Jon Matsubara Discusses the Closure of Feast and Future Plans

Jon Matsubara, while reflecting on the recent closure of Feast Mānoa, sits in the now-empty dining room of the restaurant. His journey from starting out as a dishwasher to opening his own restaurant has been filled with passion for high-end comfort food, most notably his popular lobster roll. Despite the closure, he remains positive about his catering work and continues to sell lobster rolls at the KCC Farmers Market.

Last week marked the end of operations for Feast Mānoa, his sister-in-law’s Café Anasia gave him a chance to create dishes like butter-poached crab salad and salt beef watercress soup, which became signature items. Matsubara voiced sentiments about the uphill battle restaurateurs face now, from COVID’s impact to inflation and staffing shortages, that led to the decision to close. He remains hopeful for the future, with a clear vision for new opportunities ahead.