HAMPTONS BEST SECRET TORA J. MATSUOKA

Tora J. Matsuoka

Tora J. Matsuoka is the Hamptons’ best kept secret, a pioneer in Asian cuisine, Matsuoka has made his mark on the East End crowd with two culinary hotspots Sen Restaurant and Phao Thai Kitchen. Sen has been a Hampton staple for the past 16 years when Tora’s father Kazumoto and partner Jeff Resnick opened it as a simple Sushi bar where Tora worked closely side-by-side learning every facet of the business. Today Sen is a vibrant Japanese restaurant and hotspot that has paved the way to the popularity Tora has been accredited with which has helped in the successful revival of Phao Thai Kitchen.

Sen brought fresh, innovate Japanese cuisine to the East End. Sitting on busy Main Street the restaurant is a popular spot that draws foodies in with its delectable cuisine and exciting environment as diners watch their sushi orders prepared right in front of them. Expanding further into the Asian cuisine, Tora took it one step further with the help of partner Jeff Resnick and revived Phao Thai Kitchen. A revival it is - this traditional Thai cuisine has taken the East End by storm. The restaurant boasts a sultry and sexy look designed with Asian décor and dark wood flooring.


Keeping the family close, Tora’s brother Jessie is the General Manager while you can still catch Kazumoto stepping in as sushi chef at Sen some nights and mother Lynn is a local Hamptons artist. A third addition to the Phao / Sen family is to open in December 2010 in the Solaris Villages in Vail, Colorado. For more information on Phao Thai Kitchen visit www.phaorestaurant.com. For Sen Restaurant visit www.senrestaurant.com.