Japanese chef opens Satoya takeaway venue in Townsville

If you are looking for traditional Japanese food, Townsville’s latest takeaway venue will be right up your alley. See where to find sashimi, sushi, katsu curry and more.

Traditional, authentic Japanese food is the promise of chef Satoshi Watanabe at his new takeaway food venue in the city.

This is something Satoshi is well placed to know, having worked in the restaurant industry for more than 30 years, starting at Osaka’s traditional Japanese restaurant, Sato, at the age of 15.

“I have worked at French, Italian and Chinese restaurants but I am working as a Japanese chef. I want people in Townsville to have traditional, authentic Japanese food,” Mr Watanabe said.

Satoshi is operating Satoya Japanese with his wife Hiroko at the City Point building in Stokes St.

The venue opens for lunch and dinner weekdays and on Saturday evenings.

Satoshi and Hiroko Watanabe are bringing ‘traditional, authentic’ Japanese food to Townsville. Picture: Shae Beplate.

The menu includes a full selection of Japanese dishes from Aburi salmon, deep fried soft shell crab and prawn tempura rolls, to Deluxe Satoya Rolls of tuna, salmon, prawn, eel and scallop, karaage Japanese style deep fried chicken and a chicken Katsu curry.

Satoshi came to Townsville largely by chance about 13 years ago and has stayed to raise a family including two daughters.

Coming to Australia in 2003 on a working holiday, he found work in Sydney with GYO owner Lee Hongsaeng at Ju Ju Japanese Tavern Restaurant.

Hongsaeng visited a friend in Townsville and recognised no one was doing quality sashimi, sushi and main meals in a casual, modern space and invited Watanabe to move to North Queensland to help start the GYO restaurant in Gregory St.

“I like Townsville, The people are friendly. I don’t care about the temperature, very hot. It’s okay for me, Mr Watanabe said.

Originally published as Japanese chef opens Satoya takeaway venue in Townsville