Today we’d like to introduce you to Masashi Aoki.
Hi Masashi, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
After working at Sushi of Gari as an executive chef for 15 years, my boss (Mr. Gari), whom I respected and saw as a mentor, retired. And at the same time, I quit my job to start my own business. When I was thinking about my restaurant’s style, I noticed that many people and businesses adopted the Japanese fusion-style concept. But I decided to make a traditional style course, which I learned in Ginza Tokyo in the 1980s, for my customers to provide a new experience.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The biggest struggle we faced was right after we contracted for the lease for my restaurant. The lockdown started, and the process for the bank loan stopped, and we couldn’t start the construction. We had to fight with our fears that we might not be able to start or run our restaurant.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We are known for our traditional Japanese style course called an Omakase. Our course specifically includes a combination of seasonal sashimi. I believe that our restaurant being operated with just the two of us (husband and wife) makes our business unique. We have 8 seats and we are very proud to provide our customers with an intimate and special experience with our course that our Japanese chef creates from fresh fish imported from Japan. We take pride in our chef’s skill cultivated from his 45 years of experience that allowed him to master the craft and art of sushi.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Even with 45 years of experience as a Sushi chef, we are still in the process of learning in regards to both service and food. It has been like this from the beginning, and this will continue on, forever. So an advice we would give is that no matter how many years pass, we are all still in the process of learning and that will never end.
Pricing:
- Regular Course: $160
- Special Course: $220
- We are a BYOB restaurant, so please bring your own bottle. However, we do provide non-alcoholic drinks: water ($5 for small one and $9 for the bigger one), tea ($5), yuzu or ume soda ($7.50), and non-alcoholic beer ($7.50).
- Take out is available if you let us know one day in advance. It is not available on Tuesday and Friday. ($105)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sushiaokiusa.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sushiaoki_usa?igsh=MWkzbXNjeWtheGE0aA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@sushiaoki?si=iEoB2D19H-J_ov59
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/W3g6SDqusW
