New Japanese restaurant to occupy Hello Temaki space following closure
A new restaurant is set to take over the space of Elk Grove’s Hello Temaki at 9261 Laguna Springs Drive.
The new concept, called Kai Japanese Restaurant, is owned by Rong Cheng. An opening date has not yet been set.
“I hope I can open next month. You know, as soon as possible,” Cheng said.
A filing with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control indicates the liquor license for Hello Temaki has been transferred to Kai Japanese Cuisine, according to the Sacramento Business Journal.
This is not Cheng’s first restaurant, though it is his first foray into Japanese cuisine. Cheng owns and operates Beijing Buffet at 1025 W. Robinhood Drive in Stockton.
Hello Temaki shuttered due to high rent, the rising cost of ingredients and labor and business overhead, owner Feng Liang told the Sacramento Business Journal. The sushi restaurant opened in March 2024 and was known for its premium sushi hand rolls, according to its Yelp page.
It pushed back its original closure date after “overwhelming support,” according to previous Bee reporting. It shut its doors on March 7.
Liang is also the owner of Umai Bar & Grill, another Japanese restaurant at 8973 Grant Line Road. She is in the process of opening a new Western-themed cafe called Saddle Coffee & Treats, located across the street at 8900 Grant Line Road. Saddle Coffee will serve everything from specialty espresso drinks and classic brewed coffee to matcha and traditional Vietnamese drip coffee, according to WhatNow.
This story was originally published March 20, 2026 at 8:00 AM.
