From Takumi to Gonta, a New Chapter for Japanese Food in Prague
For those craving a taste of Japan without leaving Prague, Takumi offers a chance to explore Japanese cuisine in the heart of the city. Located behind Quadrio, near the moving head sculpture of Franz Kafka, the restaurant recently celebrated its first anniversary this September. We spoke with co-owner Euntaek Kim about the restaurant’s history, his journey to Prague, and his latest project, Gonta, a Japanese tonkatsu restaurant. From Korea to Prague The Takumi franchise was founded in Düsseldorf, Germany, in 2007 by Haruhiko Saeki and Kenjiro Komatsubara. Kim and his business partner, Viet Hung Phung, later partnered with the founders to bring Takumi Ramen to Prague, opening their first branch on Senovážné náměstí in 2019. Kim’s connection to the restaurant business began long before that. Before he moved to Prague, his uncle owned several Hanil restaurants in Vienna and planned to expand into the Czech market. This led Kim’s family to move to Prague in 2000, when he was just 12 years old. Later, Kim and his sister took over the Hanil restaurant their parents had run. He eventually sold it to a Korean chef he had worked with for several years. Over time, Prague became much more than a... The post From Takumi to Gonta, a New Chapter for Japanese Food in Prague appeared first on Prague Morning .