The opinions expressed by Entrepreneur authors are their very own.
There is no quick path to becoming a champion – it takes work.
As a famous sushi chef and business owner Royal Sushi and Izakaya in Philadelphia, This is Jesse carries a heritage of culinary excellence and wealthy tradition. Jesse began his apprenticeship at the age of 14 in his family’s Japanese restaurant before immersing himself in the intricate world of sushi.
“You can read books, watch YouTube and learn a lot, but the only way is to learn from a chef working with the product,” says Jesse to Shawn Walchef from the company California BBQ Media.
In 1979, before Ito was born, his parents opened Fuji in New Jersey, just a few years after moving to America.
Shaped by his early years working with his parents at Fuji Restaurant (his mother worked front of house and his father prepared food), Ito’s culinary journey began with hands-on practice. “The best way to learn is to practice,” he says. “You have to learn, work in different places and work with the product.”
Starting out as a teenager washing dishes, he was soon thrown into a sushi bar, where he faced the challenges of mastering the craft.
Father Ito played a key role in shaping Japanese culinary culture in the tri-state area and became known among leading chefs as a culinary authority. They sold the restaurant in 2015 to assist their son fulfill his dream of opening one Royal Sushi and Izakaya.
Ito now has the honor of working alongside his dad in his own restaurant. “He kind of built that foundation. He participated in building the Japanese cultural culinary scene in the tri-state area. So there have been huge shoes to fill. And to have him there, it’s really great,” Ito says.
“Family has always been the most important driving force for me when it comes to showing up and getting things done.” Jesse Ito wrote in an Instagram post about family and running a business.
“It’s one thing to let yourself down… it’s not impossible to get over it. Letting down people who depend on you is another thing. This may sound like a lot of weight, but it is also very powerful and will push you to move mountains.”
The next generation of Omakase
From behind the curtain, Royal Sushi & Izakaya Jesse Ito brings a unique atmosphere to traditional omakase – combining contemporary Japanese aesthetics with modern comfort and a fusion of cultures. (Omakase means “I leave it to you”, meaning the customer leaves it to the chef to decide on seasonal specialties.)
Only 8 seats are available at a time for the 17-piece, handcrafted tasting. Hundreds of people signed up for the online waiting list.
In his omakase room, Ito organizes a unique atmosphere, different from the traditional omakase environment.
Drawing inspiration from old-fashioned hip-hop, funk and artists like David Bowie, Ito sets the stage for a relaxing and enjoyable culinary journey. He intentionally creates an atmosphere in which guests feel at ease, encouraging conversation and camaraderie.
“My omakase room, which has a slightly different atmosphere,” expresses Ito. “All my guests feel very comfortable talking to each other, talking to other guests, talking to me. “I don’t feel pretentious when it’s so stuffy, when you’re like, OK, I can’t just relax and have fun here.”
While he has not yet developed the Royal Sushi & Izakaya concept or the omakase concept, he understands that next steps need to be taken, both internally and externally.
“I know I will inevitably have to come to terms with it because it is part of the process. It’s part of the growth.”
About influential restaurants
Restaurant Influencers is dropped at you by Toast, a powerful restaurant point of sale and management system that helps restaurants streamline operations, increase sales, and deliver higher guest experiences.
Toast – fuels successful restaurants. Find out more about Toast.