Sushi Brand Chef – Lead Culinary Standards

About the role

Kitopi is seeking an experienced Sushi Brand Chef to own and elevate the culinary standards of its sushi brand across multiple outlets in the UAE and the wider MENA region. You will be responsible for ensuring consistent quality, authentic presentation, and operational excellence in fast‑paced, high‑volume kitchens.

Key responsibilities

• Maintain and enforce sushi culinary standards, from knife work and fish preparation to plating and presentation.
• Develop, document, and update recipes, portion guides, and SOPs specific to sushi production.
• Train and mentor kitchen teams on sushi techniques, station setup, and service execution.
• Conduct regular outlet visits and quality audits, implementing corrective actions as needed.
• Collaborate with menu development on new sushi offerings, seasonal specials, and product trials.
• Monitor food safety, allergen protocols, and hygiene compliance in line with UAE regulations.
• Support inventory management, fish sourcing, waste reduction, and food cost control.
• Lead kitchen readiness for new outlet openings, embedding brand standards from day one.

Required profile

• 5+ years of experience as a Sushi Chef, with at least 2 years in a senior or multi‑outlet role.
• Deep expertise in Japanese culinary techniques – sushi, sashimi, maki, nigiri, omakase‑style preparation.
• Strong knowledge of fish quality, sourcing, butchery, and handling best practices.
• Proven experience building and training kitchen teams on sushi‑specific skills.
• Solid understanding of food cost, waste control, and operational discipline.
• Passionate about quality, consistency, and authentic guest experience.

Required skills

• Sushi preparation
• Sashimi cutting
• Maki rolling
• Nigiri shaping
• Omakase style preparation
• Fish butchery and handling
• Fish sourcing and quality assessment

What we offer

• Extensive learning opportunities with hard and soft skill training.