KAZ Sushi Bistro
KAZ Sushi Bistro is a founder-owned, single-location Japanese restaurant in downtown Washington, D.C., founded in 1999 by Chef Kaz Okochi. It serves freestyle Japanese cuisine including sushi, omakase, sake, and catering to individual diners and corporate clients.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What KAZ Sushi Bistro does
KAZ Sushi Bistro is an independent, founder-owned Japanese restaurant located at 1915 I Street NW in Washington, D.C., five blocks from the White House and proximate to two Metro lines. Founded in 1999 by Chef Kaz Okochi, the restaurant operates a single dine-in location with lunch (Monday-Friday 11:30-2:00) and dinner service (varying hours; closed Sunday), augmented by catering, third-party delivery, and digital gift cards. The cuisine is positioned as "freestyle Japanese" — a hybrid of Japanese, Western, and international flavors — and includes nigiri, sashimi, rolls, bento boxes, omakase/Kaz Tasting menus, an extensive sake program, Japanese craft beers, and house-made desserts.
The underlying operating model is a traditional full-service restaurant. Distribution channels include the physical storefront, online reservations via OpenTable and Tock, takeout and delivery via ChowNow, corporate and event catering (reached via phone/email), and digital gift cards via GiftRocker. Marketing is conducted through the restaurant's website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and a Medium blog maintained by Chef Kaz. Revenue is generated exclusively through one-time transactions — menu prices range from $5.50 to $77 per item, with catering platters priced $100-$150 — and no subscription, licensing, or contracted recurring revenue is offered.
The business is privately held with no institutional investors, no funding rounds, and no parent entity. The founder, Chef Kaz, is the primary culinary leader and brand asset, holding the distinction of being the first chef in the nation's capital trained in fugu preparation and the first to introduce premium sake to the D.C. market (1992). The restaurant has earned RAMMY recognition (including 2006 Informal Dining Restaurant of the Year) and Washingtonian Magazine Best 100 inclusion. Customer segments are split between individual diners/couples (primary) and corporate clients seeking lunch catering and event catering (secondary), with no disclosed enterprise customers or revenue concentration.
KAZ Sushi Bistro firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- KAZ Sushi Bistro
- Legal name
- KAZ Sushi Bistro
- Website
- https://kazsushi.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- KAZ Sushi Bistro is a founder-owned, single-location Japanese restaurant in downtown Washington, D.C., founded in 1999 by Chef Kaz Okochi. It serves freestyle Japanese cuisine including sushi, omakase, sake, and catering to individual diners and corporate clients.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
KAZ Sushi Bistro industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Japanese Restaurant
- NAICS
- Full-Service Restaurants (722511), Limited-Service Restaurants (722513)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Eating Places (5812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Ethnic & Regional Cuisine Restaurants (THAFACAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Asian Fast Casual (Pan-Asian, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Korean) (THAFABAE)
Keywords
Where KAZ Sushi Bistro is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
KAZ Sushi Bistro business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Dine-in Service: Full-service restaurant dining offering lunch and dinner menus including sushi, sashimi, signature nigiri, rolls, bento boxes, hot and cold small plates, desserts, and beverages including sake, Japanese craft beers, cocktails, and wines.
- Takeout and Delivery: Carry-out and delivery orders through ChowNow platform, offering full menu items including sushi platters, rolls, nigiri, bento boxes, and hot dishes for customers to enjoy at home or office.
- Catering Services: Corporate and event catering with sushi platters, bento boxes, hot food pans, salads, and beverages. Offers vegetarian options and custom-made sushi platters for events.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Lunch Menu - Bento Boxes |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Lunch Menu - Signature Nigiri |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Lunch Menu - Standard Nigiri/Sashimi |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Lunch Menu - Rolls |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sake Menu - Tastings and Carafes |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Drinks Menu - Wine, Beer, Cocktails |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Desserts Menu |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Catering Menu - Platters |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
KAZ Sushi Bistro product offering
Product offeringCore offering
KAZ Sushi Bistro is a Japanese restaurant offering freestyle Japanese cuisine (Japanese, Western, and international flavors) through lunch and dinner dine-in service, omakase and Kaz Tasting menus, takeout and delivery, and off-premise catering. The restaurant operates from a single downtown Washington D.C. location and sells sushi, sashimi, nigiri, rolls, bento boxes, small plates, desserts, sake, beer, wine, and cocktails directly to consumers and corporate clients.
