Tasty Asian Food
New spot at Fort Worth’s Waterside takes fresh approach to Asian food

A fresh, fast-casual Asian restaurant has opened a branch in Fort Worth. Tokyo Joe's, a chain that was founded in Colorado in 1996, opened at Waterside, by the shopping center with the new REI and Whole Foods Market, along the west side of Bryant Irvin Road.
Tokyo Joe's takes the healthy route. "We do nothing deep fried, no greasy wok cooking, no MSG, just all-natural proteins, wild seafood, and rice," says a spokesperson for the chain. "Lots of rice."
Privately held, Tokyo Joe's was founded by Larry Leith, who opened the first location in 1996. The Asian-inspired chain has 30 locations in Denver, Phoenix, and now Dallas-Fort Worth.
The first branch in North Texas opened in October in Richardson. A second branch opened on the border of McKinney and Plano in December. The company plans to open more locations in the area, with Arlington next on the books, at the intersection of Collins Street and I-30, and possibly more locations in The Colony, Las Colinas, and Frisco.
Tokyo Joe's newest locations serve made-to-order sushi, salads, and signature rice or noodle bowls. They've also introduced new menu items that are unique to the Texas restaurants. Those include the Texas Roll, an Americanized sushi-style roll with grilled shrimp, steak, red onion, cilantro, avocado, cucumber, and green dragon sauce; and the Surf & Turf, a bowl of steak, shrimp, sautéed red peppers, mushrooms, and snap peas, topped with teriyaki and served over choice of white or brown rice.
For many Denverites on the go, Tokyo Joe's has long represented a quick, healthy staple.
"We actively listen to our customers, and Texans have been the most vocal about wanting a Tokyo Joe's — Texas is the No. 1 state we hear from," Leith says in a release. "With our focus on fresh, delicious ingredients and fueling a healthy lifestyle, Dallas and Fort Worth are ideal [for us]."