While there’s never a perfect time to launch a new restaurant, there are certainly times you want to avoid, such as when a deadly virus is upending life and forcing people to stay at home.
Back in early February, however, Ryota Kurokawa, owner-chef of Que Pasa in Kyoto, had finally found a location for a second outlet for his much-loved burrito bar that was nearer to the center of the city. That same month, he signed on the dotted line for the lease, taking over the space from a florist. It seemed full speed ahead for what would become Que Pasa Downtown.
But as the restaurant took shape, COVID-19 continued to spread throughout the country. By the time Kurokawa drilled the last screw into place on April 17, he had ditched plans to have any opening party whatsoever.