July at Juraku: Summer Is Here, Big Events Ahead, and Thank You
July at Juraku
Before we get into everything happening this month, I just wanted to say one thing.
Thank you.
Last month I shared the story of my mom, Machiko, and the fundraiser we started in her memory.
Honestly, I didn't know what to expect.
I figured we'd hopefully raise enough to help care for the cats she left behind and make a meaningful donation to the rescues she loved.
Instead, the response completely exceeded anything my family or I imagined.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
Knowing how many people took the time to donate, share the fundraiser, or simply send a kind message meant more than I can put into words.
A Small Update
Many of you have asked how things are going.
Since my mom passed, my sister Hinda has been taking care of the stray cats that my mom looked after for so many years.
One of the regulars, a big orange cat we've always called Papa Cat, recently got a foxtail lodged in his eye and needed help getting it removed. Thankfully he's doing much better now.
There is also a small litter of kittens that my sister is keeping an eye on. Once they're old enough to be away from their mother, she hopes to safely trap them and find them good homes.
As for the fundraiser itself, I haven't spent any of the money yet.
The plan has always been to donate it in my mom's honor on what would have been her birthday this October.
We'll be writing checks to the Lake County SPCA and the Humane Society for Inland Mendocino County, two organizations she volunteered with and cared deeply about for many years.
If you'd still like to contribute, the fundraiser is still open, and every donation will continue helping the animals she loved.
Thank you again for helping us honor her memory.
July Is Looking Busy
Now for the fun stuff.
July is shaping up to be one of our busiest months of the summer, and we have a lot going on both at Juraku and outside the restaurant.
July 9: Miyo Yoshida Fan Rally at Juraku
We're excited to once again host Miyo Yoshida before her next fight.
Come hang out with Miyo, grab some food and drinks, pick up exclusive merchandise, and help support her next championship run.
We're also doing something a little special.
Juraku will match every donation made during the event, up to $3,000.
If you've ever wanted to help support an incredible athlete while hanging out over great food and drinks, this is your chance.
Just ask one of us how to donate when you're here.
We hope to see everyone on July 9.
July 11-12: Tanabata at Dassai Blue
The following weekend we'll be heading upstate for the Tanabata Festival at Dassai Blue Brewery in Hyde Park.
If you've never visited the brewery before, this is honestly a great excuse to get out of the city for a day.
Beautiful scenery.
Amazing sake.
A gorgeous brewery.
And plenty of Japanese food.
We'll be serving an exclusive menu item created just for the festival that you won't find at Juraku.
If you're looking for a fun summer day trip, we'd love to see you there.
Summer Menu Is Here
The heat has officially arrived, and so has one of our favorite summer traditions.
Hiyashi Chuka Is Back
We've officially brought back our Hiyashi Chuka for the season.
This year we're offering two versions:
Shikuwasa
Bright, citrusy, and incredibly refreshing using authentic Okinawan shikuwasa.
Sesame
Rich, creamy, nutty, and the version many of our regulars wait all year for.
Cold noodles on a hot New York afternoon just make sense.
If you haven't had Hiyashi Chuka before, this is the perfect summer to change that.
New Summer Cocktail
We've also added a new bourbon cocktail that's quickly becoming one of my personal favorites.
Plum Syndicate
Made with:
• Syndicate NY Bourbon
• Five-Year Aged Umeshu
• Fresh Yuzu
• House-made Red Shiso Syrup
It somehow manages to be refreshing while still feeling like a proper bourbon cocktail.
If you're normally a whiskey drinker but want something lighter for the summer, this is the drink I'd recommend.
A Quick Fourth of July Note
We'll be closed on Friday, July 4th.
Our team spends a lot of nights, weekends, and holidays helping other people celebrate.
This year we wanted to make sure they had a chance to celebrate with their own families too.
We'll reopen the following day and look forward to seeing everyone then.
We hope you all have a safe and happy holiday.
Online Ordering Is Back
Some of you may have noticed that online credit card payments disappeared from our ordering system for a little while.
Unfortunately we had been targeted by a wave of fraudulent credit card orders, so we temporarily disabled online payments while we sorted everything out.
Thankfully things seem to have settled down.
Online payments are now back, making ordering much easier again.
A huge thank you to everyone who stayed patient, called in orders, and continued supporting us while we worked through it.
It really meant a lot.
Order Direct and Save 20%
If you're ordering takeout or delivery, please continue ordering directly whenever you can.
Use code:
DIRECT
and save 20% on your online order.
Not only will you save money, but much more of your support stays with Juraku instead of going to third-party delivery apps.
It makes a much bigger difference than most people realize.
Thank You
One thing I've realized over the last couple of months is how lucky we are.
Restaurants come and go all the time.
Very few get to become communities.
Every event, every fundraiser, every collaboration, every regular who walks through our door reminds me that Juraku has become something much bigger than I ever imagined when we first opened back in 2018.
Whether you've been coming here for years or you're planning your first visit, thank you for being part of that.
We have a busy summer ahead, and I can't wait to share it with all of you.
See you soon.
Kiyo & the Juraku Team
Izakaya Juraku
121 Ludlow Street
New York, NY 10002
Order Direct and Save 20% with code: DIRECT