Slapfish, a modern seafood restaurant serving up bold, crave-worthy dishes in a fast casual setting, announced its continued expansion throughout its home state. Native to Southern California with 13 locations, the chef-driven seafood shack is swimming upstream to Silicon Valley, with the first restaurant slated for San Jose in November. Specializing in refreshingly responsible seafood and boat-to-plate dining, expansion into the Valley marks an incredible milestone for the brand and a highly anticipated opening for local seafood connoisseurs.
Growing up in South Korea, owner Joe Yang strived to become an entrepreneur, having worked under his business-owner father for 20 years after moving to California. A manufacturing industry veteran, Yang recently transitioned into the restaurant industry—another lifelong dream. With plans to open his first location in WestGate West Shopping Center this fall, and four additional locations in the pipeline over the next six years, Yang looks forward to bringing the one-of-a-kind restaurant to his prospering community.
“After trying Slapfish three times in one week, I knew I had to become involved, and after meeting with the team, there was no question,” says Yang. “Fast casual is on the rise in Silicon Valley, and despite the demand for high quality options, there is nothing quite like Chef Gruel’s concept on the scene. With Santa Clara County’s booming population, we are confident that Slapfish will be a perfect fit for the marketplace, and that business will flourish along with our community.”
Slapfish is celebrated for its original seafood-centric dishes like the Clobster Grilled Cheese, Lobster Grinder, Baja Mahi Sandwich, Chowder Fries, and Surf N’ Turf Lobster Burger, as well as its seasonally and daily rotating salads and bowls. Founded as a shack-inspired food truck by Chef Andrew Gruel in 2011, the thriving concept quickly expanded into 13 brick-and-mortar locations throughout California, New Mexico and Utah, with upcoming openings in Maryland, Northern Virginia, Florida, London, Oklahoma, and Washington D.C. in 2018. Boasting over 100 locations in development, Slapfish is changing worldwide seafood consumption and becoming a household name from coast to coast.
“Santa Clara County is the perfect next step in our expansion strategy. SoCal is our home, and we can’t wait to share Slapfish with our Northern counterpart,” adds Gruel. “Our responsibly-sourced seafood and bib-worthy dishes are sure to be a hit, and we look forward to taking over the entire state in the coming years.”
