Hawaiian restaurant Kau Kau is closing, with plans in place to transform the East Sacramento establishment into a Japanese eatery by the fall.
Owner Lynn Fu, an experienced restaurateur in the region, and partners Johnny Lin and Steven Luong of Tanuki Izakaya & Ramen in Elk Grove are developing the upcoming Genki Kitchen at 855 57th St., Suite C., replacing the Hawaiian eatery currently operating there.
Fu purchased Kau Kau from its former operator in June, and she said she quickly realized the existing restaurant’s “fusion” Hawaiian food was not resonating with potential customers in the area. She decided she wanted to take a more familiar approach, pivoting to a Japanese comfort food concept, she said…