Manayunk's First Omakase Just Filled the Space Under Chabaa Thai

Nongyao "Moon" Krapugthong already ran Chabaa Thai Bistro and Yanako sushi bar at 4343 Main Street in Manayunk. On September 25 she opened a third concept, Aogami, in the basement underneath Chabaa, an intimate omakase counter with chef Tom LoMonte, who came up through Zama, Izakaya by Yanaga and Yanaga Kappo Izakaya. Seat counts differ by outlet, somewhere between 18 and 21, all BYOB, with fish flown in from Japan, New Zealand and Spain.

Manayunk has never had a dedicated omakase room. The ones already drawing diners from Center City and Fishtown are pulling people west on a Friday night for exactly this kind of tasting menu, and Krapugthong just gave them a reason to stop at Main Street instead. She built out the basement under a restaurant she already operates to do it, the same move as any second-floor or below-grade fitout where rent runs cheaper than storefront glass.

If you own or lease a Main Street building with dead basement or second-floor square footage, this is the tenant profile to target: an existing operator who wants a second or third concept without taking on a new lease, new utilities or a new landlord relationship. That space rents for less and still turns a profit once the main-floor kitchen is already paying for the equipment.