New Japanese eatery latest to join Citrus Heights restaurant scene

By Sara Beth Williams–
A new Japanese restaurant debuted on June 6 and has already received high praise from reviewers on Yelp.

Akira Japanese Restaurant co-owner Anna Doan said business has been okay since the grand opening but noted a lull in foot traffic between 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Operating hours have adjusted and now lunch runs from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and dinner runs from 4-8:30 p.m. The hours are extended to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Hours are posted on the restaurant’s front entrance.

The decision to open in Citrus Heights was influenced by the restaurant space’s previous existence as a Vietnamese eatery, offering a smaller, more manageable space, Doan said. She also cited the surrounding high-density residential area on Greenback Lane as advantageous.

Doan is Vietnamese, but said her co-owner brings twenty years of experience cooking Japanese cuisine.

The restaurant emphasizes the use of fresh ingredients. Its menu features a variety of authentic Japanese dishes, including sushi, ramen noodles, and teriyaki. Lunch Bento Boxes range from $14.99 to $19.99, offering options like Chicken and Salmon Teriyaki, Chicken and Oyster Katsu, and more. Vegetarian and kid-friendly boxes are available as well. The menu also includes a selection of beers, wines, desserts, and sake.

Plans are underway to expand the menu with additional raw sushi and sashimi choices. Doan aims to increase advertising efforts once the menu has been fully updated.

“Hopefully the business will go well, and hopefully we’ll be able to expand,” Doan said, adding that this is the first restaurant she and her business partner have operated.

Akira Japanese Restaurant is located at 6191 Greenback Ln., near the corner of Auburn Boulevard.