Chotto Matte
Chotto Matte is a privately held restaurant group founded in 2013 by Kurt Zdesar, operating upscale Japanese-Peruvian (Nikkei) dining venues with theatrical cooking and live entertainment across London, Manchester, Toronto, San Francisco, and Riyadh, serving affluent experiential diners and group events.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Chotto Matte does
Chotto Matte is a privately held restaurant group founded in 2013 by Kurt Zdesar that operates upscale Nikkei (Japanese-Peruvian) dining venues across five cities. Its core product is an experiential dining format combining Nikkei sharing menus curated by Executive Chef Jordan Sclare, signature Tokyo-to-Lima cocktails, theatrical cooking elements (Itamae sushi counter, flaming robata grill, tableside flambé), and live entertainment including resident DJs. Locations are placed in premium real estate including London Soho (flagship, 2013), Manchester's No.1 St Michael's rooftop with the Claude's Skyview Bar sub-concept, Toronto's Bay Street Financial District (2019), San Francisco's Union Square (2026), and Riyadh's KAFD district (2023), with additional sites slated for 2026.
The company monetizes through multiple revenue streams: à la carte and tasting menu dining (London tasting menus £29.95-£85/person; Toronto sharing menus $90-$185/person; San Francisco sharing menus $100-$165/person), a private events and venue hire business accommodating 8 to 600 guests, gift vouchers from £20, signature experiences (Chef Experience $330 for two in Toronto), and—since 2026—a franchise and joint venture program requiring minimum $2,000,000 capital. Distribution is omnichannel: direct dine-in at owned locations, online booking via SevenRooms, gift voucher e-commerce, and franchise/JV licensing for international markets.
The customer base spans affluent experiential diners, group celebrations (corporate events, weddings, birthdays of 4-600 guests), after-work and late-night socializers, and special occasion diners (Pride Drag Brunch, graduations). Marketing is driven by social media (location-specific Instagram and Facebook handles), email, PR outreach, and signature live events. Chotto Matte Limited is the UK operating entity (company number 07054060), with Toronto operations under NZR Limited; ownership remains with founder Kurt Zdesar, with no identified institutional or PE backing. Headcount is in the 101-250 range, consistent with a multi-site restaurant group of this footprint.
Chotto Matte firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Chotto Matte
- Legal name
- Chotto Matte Limited
- Website
- https://chotto-matte.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Chotto Matte is a privately held restaurant group founded in 2013 by Kurt Zdesar, operating upscale Japanese-Peruvian (Nikkei) dining venues with theatrical cooking and live entertainment across London, Manchester, Toronto, San Francisco, and Riyadh, serving affluent experiential diners and group events.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Chotto Matte industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Upscale Restaurant / Fine Dining
- NAICS
- Full-Service Restaurants (722511)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Eating Places (5812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Ethnic & Regional Cuisine Restaurants (THAFACAD)
Keywords
Where Chotto Matte is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
Chotto Matte business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Restaurant Dining: Primary revenue from food and beverage sales across company-owned and franchise restaurant locations. Revenue generated through à la carte menus, tasting menus, brunch services, and bar sales. Additional revenue from private events, group dining bookings, and venue hire for corporate and private celebrations.
- Franchise/Joint Venture Fees: International expansion through franchise partnerships and joint ventures requiring minimum $2,000,000 capital. Franchisees pay for rights to open Chotto Matte locations in specified territories.
- Gift Vouchers: Sale of gift vouchers for restaurant dining experiences, available from £20
- Experiences and Private Dining: Premium experiences such as the Chef Experience tasting menu ($330 for two in Toronto), private dining room hire, and exclusive event packages
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | UK Locations - Tasting Menus |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | UK Locations - À La Carte |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Toronto - Sharing Menus |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | San Francisco - Tasting Menus |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | UK - Bottomless Brunch |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Toronto - Bottomless Brunch |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Toronto - Chef Experience |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Franchise Investment |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
Chotto Matte product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Chotto Matte operates upscale Nikkei (Japanese-Peruvian fusion) restaurants featuring sharing menus, robata-grilled dishes, sushi, and signature Tokyo to Lima cocktails in theatrically designed spaces. The group runs six company-owned locations across the UK, North America, and the Middle East, and generates additional revenue through private events, gift vouchers, branded brunch and happy hour experiences, and a franchise program for international expansion.
Product overview
Chotto Matte is a Japanese-Peruvian (Nikkei) restaurant and cocktail bar chain offering immersive fine dining experiences. The portfolio consists of six operational locations across London (Soho - flagship, established 2013), Manchester (Deansgate - featuring rooftop and Claude's Skyview Bar), Toronto, San Francisco (Union Square), and Riyadh (KAFD). The core product centers on Nikkei sharing menus combining Japanese precision with Peruvian boldness, complemented by signature Tokyo to Lima cocktail collections and live entertainment including DJs and theatrical cooking displays (Itamae sushi counter, robata grill). Supporting offerings include All About Sushi unlimited dining experiences, private event spaces, group dining packages, Chotto Hour promotions, gift vouchers, and a franchise program for expansion. The brand differentiates through avant-garde design featuring bespoke art installations, urban flair, and unique architectural spaces.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Chotto Matte Restaurants (Nikkei Dining) Japanese-Peruvian (Nikkei) cuisine restaurants offering fine dining experiences with theatrical elements including Itamae sushi counters and flaming robata grills, accompanied by curated cocktail programs and live DJ entertainment. Operating across 6 global locations.
