Team behind acclaimed Ozumo restaurants presents groundbreaking fast casual restaurant with customizable sushi concept
Beverly Hills & San Francisco, CA (RestaurantNews.com) Ozumo Concepts International, the team behind the acclaimed Ozumo and Sonoma Wine Garden restaurant concepts, announces the introduction of u-sushi, a fun and approachable contemporary fast casual restaurant that offers the freshest custom-made sushi roll meals at an affordable price. The groundbreaking “design-your-own” sushi concept launches with the opening of two u-sushi locations in California – the first on Dec. 28 in Beverly Hills, the second on Jan. 19 in San Francisco. With a sleek and modern design by award winning CCS Architecture, u-sushi pairs skilled “u-chefs” with state-of-the-art sushi “robot automation,” resulting in cuisine that is quick, fresh, healthy and rolled to order by hand in less than a minute from the highest quality ingredients.
The u-sushi Vision – The creation of Ozumo Concepts International, founded by Jeremy Umland in 2001, began with Ozumo and has subsequently set the bar for contemporary Japanese cuisine in California. With three acclaimed restaurants (San Francisco, Oakland, Santa Monica), Ozumo showcases dynamic sushi bars and expert sushi chefs that deliver high-quality, innovative sushi and sashimi while maintaining a traditional approach to Japanese sushi bar customs. The Ozumo team’s mission with u-sushi is to carve a new niche in fast casual Japanese food, presenting an “everyday” approach to sushi with an affordable, approachable, customized sushi experience. “The u-sushi philosophy is that sushi is an art; and, as with all art, there is no right or wrong, there is only personal taste,” remarked Jeremy Umland, CEO of Ozumo Concepts International. “Which is why, at u-sushi, you design, and we roll. With its modern vibe and fresh, healthy meals rolled just for you, u-sushi is everything today’s diners want in a fast casual experience.”
Roll With It – Chef Yo Matsuzaki, director of culinary development for Ozumo and executive chef at Ozumo Oakland, presents a menu in keeping with u-sushi’s mantra, inviting guests to personally design their very own sushi rolls, choosing from nearly 40 high-quality, fresh, healthy ingredients. Each sushi roll is priced by selection of components: veggie-only ($6), one fish ($7.50), and two fish ($9.50). Pricing includes guest’s choice of rice (brown or white), wrapper (seaweed or soy), garnishes and sauces (sesame seed mix, fish eggs, spicy mayo, etc.), and up to three vegetables. Yellowtail, tuna, tempura shrimp, and freshwater eel are among the premium fresh fish options. u-sushi’s “u-chefs” prepare each customer’s personalized sushi rolls by hand in under a minute with the aid of state-of-the-art “robot automation” – which includes a rice mixer, rice sheeter, and rice cutter designed by Suzumo, Inc. – at the beginning and end of the ordering process.
In addition to personally designed sushi rolls, u-sushi also offers several pre-designed “u-classic” sushi rolls and “u-sushi extras” include freshly prepared salads, soups, hot sides, desserts, drinks, miso, green tea cookies, and more. All compostable or recyclable, u-sushi items are presented in playfully branded u-sushi packaging, infusing a sense of individuality and fun into the u-sushi experience.
Design to Inspire –Designed by the award-winning San Francisco and New York-based architecture and design firm, CCS Architecture – the visionaries behind some of the most innovative, enduring and successful restaurants in the country – u-sushi’s clean, sleek and modern design style sets the backdrop for an energetic, fun ambiance. Key design features include streamlined stainless steel counters, ceramic wall tiles, wood ceiling soffit and wall, electronic menu boards and designer light fixtures. Brightly lit clear glass display cases beautifully showcase u-sushi’s fresh fish, vegetables, and other ingredients as part of the sushi customization experience. u-sushi’s name, logo and branding materials were created by Santa Monica advertising agency Kastner & Partners.
u-sushi is open Monday – Sunday, 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.at 168 S. Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills; and 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 525 Market Street in San Francisco. For more information, visit www.u-sushi.com or contact the restaurant at 310.777.7655 (Beverly Hills) or 415.543.7655 (San Francisco).
