Janis Martin’s excellent izakaya, Tanuki, recently left its NW 21st broom closet with plans to reopen in Belly’s former space on MLK. According to Eater, however, those plans have been scrapped. Martin says that they were turned down for a temporary OLCC license, and that they’re “actively seeking new locations.” Though I was excited to see what Tanuki could do with a bigger kitchen, that particular space didn’t seem like a great match to me. I’d think Tanuki would do better with more foot traffic and more established late-night scene. Sad that we’ll have to wait a little longer for Kushiyaki, but here’s to hoping they reopen in my neighborhood.

See you soon...I hope.

  • See you soon…I hope.

VIA

11 replies on “Tanuki In Flux”

  1. I’m sorry, but the minute I saw the name “Belly” I saw it going belly up. Man that building is Hillsboro Hideous. King Food Market looked better than that. Why would anyone want to be a tenant there?

  3. @thetermizir: I think that’s a pickled plum.

    Janis Martin is a crazy person. I’ve heard her refer to paying taxes as being raped. She’s one of those nutjob Austrian School/Ayn Rand libertarians who thinks that public schools are indoctrinating our children into a One World Order.

  5. @Graham Shhh! Keep talking like that and all the best Izakaya minds in Portland are going to organize a strike against those of us who would use taxation and moralization to confiscate the accomplishments of our culinary scene’s most productive members.

  6. @Tony: She’s a very very talented chef; I just don’t want to support her as a business person. One time I was in Tanuki and she treated everyone in the place to a free saki because it was the anniversary of the Manson Murders.

  7. Janis Martin’s political views usually don’t sync up with mine, but she can be really kind, funny and smart, always interesting to talk to. And at least she’s honest about what she thinks. That’s not true of everyone in “our culinary scene.” She makes amazing food and sells it for a song, and I support that with all my heart.

  8. I’ve never had any bad experiences at Tanuki. Ayn Rand’s political views are almost as abhorrent to me as her shitty writing, but that wouldn’t stop me from drinking some Manson-Murder Saki.

  9. Wait – was this the same place that banned kids? I don’t have kids, but I freakin’ HATE that attitude. Figures the owner would be some Objectivist nutjob.

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