Momi Nonmi Heads for Inman Square With a Twist on the Japanese Izakaya

A restaurant in Inman Square that’s been vacant for seven months will soon have a new resident: Momi Nonmi will take over the former WuBurger space at 1128 Cambridge St., and the chef behind it brings to the restaurant years of experience in the Greater Boston area.

Christopher Chung most recently ran AKA Bistro in Lincoln, which closed down in May 2016. Prior to that, Chung was at Clio and Uni in Back Bay, and now, he is working to bring Momi Nonmi to Cambridge, where he will serve food inspired by both Japanese izakayas and his own tastes, according to Boston Magazine.

“I want to showcase what I eat, how I treat ingredients,” Chung told Eater. “I like to be more heavy on vegetables, a little light on proteins.” There will still be meat, but the menu will be health-conscious, based around small plates, and not too expensive, he said. The restaurant’s menu will rotate with the season, and Chung, who is from Hawaii, plans to offer some Hawaiian poke in a nod to his own roots.

Expect to see items like kobe dumplings, sashimi, and onigiri, along with a vast selection of sake and Japanese whiskey. The menu will also accommodate allergies, and 90 percent of it will be gluten free, Chung said.

The restaurant will seat 25 with a small bar, and Chung has received approval from the city of Cambridge and hopes to open later in the fall, in October or November. For now, he plans to do some pop-ups around the city to offer a taste of what’s to come from Momi Nonmi.

• Momi Nonmi Plans to Open in Cambridge's Inman Square [BRT]
• Chris Chung Will Open Momi Nonmi in Cambridge [BM]