August at Juraku: A Slow July, a Sake Festival, and Thank You

July was a weird one.

The weather was all over the place. Some days felt like full summer. Some days felt like the city was trying to wash itself away. And like a lot of restaurants, we definitely felt how slow things got.

But even in a slower month, we still had some really fun moments.

We got out of the city for the Dassai Blue Tanabata Festival in Hyde Park. We sponsored another Brotaku event, including a very serious and very unserious Tekken tournament. Our weekly TENTEN Wednesday artist meetups kept going.

And somehow, through the heat, rain, and general summer chaos, people still showed up.

So first, thank you.

Whether you came in for dinner, ordered takeout, grabbed drinks, joined an event, or just kept Juraku in your rotation, we appreciate it more than you know.

Dassai Blue Tanabata Festival

We had a booth at the Dassai Blue Tanabata Festival in Hyde Park, and it was a great chance to bring Juraku outside the city for a weekend.

It was hot, busy, and a lot of work, but it was also a lot of fun.

Dassai Blue is a beautiful brewery, and getting to serve food there during a Japanese summer festival felt like exactly the kind of thing Juraku should be doing.

Thank you to everyone who made the trip upstate, stopped by our booth, tried the food, or just came to say hello.

We love being part of events that connect Japanese food, sake, culture, and community, and we hope to do more like this in the future.

Brotaku Was a Blast

We also sponsored another Brotaku event with Christo and the Brotaku crew.

This one was especially fun because of the Tekken tournament.

There is something very Juraku about watching people take a video game tournament way too seriously while everyone around them is laughing, eating, drinking, and yelling at the screen.

That is exactly the kind of chaos we like.

We'll be part of more Brotaku events coming up, so follow @brotakuofficial to keep up with what they're doing next.

The First Juraku Olympics

On August 5, TENTEN hosted the first ever Juraku Olympics.

We were not fully sure what that was going to mean going in.

Chopstick Bean Challenge. Nininbaori Ramen Challenge. Blind Beer Tasting. Wasabi Takoyaki Roulette. Shake Shake Fries. Three hundred dollars in prizes, and actual medals.

It also happened to be my birthday.

TENTEN Wednesday Artist Meetup

Our weekly TENTEN Wednesday artist meetup is still happening every Wednesday at Juraku.

It has become one of our favorite recurring things in the space.

Artists, creatives, regulars, friends, and people who just want to be around good energy all end up in the same room.

No pressure. No weird networking energy. Just people hanging out, drawing, talking, eating, drinking, and building community in a very Juraku way.

If you've been meaning to come by, August is a good time to jump in.

No New Menu Drop This Month, Just the Good Stuff

We don't have a big new menu launch to announce this month.

And honestly, that's okay.

Sometimes the move is not adding more things. Sometimes the move is remembering that the regular menu already has what people come back for.

Karaage. Wasabi Shake Shake Fries. Brown Butter Ramen. Hiyashi Chuka. Hand rolls. Cold beer. Highballs. Summer cocktails.

The things that make Juraku feel like Juraku.

If you haven't been in for a while, consider this your reminder to come back. If you don't feel like leaving the house, order direct.

Either way, we'd love to feed you.

Join the Juraku Community

We're still building out the Juraku WhatsApp community.

It's not super active yet, but the goal is simple: a Juraku community board.

A place where people can share things they think other Juraku people would care about. Events. Japan travel tips. Art shows. Food recommendations. Random finds. Community projects. Stuff happening around NYC.

Basically, the same kind of conversations that already happen at the bar, but online.

If that sounds useful, join us on WhatsApp.

And make sure you're following us on Instagram for event updates, food specials, random Juraku nonsense, and whatever else we end up posting.

Order Direct, Support Juraku

One more reminder, because it really does matter.

If you're ordering takeout or delivery, please order directly from us whenever possible. Use code DIRECT and save 20%.

It saves you money, and it keeps more of your support with the restaurant instead of sending it to third-party delivery apps.

That makes a real difference, especially during slower months.

Thank You

July was slow. The weather was crazy. The city felt weird.

But we still got to be part of a sake festival, support Brotaku, host our Wednesday meetup, and see a lot of familiar faces walk through the door.

That is the part that keeps us going.

Thank you for sticking with us through the slow months, the busy months, the weird months, and everything in between.

Kiyo & the Juraku Team

More of the people we work with.