- Nikkei Sharing Menus Signature sharing menu concept featuring Japanese-Peruvian fusion dishes including ceviches, nigiri, maki rolls, robata-grilled items, and Peruvian-inspired mains. Available in Nikkei, Deluxe, and Vegetarian variants across UK (£68-£85/person), Toronto ($90-$185/person), and San Francisco locations.
- All About Sushi Unlimited sushi dining experience at £39.95 per person for 45 minutes, featuring iconic Nikkei starters, signature rolls, and nigiri, available Monday to Sunday 12pm-5pm.
- Chotto Matte Franchise Program Joint venture and franchise opportunity for international expansion, requiring minimum available capital of $2,000,000-$3,000,000 with partnership models including franchise only and management contract options.
- Private Events and Group Dining Versatile event spaces available for private dining, corporate events, and celebrations with capacities ranging from intimate gatherings to exclusive hire accommodating up to 400-600 guests, booked through Tripleseat platform.
- Chotto Matte Gift Vouchers Gift voucher program for restaurant dining experiences, with vouchers starting from £20.00, available online through giftpro platforms for London and Toronto locations.
- Chef Experience Tasting Menu (Toronto) 8-course premium Chef Experience tasting menu priced at $330 for two at the Toronto location, showcasing the finest Nikkei cuisine selections.
- Claude's Skyview Bar (Manchester) Mexican-inspired rooftop bar concept exclusive to Manchester, featuring over 200 tequilas and mezcals, bold Mexican-inspired bites, panoramic city views, and a retractable roof.
- Tokyo to Lima Cocktail Collection Signature cocktail program inspired by Nikkei cuisine evolution, exploring flavors from Tokyo to Lima, featuring cocktails like Pisco Sour, Yuzu Martini, and original Chotto icons, with cocktails priced £12-£18.
Companies that use Chotto Matte
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Chotto Matte technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Chotto Matte partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Carla RaadminorLocal Manchester artist who created bold graffiti-style UV murals for the Chotto Matte Manchester location, producing dynamic artistic backdrops throughout the venue as part of the restaurant's art-forward design philosophy.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Chotto Matte competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Nobu Restaurants: Globally recognized Japanese-Peruvian (Nikkei) fine-dining brand with locations in major financial capitals. The closest concept-level comparable to Chotto Matte, sharing cuisine heritage, premium positioning, and international expansion model.
- Coya Restaurant: Upscale Peruvian restaurant group operating in London, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Miami and other global cities with strong cocktail and experiential dining programs. Directly comparable experiential cuisine positioning and tier pricing.
- Zuma Restaurant: International Japanese izakaya-style fine-dining brand with locations in London, Dubai, NYC, Hong Kong, and other major cities. Comparable premium experiential Japanese cuisine offering, theatrical robatayaki counters, and global expansion trajectory.
- ROKA London: Contemporary Japanese robatayaki restaurant group with locations across London, Dubai, and other cities. Comparable theatrical robata grill format, premium pricing, and experiential design language.
- Sexy Fish London: High-end Asian-inspired experiential dining destination in London's Mayfair with theatrical interiors, DJs, and premium price points. Closely comparable "fine dining meets nightlife" experiential positioning and AUV tier.
Broad incumbents
- Mr Chow: Long-established upscale Asian fine-dining chain with global locations including London, NYC, Beverly Hills, and Miami. Comparable high-end pan-Asian positioning and international city footprint to Chotto Matte.
- LPM Restaurant & Bar: Mediterranean fine-dining group with locations in London, Dubai, Miami, and other international cities. Comparable polished experiential dining model, premium city-center locations, and event/private dining capability.
Regional players
- Sumosan London: Upscale contemporary Japanese restaurant brand primarily operating across London with selective international expansion. Comparable Japanese-leaning experiential fine dining and premium price architecture.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Chotto Matte social profiles
Digital presenceChotto Matte financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Chotto Matte leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Chotto Matte funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Chotto Matte M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Chotto Matte
What does Chotto Matte do?
Chotto Matte operates upscale Nikkei (Japanese-Peruvian fusion) restaurants featuring sharing menus, robata-grilled dishes, sushi, and signature Tokyo to Lima cocktails in theatrically designed spaces. The group runs six company-owned locations across the UK, North America, and the Middle East, and generates additional revenue through private events, gift vouchers, branded brunch and happy hour experiences, and a franchise program for international expansion.
Is Chotto Matte a public or private company?
Chotto Matte is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Chotto Matte founded?
Chotto Matte was founded in 2013. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Chotto Matte based?
Chotto Matte is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Chotto Matte make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Restaurant Dining is the primary driver. The others are franchise/Joint Venture Fees, gift Vouchers and experiences and Private Dining.
Who are Chotto Matte's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Nobu Restaurants, Coya Restaurant, Zuma Restaurant, ROKA London and Sexy Fish London. Broad incumbents are Mr Chow and LPM Restaurant & Bar. Sumosan London is listed as a regional player.
Does Chotto Matte have an API?
No public API is recorded for Chotto Matte.
What industry is Chotto Matte in?
Chotto Matte's product category is Upscale Restaurant / Fine Dining. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFACAD, Ethnic & Regional Cuisine Restaurants. Its NAICS code is 722511 and its SIC code is 5810.