The former Denny’s at 3655 E. Speedway Blvd. has transformed into Izumi, a hip Japanese and sushi restaurant. While the grand opening with full menu launch happens Saturday, March 10, the restaurant is currently in soft-open phase – open to the public with a limited menu.
Peek inside to see sleek ceiling lamps and cozy booths with no resemblance of Denny’s remaining. The wall behind the hostess stand features a mounted illuminated waterfall.
The main menu features a selection of sushi and Japanese dishes typical of sushi restaurants, but also includes a few out-of-place items such as Orange Chicken and Korean Ojingeo Bokkeum. Diners will return for the main draw though — the $25 all-you-can-eat menu.
While standard AYCE items such as Japanese appetizers and sushi rolls are included, three unique items stand out: ramen, crab legs, and raw oysters. However, the latter two are limited to one order per person.
Izumi features ramen in three varieties: Baitan, a chicken and pork broth, Miso, a miso and pork broth, and Tonkotsu, a rich emulsified pork broth. Toppings are the same across the board: chashu pork, ramen, a medium-boiled egg, and vegetables such as scallions, mushrooms, and cabbage.
Izumi Main Menu (Not All-You-Can-Eat) Highlights
- Izumi Roll ($17.50) – two lobster tails, cucumber, wrapped in soy paper topped with spicy crab, eel sauce, spicy mayo
- Pepper Tuna ($11) – sliced pepper tuna, avocado, scallion, masago, ponzu sauce
- Umami Oyster ($8) – caviar, ikura, tuna
- Grilled Pork Belly ($9) – pork belly, green onion, jalapeño, steam buns
- Ojingeo Bokkeum ($8) – sauteed squid, spicy chili sauce
- Miso Salmon ($19) – grilled salmon, mixed veggies, miso sauce
- Fried Banana Spring Rolls ($7) – served with red bean ice cream
Stay tuned for more details after the grand opening.
Izumi is located at 3655 E. Speedway Blvd. Operating hours are 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Sunday – Thursday, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. Friday – Saturday. For more information, call (520) 327-2778.
Stay in the Tucson Foodie Loop
Weekly digest of new openings, events, and guides. No spam.
Article written by:
Jackie Tran
More about JackieJackie Tran is a Tucson-based food writer, photographer, culinary educator, and owner-chef of the now-closed food truck Tran’s Fats. Although he is best known locally for his work for Tucson Foodie, his work has also appeared in publications such as Bon Appétit, National Geographic, and the New York Times.
An adventurous foodie, he enjoys culinary experiences ranging from seasonal omakase to sloppily devouring green chili patty melts in his car afterhours. His favorite foods include aguachile, garlic noodles, and leftover fried chicken illuminated by the fridge light. His favorite drinks include morning micheladas, fireside imperial stouts, candle-lit negroni, and grassy mezcales.
Outside of food, he also loves playing musical instruments, karaoke, Tetris, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and petting Addie’s dog Spaghetti.
If you’d like to stalk him, visit his Instagram @jackie_tran_ or jackietran.com.
