KAPPO TSAN: New sushi restaurant coming to Dr. Phillips

David Tsan, a Taiwanese native, has worked in the restaurant industry for more than 18 years.

But not always as a recognized chef. 

When Tsan was 18 years old, he started working at a restaurant as a Chinese food delivery driver. 

Over the years, Tsan worked his way up in the industry. Now the 36-year-old is a three-time Michelin Bib Gourmands recipient.

And soon, he’ll open a new sushi restaurant, Kappo Tsan, in O-Town West. 

Despite spending half his life in food, Tsan said he initially wasn’t interested in the restaurant industry. 

“At first, it was more like, ‘I need a job, and restaurants are the best option,’” he said. “But throughout the years, I slowly found passions in food. Because when you really think about food, it’s about bringing people together to celebrate special events and creating something flavorful for them to actually look back on. It’s become more meaningful to me, as well.” 

Tsan currently is the head chef at Norigami, an eight-seat by reservation-only sushi and handroll restaurant at Plant Street Market.

He opened his first business in 2001, doing sushi pop-ups and collaborations with other chefs. 

He also has worked at Marimoto Asia, Kabooki Sushi and more. 

These experiences have led him to his latest venture. Kappo Tsan will offer Taiwanese flavors mixed with Japanese craftsmanship to honor his origins and how he cultivated his voice in the kitchen. 

“Norigami was always a stepping stone,” he said. “Kappo Tsan is going to be a little bit bigger, so I get to have the freedom creating more dishes, more hot dishes, along with sushi, as well.” 

Tsan said he is excited to see everybody being happy in the new space. 

With the Southwest Orange area growing quickly, Tsan said this is the perfect time to open Kappo Tsan. 

He’ll be joined by a team that will bring their own experiences to create an extension of Norigami at Kappo Tsan. Johnny and Jimmy Tung are James Beard Award-nominated restauranteurs. Benjamin Coutts, the former Soseki and Bar Kada beverage director, earned a sommelier award from Michelin in 2023. Toshi Kishimoto is the former chef-owner of the recently closed Hanamizuki Japanese Restaurant.

The 30-seat restaurant will provide a full view of the kitchen with booths, a 14-seat walk-up bar and a six-seat Kappo bar, for an intimate experience for guests. 

“I hope people will come in with curiosity in mind and leave satisfied,” Tsan said. “I feel like Orlando right now, we are a city of foodies, but I think that our palates should be moving forward a little bit. Going to a restaurant, not just expecting things that you want to eat. You should be more open-minded to be able to open up new flavor as well as new ingredients.” 

The restaurant will offer an extended sake and wine list, as well as a prix fixe menu and à la carte options, inspired by Florida’s seasons. 

Tsan said dishes will vary between $30 to $40 for à la carte dishes, while the prix fixe menu will vary from $150 to $180. 

Guests can expect dishes such as Taiwanese beef noodle soup, Mapo tofu, shirako with dashi butter, grilled tuna tomahawk, kakuni and more. 

Tsan hopes to curate a different type of experience from other restaurants at Kappo Tsan, with its music, ambiance, wine and sake list, as well as its food offerings. 

Although an opening date is not set, Tsan hopes to have the restaurant open and running by late October. 

Tsan will continue to oversee recipe ordering at Norigami while sous chef Austin Batista runs it. 

IF YOU GO

WHERE: 11815 Glass House Lane, Orlando

OPENING DATE: Tentatively October

CONTACT: [email protected]

INFORMATION: To join the waitlist to try Tsan’s newest restaurant, visit kappotsan.com.