New Marlborough Ramen, Sushi Spot In The Works

MARLBOROUGH, MA — A new Japanese restaurant may be coming soon to Marlborough, replacing a sushi restaurant that closed at the end of 2020 due to the pandemic.

Signs for Kinzen recently went up on the doors of the former Tao Ramen Sushi restaurant at 197 Boston Post Road West, which is the Hannaford shopping plaza. The restaurant has also advertised that it's hiring.

The owners of Tao on Dec. 29 posted a note on Facebook saying they would have to close after running out of money during the pandemic, and not being able to qualify for restaurant recovery loans. The note said the owners would try to save up money to reopen the restaurant.

Kinzen had not gone before the Marlborough License Commission in 2021, a key step to opening any dining establishment, according to recent agendas. The commission last met on Wednesday night.

Kinzen does not have a website yet, but a menu available here shows the restaurant will offer dishes like ramen, traditional sushi, poke and rice bowls.