While driving along Route 70 East last week, I spotted a new sign outside the former Georgia Furs building at 249 Marlton Pike East in Cherry Hill. One word immediately caught my attention: omakase. As someone who appreciates Japanese cuisine, I knew exactly what it meant—and it instantly piqued my curiosity. The name on the sign, AKIRA70, also seemed familiar. Having dined several times at Akira in Moorestown, I recognized the logo right away and wondered what this new concept would bring to South Jersey’s dining scene.
My curiosity prompted me to reach out to Akira for a quick confirmation and comment about the new project. I soon heard back from Frank Zheng, founder and head chef of Akira Sushi Group, which operates restaurants in Moorestown and Voorhees, as well as another location near Albany, NY.
What I received was far more than a simple confirmation. Frank generously shared extensive details about the new restaurant, including the vision behind the Japanese concept and the experienced culinary team assembled to bring it to life.
Rather than paraphrase his remarks and risk losing important facts, I’ve chosen to share his description largely as provided. Based on what he outlined, AKIRA70 has the potential to deliver a dining experience unlike anything currently available in South Jersey—one that combines high-level omakase craftsmanship, refined hospitality, and an ambitious approach to modern Japanese cuisine.
I was also honored that Frank chose to share the restaurant’s official exterior rendering with me before its public release, offering an early glimpse at what promises to be one of South Jersey’s most anticipated dining openings.
We are currently preparing to open AKIRA70 Omakase, a new Japanese dining concept located at 249 Marlton Pike, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034. Our expected opening timeline is around September.
AKIRA70 is created by Founder and Owner Chef Frank Zheng, who brings more than twenty years of experience in Japanese hospitality. After operating multiple Japanese restaurants and working with talented chefs over the years, Frank created AKIRA70 as a more personal and refined dining experience, focused on craftsmanship, creativity, seasonality, and high-end hospitality.
The restaurant will offer a dual dining model: reservation-based experiences and walk-in dining.
Our Sushi Bar Omakase will be reservation only, led by Chef Wang Han, a sushi chef with more than twenty years of experience. Chef Wang previously worked with Akira and is currently working at a Michelin Star Restaurant. At AKIRA70, he will lead the sushi counter experience, focusing on seasonal fish, traditional hand-shaped sushi, sashimi preparation, and intimate counter service.
The Omakase experience will be offered by reservation only, with two seatings each day: 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM.
Our Chef’s Table will also be reservation based, offering a private set-menu experience led by Founder Frank Zheng. This experience is designed for selected guests, private celebrations, business dinners, anniversaries, birthdays, and special occasions.
In addition, AKIRA70 will have a Dining Hall that welcomes walk-in guests during lunch and dinner service. The Dining Hall will offer a full Japanese dining menu, including sushi, sashimi, lunch sets, appetizers, grilled dishes, fried items, simmered dishes, and seasonal kitchen specials. This allows guests to enjoy AKIRA70 both as a special occasion destination and as an accessible neighborhood Japanese dining room.
Our kitchen program will be led by Chef George, who has served as an executive chef at a five-star hotel and on cruise ships, bringing strong kitchen leadership, refined execution, and high-level hospitality experience to the restaurant.
South Jersey appears poised to gain a dining destination unlike anything currently available in the region. While Philadelphia has established itself as a hub for high-end Japanese cuisine and omakase experiences, concepts of this caliber have been largely absent from the South Jersey market.
If AKIRA70 delivers on the vision outlined by its team, it could become a landmark restaurant that elevates the area’s culinary reputation and attracts diners from well beyond the region. For guests, the experience promises an immersive journey into Japanese hospitality, craftsmanship, and culture without ever having to leave South Jersey. It may be the single most exclusive reservation to get!
Stay tuned for additional updates as more details about AKIRA70 become available in the months leading up to its anticipated opening in September 2026. In the meantime, interested diners may want to bookmark the restaurant’s website, where a newly launched splash page has recently appeared, offering an early sign that preparations are well underway.
Are you excited for this new Japanese restaurant in South Jersey? Let me know in the comments!
SJFS is dedicated to food, dining, restaurants, and drinking in South Jersey. Got a news tip? Email southjerseyfoodscene@gmail.com.