KINPACHI Japanese Restaurant in Garapan celebrates its 41st year of serving quality food and commitment to the local community today, Sept. 15.
Established in 1980 by Yoshio Kamata and wife Keiko Kamata, Kinpachi specializes in superb Japanese dishes prepared by highly skilled chefs and cooks, and served by friendly customer service staff.
Kinpachi is well-known for its fresh sushi, grilled meat, tasty ramen and crispy tempura, all at reasonable prices.
Among the restaurant’s loyal patrons are many local residents who dine at Kinpachi on special occasions.
Restaurant manager Misako Kamata, the daughter of Yoshio and Keiko, said Kinpanchi has served generations of local families for the past four decades.
One of them is the family of Escolastica “Esco” Cabrera whose great-grandchildren continue to patronize Kinpachi.
Carmen Cabrera Pangelinan, the youngest daughter of Escolastica “Esco” Cabrera, congratulates Kinpachi on its 41st anniversary, saying it is “the best and most welcoming” restaurant on island.
“It has been our regular place to eat out ever since. I’ve known Kinpachi since 1984 when I first met the owner, Mr. Kamata. My parents were very close to them and they helped promote local delicacies like the coconut wine. At one time they were also selling our rice cakes or potu and the famous apigigi,” she said.
Today, members of the Cabrera clan still patronize Kinpachi Japanese Restaurant.
Misako Kamata said despite the challenges of Super Typhoon Yutu and the Covid-19 pandemic, which has shut down the tourism industry, Kinpachi continues to cherish its local customers who remain loyal to the restaurant.
“Thank you to all the customers, staff and suppliers who have supported us all these years,” she added.
Kinpachi continues to help maintain the island as an attractive tourist destination by conducting monthly cleanups through the Paseo De Marianas Promoters, which is also known for its cultural presentations.
Over the years the PDM Promoters has been sending children to Japan every year to participate in the the Awaodori cultural exchange program.
In addition, Kinpachi Japanese Restaurant also extended help to the typhoon victims and those affected by the economic hardship caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
As part of its anniversary celebration this year, Kinpachi is holding an appreciation raffle with special prizes for the lucky winners. During the raffle draw, participants can also enjoy free shaved ice while waiting for the numbers to be called.
Kinpachi Restaurant is located on Coral Tree Avenue in Garapan. For more information, call 234-6900.
Yoshio Kamata, wife Keiko and daughter Misako pose for a photo at the newly built Kinpachi Japanese Restaurant in Sept. 1980.
Carmen Cabrera Pangelinan with daughters Verena and Tomiko and late husband Mitch Pangelinan dine at Kinpachi Japanese Restaurant in 2008.
On June 4, 2021, Carmen Cabrera Pangelinan’s grandson, Ramon III, who belongs to the fourth generation of her family who patronize Kinpachi, celebrated his 11th birthday at the Japanese restaurant. From left, Tomiko’s boyfriend Jun Christopher, Tomiko, Brenna, Brenna’s daughter Addy, Ramon III, Ramon III’s paternal grandmother Angie Villagomez, Ramon II and Angie’s husband, Albert Deleon Guerrero.
The special raffle prizes are seen on the shelves of Kinpachi Japanese Restaurant.
