Steve Feldman, who opened Hoshi Japanese Cafe in Plano in 2024, switches easily between English and Japanese when speaking with customers. He describes the menu as consisting of Japanese street and comfort food.
“We’re not a boba shop and we’re not a Japanese restaurant serving sushi and sit down type meals—we’re kind of in between,” Feldman said. ”We haven’t faltered from being Japanese-centric in that what we do is highlight delicious things from Japan that are not as well known here.”
Popular menu items
Feldman’s wife, who he met when she was a Japanese exchange student in Wisconsin, uses family recipes and cooking techniques when creating menu items, including the top-selling onigiri, which are rice balls featuring a variety of filling options.
Feldman said he has given a Texas twist to the Japanese staple by making them one-and-a-half times larger than a traditional onigiri.
“You’re going to get that filling in every bite,” Feldman said. “We wanted to bring the best Japanese ingredients to make it with— the rice, the seaweed, salt—all of that comes from Japan directly and is a premium quality.”
Another crowd pleaser, and the only item on the menu when the cafe opened, are obanyaki, which are thick pancakes featuring a variety of fillings.
Obanyaki ($3.75) are available in a variety of flavors, including strawberry cheesecake pictured here. (Karen Chaney/Community Impact)Feldman noted that the combination meals have been popular due to the value they provide to customers.
What’s in a name?
Feldman chose the name Hoshi because Hoshi means “star” in Japanese.
“We are in the Lone Star State,” Feldman said. “I wanted to connect Japan and Texas, and I wanted to do it with a name that wasn’t going to be difficult for people to pronounce or misspell.”
Going forward
In 2025, Feldman opened Hoshi Ranch in McKinney. In addition to offering Japanese-style table-top cooking experiences, Texas- and Japanese-style barbecue, pastries and more are available.
Coffee beans are also roasted there to create their proprietary coffee, Hoshi Fuji Roast, which is served at both Hoshi locations.
Feldman said he would like to see the Hoshi brand continue to expand but always remain rooted in authentic Japanese experiences.
Quote of note
Feldman said many customers visit Hoshi Japanese Cafe for the first time because their children are anime fans, and for many, it is their first experience with this type of Japanese cuisine. Feldman said one of his favorite things about owning this restaurant is feeding people things they’ve never tried before.
“Watching their faces react to something and saying, ‘That is delicious,’” Feldman said. “There’s nothing more satisfying.”