Pan-Asian Restaurant By Oishi Owners Opening Soon In Doylestown

DOYLESTOWN, PA — A Pan-Asian restaurant from the owners of Newtown hotspots Oishi and KO is gearing up for its Doylestown opening.

Omiza will be located on Main Street across from Buckman's Ski Shop. A February or March opening is anticipated, owner John Im tells Patch.

The menu will include selections popular at the family's existing restaurants, like sushi and noodle dishes. But what will really set Omiza apart is its focus on Korean barbecue.

Im, whose family first opened Oishi followed by KO, said they've been long awaiting coming to Doylestown. For more than 10 years, they sought the right space. "Every time we found a space, it wouldn't work out," Im said.

That changed in 2017, when they broke ground on the building off Main Street. To create what will soon be Omiza, the Thompson rental car building was demolished and an extension to the old Doylestown Bicycle Shop was added, Im explains

The family has built the 7,500-square-foot, 200-seat restaurant from the ground up, giving them full control over the design, interior, exterior, and layout. The building includes an additional 4,000-square-feet of retail space that will be leased.

Omiza — a Korean word with a similar meaning to the Japanese word umami — will offer a wide spread of Asian flavors. Of course there will be sushi, something the Im family has perfected at its consistently packed Oishi restaurant in Newtown.

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But what will differentiate Omiza, Im is confident, is the Korean barbecue.

"We will have a whole section dedicated to Korean barbecue, with tables special ordered from Korea and Japan," Im said.

These tables are not your average tables. They have a very intricate down draft system so as not to leave diners feeling smoky from their dinner, Im explains. Smoke is pulled down to an underground ventilation system while the table generates just the right amount of heat. The result: a piece of perfectly charred meat without the smoky aftermath.

There will be 16 of these special barbecue tables, each seating between two and four guests. The tables can be modified by connecting them to accommodate up to eight.

If you've never had Korean barbecue in this manner — and don't worry you're not alone because the latest trend is moving from the West Coast and just now to New York City, Im explains — picture it as a sophisticated and intimate group dining experience.

Guests typically order a variety of sharable starters to pick and choose from as the grill is heating up. The main course of meat, which can be pork, ribeye, filet, and more, is delivered to the table seasoned. The server walks each table through the meal, getting the meat started on the grill and aiding in the dining experience.

As it's cooking you can pick and choose your combinations right from the grill, wrapping meat with fresh and pickled vegetables and dipping it sauces, among other flavors.

"It's huge on the West Coast," Im said.

Omiza will have a full bar and expansive lounge area, he noted.

Im said he's currently working with distributors to supply the bar with an array of not only Japanese whiskeys, which are popular now, but also a variety of high-end Chinese liquors and spirits.

"We'll have a Japanese high ball machine, which is a special piece of equipment that adds very concentrated carbonated water into cocktails," Im said.

The atmosphere will be contemporary, featuring elements of wood, steel, and glass. Omiza will have high ceilings, dramatic interior elements, and warm lighting, Im said.

"The sounds and noises from the Korean barbecue will add a different element to the vibe," he said.

There will be a private dining room for 25 on the first floor and a second one to be created on the lower level that will seat up to 50 people.

There's onsite parking for 49 cars, and Im is in talks with neighboring businesses to provide additional valet parking.

The family is excited about their newest venture and is eager to open in Doylestown. "We are doing new things with the bar, and obviously with the Korean cuisine. We are also excited to bring the sushi that we do well with in Newtown," Im said.

Omiza will be open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. There will be no lunch service on Sundays.

Check back with Patch for the menu release, as well as an opening date.