Behind a Curtain at his Izakaya Restaurant, this Sushi Chef Hosts an Innovative Omakase Experience

Acclaimed Chef Jesse Ito and Owner of Royal Izakaya & Sushi, Jesse Ito, carries a legacy of excellence and rich tradition. Jesse embarked on an apprenticeship at the tender age of 14 at his family’s Japanese restaurant, before immersing himself in the intricate world of restaurant ownership and high-end sushi.

Watch now to learn about the power of learning on the job, following in his father’s footsteps, and his unique Omakase vibe.

#entrepreneur #sushichef #omakase

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Chapters:
[01:42] - Who is Jesse Ito?
[05:28] - “Day in the Life” Video
[22:53] - Sobriety Journey
[30:08] - Scaling an Omakase Concept
[31:27] - The Magic is in the Rice

Episode Links:
Royal Izakaya Online: http://www.royalizakaya.com/
Jesse Ito Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jesseito/?hl=en
Royal Izakaya Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/royal_izakaya
Jesse Ito LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesse-ito-38492151/
Jesse Ito in Bon Appetit: https://www.bonappetit.com/video/watch/on-the-line-only-16-people-a-night-can-eat-this-17-course-omakase

Takeaways:
The Power of Apprenticeship - Thanks to his father opening a restaurant before he was born and running it with his mother for over 30 years, Jesse Ito has had hands-on training since a young age. For Ito, that apprenticeship is an invaluable part of becoming a great chef.

Ito Family Legacy - Jesse Ito’s father was an integral part of building the Japanese food culture in the Tri-State area. Ito has since taken that torch and built his own name. Luckily, he has the honor of working side-by-side with his father and receives guidance from him on a regular basis.

The Future of Omakase - According to Jesse Ito, omakase is traditionally an intense experience. Though he pays proper homage to Japanese culture, Ito sets a bit of a different vibe in his omakase room to ensure his customers are comfortable and able to enjoy the full experience.

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ABOUT JESSE ITO —
Jesse Ito is chef and owner of Royal Izakaya and Sushi in Philadelphia, PA. He learned his craft while growing up in his family’s restaurant Fuji in New Jersey. Now Ito is hosting his own unique omakase concept that has hundreds signing up on the waitlist. The chef has been nominated for and won numerous honors, including the James Beard Award.

ABOUT RESTAURANT INFLUENCERS —
Restaurant Influencers is a weekly video podcast series presented by Entrepreneur Media and Cali BBQ Media. Every week host and restaurant owner Shawn Walchef (@shawnpwalchef) talks with business leaders like Rob Dyrdek, Emeril Lagasse, Kim Malek, Meredith Sandland, Jon Taffer, and more, about their secrets to Smartphone Storytelling, marketing, branding, and how to show up where customers are engaging online.

Published by Entrepreneur Media - https://entreprenuer.com
Produced by Cali BBQ Media - https://content.calibbq.media

RESTAURANT INFLUENCERS IS PRESENTED BY TOAST —
Restaurant Influencers is brought to you by Toast, the powerful restaurant point of sale and management system that helps restaurants improve operations, increase sales and create a better guest experience.

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