11,000 square feet as the project's phase-one anchor and its first Arizona location, according to yourvalley.net. The same report detailed other new leases at Northside, including The Workshop Pilates taking 4,275 square feet for its fourth studio, The NOW Massage leasing 1,850 square feet for its fourth Arizona location, and The Milkshake Factory signing on for 1,704 square feet for its second Arizona location.
Hospitality Demand Fuels Gilbert's Appeal
Gilbert economic development officials have pointed to rising interest from hospitality brands as a driver behind projects like Northside. “We continue to see increased demand for hospitality product in Gilbert,” officials said, according to gilbertsunnews.com. Roka Akor's arrival adds a high-end dining option to that mix, giving East Valley diners access to a menu previously available only in Scottsdale.
