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Japanese barbecue is joining the menu at the corner of Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway and Sherberth Road not far from Walt Disney World.
Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ has signed a lease for its second Central Florida restaurant. The chain has restaurants around the country, including at 7858 Turkey Lake Road, Orlando, and a couple restaurants in Miami.
The global brand was launched in Japan and opened its first U.S. location in 2001. It now has over 700 locations worldwide.
The about 3,900-square-foot restaurant will be part of an about 6,300-square-foot building in Elevation Development’s Parkview retail project, said Elevation CEO Owais Khanani. The building is expected to break ground in March and should be done in about five months.
“I would think they would open before the end of the year,” he said.
Khanani said his company is in discussions with other restaurant concepts for the remainder of the building's space.
Gyu-Kaku customers cook their food over charcoal grills. Tables feature a “Smokeless Roaster” that sucks the smoke away from diners, the restaurant’s website states.
The Orlando restaurant’s menu features all-you-can eat options, including items like New York steak, pork belly, garlic shoyu chicken thighs and spicy cabbage salad. There is also an à la carte menu featuring items from prime kalbi short rib to beef tongue.
Khanani said the restaurant will be “something unique to the area” and a good fit for a predominantly tourist corridor.
He added on Friday his company was close to signing a lease with Taco Maker for a space adjacent to the development’s Arby’s restaurant.
Taco Maker has restaurants on Lake Underhill Road and Universal Boulevard in Orlando and is headquartered in the city, according to its website. Its menu includes burritos, tacos, nachos and taco salad. One offering is the “pionono” which is described as a plantain and meat burrito.
The retail center is also home to a Popeyes restaurant and a CVS store. Rosemont Hotels is currently building a new $30 million boutique hotel in Parkview.