How Traditional Japanese Cuisine Found A Market In Arizona

International cuisine is a favorite here in America. With very few foods the United States can claim as "its own", we find joy in other culture's foods. Hispanic, Italian, and Chinese all stand at the top of the mountain, but there's one that sneaks in there with them.

Japanese food is beloved worldwide, but its market in Arizona is much smaller than many would expect. That is, until a hero stepped in.

Harumi Sushi

In 1985, the Kim family moved from their home of Japan to the deserts of Phoenix, Arizona. They arrived with nothing to their name, juts a dream to build a perfect life here. That chance came in 2013, when they opened Harumi Sushi. The original location had a very traditional feel, emulating the restaurants they enjoyed back in Japan.

Around 2017, Jessica Kim, the family's daughter, took over shop. She expanded their size and locations, and has turned Harumi into Phoenix's premiere Sushi shop. A local atmosphere and fresh food has made Harumi a must-try.

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Innovating Through Adversity

The path to the top wasn't easy for Jessica Kim, in fact, it was anything but. Kim says she faced a lot of misogyny in her early career. She says that many high-level Japanese chefs were opposed to seeing a woman run a restaurant, but she didn't let their perception stop her.

Her obligation to Japanese tradition was keeping her in a box, especially in the kitchens she worked at, so she decided to innovate with Harumi. Instead of slaving away at one station for her entire career, she implemented a rotational system with the chefs, making sure they get different experiences every time they clock in. It obviously works, because Kim has one of the lowest turnover rates in the Phoenix restaurant industry.

[Nation's Restaurant News][Harumi Sushi & Sake]