Chef Mihoko Obunai, in conjunction with Concentrics Restaurants, is pleased to announce NEXTO, an Old Fourth Ward Japanese-centric eatery.
Obunai offers ramen, hot and cold plates and robatayaki. Signature dishes include the Chrysanthemum gomaae with pecan, tahini, dashi, katsuobushi ($6), Charred avocado with umami dashi, quail egg, bourbon togarashi ($8), JFC wings with caramelized garlic, ginger, soy, togarashi, yuzu ranch ($8), Unagi and chips buns with crispy unagi, shoestrings potato, wasabi tobiko, sansho ($10), Wagyu ribeye with ginger, charred onion, yuzu kosho ($14), Buta kimchi mini don with pork belly, kimchi, soft egg, scallions rice ($8), Curry vegetable with seasonal vegetables, tofu, veggie broth ($14) and the Late night ramen burger offered after 10:00pm with fried egg, kimchi, kaiware, sriracha kwechap for $12.00.
The small focused wine program features wines from classic and adventurous producers, regions and grape varieties. Japanese inspired cocktails, sakes, shochu and craft beers are also offered.
Obunai has been in the Atlanta culinary scene for quite some time, including her time at the restaurant Repast that she co-opened with Joe Truex. In 2010 she was selected as a StarChef “Rising Star Chef” and later competed on the Food Network’s “Chopped”. In 2012, Obunai trained with Chef Jack Nakamura (her ramen mentor) at Ramen Lab in New York City. Obunai won the “First Annual Ramen Battle” at The 10th Annual StarChefs International Chefs Congress in Brooklyn, NY. She was the only woman Ramen Master and beat fierce chef competitors Jamison Blankenship (Chuko), Harold Jurado (Google, Richie Nakano (Hapa Ramen), and Youji Iwakura (Snappy Ramen).
Obunai later launched her own ramen pop-up “Mibo Ramen” nationwide. In 2014, she launched another ramen pop-up at Atlanta’s Soundtable called “Ramen Freak” which was met with great acclaim.
Located in a funky and industrial corrugated metal shed, surrounded by a bamboo hedge, NEXTO boasts modern minimalistic design. Front and center is a bustling open kitchen flanked by a unique Todd Murphy piece that was commissioned specifically for NEXTO.
