Food and Drink

2 restaurants opening soon in Charlotte, including all-you-can-eat sushi

Charlotte’s food scene is growing with two new eateries joining the mix.

This week, I reported on two upcoming restaurant openings, including a revolving sushi bar with dozens of rolls to choose from.

Catch up on what’s coming soon to the Queen City:

Shinjuku Station

Shinjuku Station, an all-you-eat revolving sushi bar, is opening soon at the Grande Promenade shopping center in University City. An official grand opening date hasn’t been announced.

A wide shot shows a two-story outdoor shopping center with several businesses, including Thai House, Staffmark, and OneMain Financial. Various cars and a silver pickup truck are parked in the asphalt lot in the foreground under a clear blue sky.
Shinjuku Station revolving sushi bar will open at the Grande Promenade in Charlotte, though it’s unclear which restaurant it will replace. Google Street View image from January 2023 | 2025 ©Google

“We’re creating a space where flavors pop, where every roll and dish is a moment to savor,” the restaurant’s website says. “Our brand embodies the energy and joy of a bustling Shinjuku night, with bold, playful visuals and tech-driven dining designed to make each visit feel fresh, exciting, and new.”

It will be Shinjuku’s second North Carolina location; the other is in High Point. There are plans to open additional locations in Raleigh and Winston-Salem.

Sushi lovers can look forward to premium sushi, nigiri and more than a dozen specialty rolls.

Republica Restaurant + Lounge

After weeks of delays, Republica Restaurant + Lounge will finally reopen in Matthews.

Chofan is a fried rice dish with grilled shrimp and vegetables served at República Restaurant & Lounge in Matthews.
Chofan is a fried rice dish with grilled shrimp and vegetables served at República Restaurant & Lounge in Matthews. Alex Cason CharlotteFive

Customers are invited to a soft opening at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14, as the eatery debuts its updated space, menu and cocktails, according to an Instagram post.

The Matthews restaurant, which specializes in Dominican and Latin cuisines, temporarily closed in November due to U.S. Customs and Border Protection operations in the Charlotte area. There were plans to reopen sooner, however continued crackdowns caused further delays.

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Tanasia Kenney
Sun Herald
Tanasia is a service journalism reporter at the Charlotte Observer | CharlotteFive, working remotely from Atlanta, Georgia. She covers restaurant openings/closings in Charlotte and statewide explainers for the NC Service Journalism team. She’s been with McClatchy since 2020.
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