Fresh Italian pizza, crispy fish and chips, flavorful Mexican dishes…yeah, EPCOT has some of the BEST dining options in Disney World.  

Japan Pavilion

But if you’re a little tired of the same old restaurants and food booths, we’ve got some GREAT news! A new restaurant is set to open in EPCOT this year called  Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya. Let’s check in on the status of this new dining option.

The Japan pavilion in EPCOT is home to lots of FUN Japanese experiences. There’s the HUGE Mitsukoshi department store, live entertainment, and several places to eat, like Teppan Edo! But soon, there will be even more to explore in the Japan pavilion. Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya is set to be a “festive dining experience in a sharable Izakaya style.”

©Disney

The menu will feature traditional Japanese foods like sushi and teppan items, and there will even be an open sushi bar and grill. Disney has also previously shared that you’ll be able to enjoy Japanese Izakaya, which is a type of casual pub-style restaurant that puts an emphasis on drinks and conversations with friends. Now that’s our kind of restaurant!

©Disney

While we still don’t know exactly what will be on the menu, we do know that the restaurant will celebrate a variety of Japan’s seasonal festivals, and each month will bring a new celebration to diners’ tables while a cultural representative guides them through the experience.

Click here to learn more about Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya

As we wait for an exact opening date (and a full menu), we’ve been keeping an eye on the construction progress in EPCOT. We previously noticed that the Tokyo Dining sign was replaced with a new sign for Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya, proving that Tokyo Dining is being replaced with a new restaurant. 

We saw a new Shiki-Sai sign outside!

Surprise! During our most recent visit to EPCOT, we noticed a new sign for Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya. Side note: does anyone think it’s hilarious to see those tiny little plants “blocking” the new entrance? Nothing to see here, folks! Just a few innocent plants standing around…

Look what we found!

The entrance is walled off with a black cover, so we can’t see what kind of construction is happening inside. We’ll have to wait and see what it looks like when the restaurant opens!

It’s still covered for now

Here’s a better look at the sign. Is anyone else suddenly hungry for sushi?!

Check out the new sign!

We can’t wait for this new restaurant to open! In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more.

Have you ever dined in the Japan pavilion? Let us know in the comments!