Offering “Japanese food, smoked to perfection,” Kurosumi Kitchen has been a hit.
“They are the best!” says one 5-star review on Google. “This is definitely our families new spot! We had rice balls, dumplings, pork belly rice bowl and pork Ramen. Their rice balls were so good! The Ramen was full of flavor and the broth I’ll be dreaming about.”
The restaurant is marked “Temporarily closed” on Google Maps, but, this week, What Now came across plan review paperwork that shows the restaurant reopening at 135 E Broad St, Suite E, in Groveland. (It was formerly located at 1504 Max Hooks Rd, Suite I.)
“We’re still under construction, with the kitchen just about finished and the dining room area and bar about 90% done,” Executive Chef and COO Dustin Campbell told What Now on Friday. “We’re hoping to be open within 4-5 weeks.”
A soft opening will be held before the launch that will bring this former takeout concept into the sit-down space. Day-to-day operations will be headed up by Campbell and his wife, Nicole Isenhour, and at the heart of it all is a menu that is almost entirely from scratch.
“Our ramen, which is one of our best sellers, has broths made from scratch over four to five days, and we use the previous batch as the mother the next one. So we really never stop that process. And all our meats are smoked in-house,” Campbell adds. Plans are in place to start making even those ramen noodles in-house eventually.
Then there’s the restaurant’s fried rice, which Campbell says is inspired by familiar, everyday American fried rice but has a clear influence from the chef’s travels in Japan. Actually, that’s true of the whole menu, Campbell says.
“I designed the menu based on what I ate in Japan, plus my background of working in restaurants for almost 20 years.”
“At Kurosumi, we specialize in authentic Japanese-inspired cuisine where quality and technique come first,” says the restaurant’s website, Kurosumi.co. “From smoky meat bowls topped with hand-crafted soft-boiled eggs to crispy katsu cutlets, handmade dumplings, rich house-made broths, and smoked specialties, every dish is built on care and tradition. We use premium wagyu, authentic Japanese ramen noodles, and fresh, in-house preparations to bring out deep, unforgettable flavors. Whether you’re craving comforting classics or adventurous street food–inspired bites, Kurosumi is your destination for unforgettable Japanese meat-focused fare.”
Although Kurosumi is relocating, it is remaining within Groveland, a move Campbell says is intentional.
“Groveland has taken to us well, and we really wanted to stay. The city is growing and booming, and I know quite a few people working in the city telling me we’re getting into the downtown area at the right time.”
Keep an eye out for the return of Kurosumi Kitchen at 135 E Broad ST, Suite E, in Groveland!
You can keep up with all things Kurosumi by following @kurosumikitchen on Instagram and @thekurosamikitchen on TikTok.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was updated after a conversation with a representative of Kurosumi Kitchen.
