A NEW UPSCALE steakhouse and sushi bar has set up shop in an enviable Carmel location. Part of The Corner, a mixed-use Kite Realty Group property at 116th Street and Rangeline Road, Okonori Japanese High Kitchen serves up a celebration of the senses defined by exquisite food, a sophisticated atmosphere, and thoughtful service.
Under the direction of Kimmie Chang, Unik Works Hospitality Design & Build Firm was tasked with bringing the concept to life. Okonori is also the result of a partnership with Hui Zheng and Kevin Zheng, young owners of Nori Japanese Steakhouse who share the same dream of uplifting the culinary fabric of Carmel.
“The original vision was not just for a Japanese restaurant but a whole team of creative people working together to produce an unforgettable dining experience,” Chang says. “We want to make a great first impression, and hopefully we’ll attract diners from all around the state.”
Although she’s worked in the design industry for more than two decades, commercial restaurants are a fairly new endeavor for Chang, adding a new specialty to her client list of high-end spas and nail salons. Okonori is her latest addition to a growing portfolio of dining projects that includes Kyuramen and Sake Maru in Indianapolis, Cafe Noricha in Noblesville, and Nashville, Tennessee–based Kumo.
Breaking ground on the project in April, Chang drew inspiration from her own Hong Kong heritage and her exposure to different Asian cultures to manifest something uniquely new and distinctive. As a commercial agent with construction management experience, she tapped connections in China to finely craft and ship all the custom-made furnishings and decor. The resulting interior is decidedly sleek, with plush banquette seating in shades of deep green (“nori,” after all, means seaweed in Japanese), veined white marble tabletops, light wood finishes, and a slatted wood ceiling feature anchoring an open dining room that feels expansive yet intimate.
A sunken nook along the front windows allows for stylish tatami dining with low tables and cushioned floor seats, or guests can request a spot at the chic round bar outfitted in green ceramic tile. A long wood counter in the far back corner accommodates omakase service, and when the outdoor patio is completely built out, it will bring the total seating capacity up to 200. All told, the configuration of the space visually echoes the intentional, soothing flow of the traditional Japanese dining ethos.
Menu development received the same care and refinement as the setting, culminating in a collection of artful plates and beverages every bit as pleasing to look at as they are to eat. Small plate options cover vegetables and both hot and cold seafood preparations in addition to a selection of sashimi, nigiri, and shareable sushi “sets” for convivial meals. Sake, whiskey, wine, beer, and inventive craft cocktails prove the perfect drinkable counterpoints.
Overall, Chang couldn’t be happier with Okonori’s chic result and is quick to credit her partnership with Kite Realty Group for its valuable support.
“They really pushed me to another level,” she says. “It was a good experience.”
