Little Jo-To opens with connection to recently closed Bradenton Japanese restaurant

James A. Jones Jr.
·2 min read

Fans of Jo-To Japanese Steakhouse were saddened when the restaurant on the Tamiami Trail near Sarasota Bradenton International Airport closed in 2023 after a 40-year run.

Soon after Jo-To served its last meal, Van Tran who had served as chef there for almost 30 years, and his wife, Krits Tran, announced on social media that they planned to continue the restaurant’s tradition with an eatery of their own.

On Feb. 13, they welcomed their first guests to Little Jo-To, 5911 53rd Ave. E., on the northwest corner of State Road 70 and Caruso Road, behind Morrone’s.

The 55-seat restaurant serves traditional Japanese dishes, including hibachi, tempura and teriyaki, along with a selection of saki, beer and wine.

Originally, the couple had hoped to open within a few months of Jo-To’s closing, but renovation challenges beyond their control took longer than expected.

They believe the wait was worth the effort.

Little Jo-To Japanese restaurant opens in Bradenton

“Our cozy and intimate dining room is perfect for a night out with friends or a romantic dinner for two,” the Little Jo-To web page says.

Van and Krits Tran recently opened Little Jo-To restaurant, 5911 53rd Ave. E., Bradenton, serving Japanese cuisine.
Van and Krits Tran recently opened Little Jo-To restaurant, 5911 53rd Ave. E., Bradenton, serving Japanese cuisine.

The former breakfast cafe space now has the look and feel appropriate to a restaurant serving Japanese cuisine: lots of lanterns, an umbrella motif and artfully placed screens.

“It feels so good to be open. We have had great support from the community and many of our original customers have returned,” Krits Tran said.

One difference is that unlike at Jo-To Japanese Steakhouse, Van Tran’s cooking is done in Little Jo-To’s kitchen, rather than in the dining room.

Van and Krits Tran recently opened Little Jo-To restaurant, 5911 53rd Ave. E., Bradenton, serving Japanese cuisine.
Van and Krits Tran recently opened Little Jo-To restaurant, 5911 53rd Ave. E., Bradenton, serving Japanese cuisine.

The menu includes appetizers like shrimp tempura, egg rolls, hibachi scallops or shrimp, edamame and more, starting at $5.75.

The dinner menu includes a variety of curry dishes, yaki soba (Japanese egg noodle stir fried with vegetables, served with soup), fried rice and hibachi items, served with soup, salad, shrimp appetizer, zucchini, onions, mushrooms, sesame seeds and fried rice.

How do you like your hibachi? Little Jo-To probably has you covered with a wide range of options: chicken, steak, scallop, shrimp, salmon, vegetarian, plus a variety of combinations.

Van and Krits Tran, shown with their son, Quincy, recently opened Little Jo-To restaurant at 5911 53rd Ave. E., Bradenton.
Van and Krits Tran, shown with their son, Quincy, recently opened Little Jo-To restaurant at 5911 53rd Ave. E., Bradenton.

Also on the menu: chicken or shrimp katsu (crispy fried cutlets), tempura and teriyaki items.

What to know

▪ Name: Little Jo-To

▪ Address: 5911 53rd Ave. E., Bradenton

▪ Hours and days: 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Closed Monday

▪ Reservations: Accepted but not required

▪ Online: https://LittleJoTo.com/

▪ Phone: (941) 751-9703