Miso Izakaya Chef Begins 2019 Announcing His New Old Fourth Ward Restaurant

Le Fat and Ton Ton chef Guy Wong plans to open Ruby Chow’s in the Old Fourth Ward some time in 2019. The chef, who closed his pioneering Old Fourth Ward restaurant Miso Izakaya last July, made the New Year’s Day announcement on Instagram. A tipster with ties to Atlanta real estate says Ruby Chow’s will take over the former Repast space at the Ponce Springs Lofts on Glen Iris Drive, across from Ponce City Market and City Winery. That location — 620 Glen Iris Drive — is now confirmed.

Wong did not provide any further details on this latest restaurant to Eater Atlanta, including whether Miso Izakaya’s defining dish, the shoyu tamago egg, will make the menu. However, hashtags on the Instagram post indicate the restaurant isn’t Miso 2.0.

It’s unclear if the name is a hat tip to the late Chinese American restaurateur, community activist, and Seattle politician, Ruby Chow.

Miso Izakaya debuted during a time when the Atlanta dining scene was focused on transforming the city’s reputation and that of Southern food through its new restaurants. In a 2013 interview with Creative Loafing, Wong called Miso Izakaya “an R&D lab” for continuing to “try new things.”

The decision to close his flagship restaurant after a decade on Edgewood Avenue was difficult, but the lease was ending and Wong was unable to negotiate new terms with the landlord.

Wong also owns Vietnamese restaurant Le Fat in Westside and ramen shop Ton Ton and sushi kiosk Miso Ko at Ponce City Market.

620 Glen Iris Drive NE, Atlanta.

• Chef Guy Wong To Close His Pioneering Edgewood Avenue Restaurant [EATL]
• All Miso Izakaya coverage [EATL]
• The Sushi Menu at Miso Ko Will Feature Freshwater Eel and Soft Shell Crab [EATL]
• At Long Last, Guy Wong’s Ton Ton Officially Opens Thursday [EATL]