A new hibachi restaurant is currently under construction near one of Ocala’s busiest interchanges.
Koto Hibachi Express and Sushi is currently under build out at 3811 SW College Road, next to the Interstate 75 interchange. The new restaurant takes over a space formerly occupied by Burger King, which closed last year.
According to property records, Ohana Property Management, LLC, purchased the 1.28-acre parcel on October 4, 2024, for $2.9 million from Singh & Son Properties, LLC.
Ohana Property Management is owned by Liang Chen, who is also the owner of the Koto Hibachi Express and Sushi in Gainesville.
Chen and his group will look to bring the same Japanese cuisine that made them popular in Gainesville to the Ocala area.
Although the menu for the new restaurant has not yet been released, the Gainesville location currently serves a variety of fried rice noodles, classic and special sushi rolls, hibachi, and Bento boxes.
When it opens, Koto will join several other hibachi, sushi, and ramen restaurants that have opened in Ocala recently.
Since Ramen House first opened in mid-2020, Ocala has welcomed the addition of at least six other similar restaurants: Samurai Hibachi and Ramen, Foody Bowl, Poké Go, Kluck Chicken, K-POT Hot Pot and Korean BBQ, and Zuru Ramen & Boba.