BEAST OF THE EAST
Something akin to Japan’s famed 7-Eleven-style convenience marts could be landing in Mammoth soon, alongside a kitchen that’s pulling from just about every corner of Asia.
The dual-concept space, tentatively called “Beast of the East” and “Little Beast,” is the latest venture from Toshiko (Aki) and her husband, BJ James, the owners of Gojira Ramen and Sushi in Mammoth and Bishop. The new restaurant is slated to open June 1 in Gateway Plaza, which houses the new breakfast joint, Bird and the Biscuit, and Looney Bean.
While “Beast of the East” will focus on a full-service, dressed-up dining experience, “Little Beast” draws inspiration from Japanese convenience stores, known for their surprisingly high-quality, ready-made food.
“In Japan, you can get egg salad sandwiches, bento-style meals, things like that,” BJ said. The quick shop will also have Gojira’s sushi burritos and poke bowls, which they serve in Bishop.
The idea was a way to use the full two-unit space while offering cuisines Mammoth doesn’t currently have.
The restaurant itself will serve a blend of Thai, Japanese, Korean and American Chinese influences. The menu is still being finalized, but dishes will likely include pad Thai, curries, Japanese katsu, and Korean bulgogi.
“There’s no Thai food here, no Chinese food,” BJ said. “We thought, let’s just bring it all.”
Most of the dishes will lean traditional, though others embrace Americanized versions of Asian cuisine to offer familiar comfort dishes. Their chef, who comes from Ventura, recently trained in Thailand in order to bring that authentic flavor back to California.
Unlike Gojira’s fast-casual model, the new restaurant is designed to be more of a sit-down experience, with an emphasis on atmosphere. They plan to serve beer, wine and sake at the restaurant’s bar, and expect a slightly higher price point for the dine-in service than Gojira.
The interior will feature tilework, a bar, a projector screen on the back wall, and walls lined with artwork from local and regional artists.
Diners will also be able to purchase the art.
“There’ll be a menu for the food, and a menu for the art,” BJ said.
He’s been working with artists, near and far, to stock their art ahead of the opening, including art curated by people behind the apparel brand, 1910, and fashion designer Sticky Shaw.
The project has been years in the making. Aki first set her sights on the location more than two years ago, waiting for two adjacent units to become available so the concept could work as envisioned and accommodate the kitchen.
But even after securing the lease, it took over a year to receive permits and begin construction.
“Mammoth is a very difficult place to find a location,” Aki said.
The couple first entered the Mammoth restaurant scene in September 2020, opening Gojira in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. But what could have been a setback instead helped shape their business model.
“About 80% was to-go at first,” Aki said. “That worked for us.”
In 2023, they expanded to Bishop, adapting that location to a faster, more casual format with Americanized versions of their Japanese cuisine, partly in response to staffing challenges.
“It’s really hard to find sushi chefs in Bishop,” BJ said.
Now, with their third venture, the duo is trying something new again, bringing together multiple cuisines, a more elevated dining experience, and a quick-service option under one roof.
