Overview/Description

New On Havana Street District Marker Now Installed Just in Time for Community Events like the Havana Street Night Market!

former Thai Basil building near the Havana Exchange Shopping Center at Havana & Yale

The property under new ownership and now under the Seoul Hospitality Group

“At the corner of Havana and Yale sits Leezakaya, an establishment that clearly seeks to rise above its humble surroundings, both figuratively and literally.

Tucked conspicuously between a brightly lit Maverik gas station and a weathered strip mall full of hole-in-the-wall shops and restaurants, Leezakaya stands apart as one of the few establishments in the area that occupies its own building.

But it may as well be in its own little world.

While nearby eateries and their patrons embrace a simple, no-frills approach to dining, Leezakaya takes a decidedly different approach, which is obvious before even setting foot inside. The building’s trim is accented by thin strands of white string lights that illuminate the entryway and the patio deck, and faint trip hop beats waft through the windowed walls.

Inside is much the same, with a combination of traditional Japanese pub themes and modern Western influence scattered throughout. Treated wooden rafters and beams frame the space and Japanese paper lanterns hang from them; there are traditional sake barrels and bamboo plants, and the occasional minimalist brushstroke artwork spaced between.

Then there’s the multi-panel big-screen TV, neon lighting, and fancy display cases housing rows upon rows of high-end sake, wine and whiskey. This is supposed to be a bar, after all.

The name Leezakaya is a mashup of izakaya (the concept on which it is based) and the name of owner JW Lee, the driving force behind Seoul Hospitality Group, which operates several dining establishments both along Havana Street and elsewhere including Tofu Story, Seoul Mandoo, Mochinut, and about a dozen other restaurants across the metro area.”