New hibachi, sushi restaurant to open next month in Ozark

When cousins Kukuh Bayu Prakoso and Raven Al Rasya heard of an opportunity to open a new location for their restaurant, Raku Hibachi Sushi & Ramen, they quickly took action, relocating to Ozark from Maryville.

“Sometimes you just have to do it, because the more you think about it, the more stressed you’re going to get,” Prakoso said. “He asked me, ‘Do you want to do it?’ I said, ‘Yeah,’ and he said, ‘OK, let’s go.’”

Prakoso and Al Rasya heard of the opportunity in Ozark from their uncle and father, Billy, who has been in the food industry for years and runs Kiko Hibachi & Sushi Express in Bolivar. After months of preparation and just under $200,000 in startup costs, the co-owners prepare to open Raku’s second location at 1487 W. South St at the beginning of August.

Prakoso said the new location will serve traditional Japanese dishes – but with a southern twist – playing into his roots in Florida and Texas. He said he is excited to introduce new food to Ozark.

“This area is one of the fastest growing areas in Missouri,” Prakoso said, noting that there is less business competition within Ozark than Springfield. “That is a really good opportunity for us in the future.”

The name of the restaurant comes from the Japanese word “raku,” which means ease, comfort, pleasure and enjoyment, Prakoso said. It also stands for the combination of the first two letters of their names: Raven and Kukuh. The business is registered through Tri Guna Infinity LLC and operates as Raku Hibachi Sushi & Ramen.

With the help of family, Prakoso and Al Rasya started Raku Hibachi in 2022 as a food truck in Kansas City and quickly became a brick-and-mortar location in Maryville by late 2023. They sold the food truck in order to focus on the brick-and-mortar restaurants. The Maryville location will continue operating, Prakoso said.

Prakoso said the Ozark location will introduce a new chicken tonkatsu ramen, curry udon and will make different variations of musubis, which are rice balls wrapped in seaweed and include a form of protein.

The restaurant’s five-year lease is with Jared Management LLC, Prakoso said. Additional terms of the lease were not disclosed.