Product overview
KAZ Sushi Bistro is a Japanese restaurant offering freestyle Japanese cuisine with a modern twist. The restaurant operates as a single unified dining establishment providing multiple interconnected meal services: lunch (Monday-Friday 11:30-2:00) and dinner (varying hours by day) featuring sushi, sashimi, rolls, hot and cold small plates, omakase tasting menus, and specialty dishes. The beverage program includes an extensive sake menu, Japanese craft beers, cocktails, wine, and Japanese tea service. Desserts incorporate Japanese ingredients with Western creativity. The restaurant also offers catering services with various platter and bento box options, carry-out and delivery service, and gift cards. Reservations are accepted for dinner service through OpenTable and Tock platforms.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Lunch Menu Midday dining service featuring bento boxes, sushi bar selections including nigiri, sashimi, and specialty rolls, salads, and small dishes. Available Monday-Friday 11:30-2:00.
- Dinner Menu Evening dining featuring cold and hot small plates, signature sushi, rolls, soups, and omakase/tasting menu options. Dinner service hours vary by day.
- Omakase / Kaz Tasting Menu Chef's choice dining experience where the chef decides the selections. Guests choose 'Omakase' or 'Kaz Tasting Menu' for a surprise culinary journey featuring the chef's signature creations and specials.
- Sake Menu Extensive sake selection featuring tastings (grand tasting, nigori tasting), tokkuri carafes, bottles, and specialty sakes including Dassai, Yoshinosugi Taru, and Katsuyama Ken.
- Drinks Menu Beverage program including sparkling wine, red and white wines, rosé, Japanese craft beers, signature cocktails, Japanese spirits, and zero-proof cocktails.
- Desserts Menu House-made desserts incorporating Japanese ingredients with Western creativity, including panna cotta, crepes, lava cake, ice creams, and tea service featuring premium Uji Matcha.
- Catering Menu Off-premise catering service delivering platters and boxes including sushi platters (vegetarian, nigiri, roll, and combination), salads, hot food, and bento boxes for events.
- Carry-Out & Delivery Menu Takeout and delivery service featuring full menu items including salads, hot plates, nigiri, rolls, bento boxes, and sushi platters available for pickup or delivery via ChowNow.
- Gift Cards Digital and physical gift certificates redeemable at KAZ Sushi Bistro. No cash value and does not apply to gratuity. Unused portion can be used for future visits.
Companies that use KAZ Sushi Bistro
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
KAZ Sushi Bistro technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature1 record
KAZ Sushi Bistro partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- ChowNowcoreThird-party online ordering and delivery platform partnership for takeout and delivery services. Customers can order directly through ChowNow at ordering.chownow.com/order/22597/locations/32877.
- OpenTablecoreOnline reservation platform partnership for table bookings. Dinner reservations managed through OpenTable.
- Tock/ExploretockcoreOnline reservation platform partnership for table bookings through exploretock.com/kazsushibistro.
- RAMW (Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington)coreChef Kaz serves as a ten-year board member of RAMW, the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington, demonstrating deep involvement in the local restaurant industry community and advocacy.
- U.S. State Department Culinary Diplomacy Partnership InitiativeflagshipPrestigious membership in the U.S. State Department Culinary Diplomacy Partnership Initiative, positioning the restaurant and chef as ambassadors of Japanese cuisine at the national level.
- The Inn at Little WashingtonminorChef Kaz taught the culinary team at The Inn at Little Washington how to prepare tuna tartare in a Japanese style and present it in a Western fashion, representing a knowledge-sharing partnership with a renowned culinary institution.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
KAZ Sushi Bistro competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Inn at Little Washington: Renowned destination fine-dining restaurant in Washington D.C. area. Comparable as a same-region prestige culinary destination with chef-driven identity; Chef Kaz has had a knowledge-sharing relationship with its team.
- Makoto Restaurant: Upscale Japanese restaurant in Washington D.C. known for traditional and modern sushi preparations including omakase experiences. Comparable as a same-city direct competitor targeting similar D.C. clientele with premium Japanese dining.
- Sushi Taro: Long-established Japanese restaurant in Washington D.C. offering upscale sushi, sashimi, and multi-course tasting menus. Directly comparable as a same-city, full-service Japanese operator with similar premium positioning and sake program emphasis.
- Sushi Yasuda: High-end traditional Edomae-style sushi restaurant in NYC. Comparable as a premium, omakase-capable sushi destination emphasizing quality fish, sake program, and minimalist service model.
- Sushi Nakazawa: High-end omakase-focused sushi restaurant in Washington D.C. (and NYC). Comparable as a destination sushi concept emphasizing chef-curated tasting menus at premium price points in the same metro area.
Broad incumbents
- Nobu Restaurants: Globally recognized upscale Japanese restaurant brand with locations in major U.S. cities including D.C. area. Comparable as a higher-volume, broader-portfolio operator competing for the same premium Japanese dining occasions.
Regional players
- Kazu Sushi: Japanese restaurant in NYC known for creative sushi rolls and Japanese small plates. Comparable as a same-category Japanese operator with creative/innovative menu positioning, though in a different metro.
- Sushi Ran: Acclaimed Japanese restaurant in Sausalito, California with a notable sake list and modern Japanese cuisine. Comparable as a chef-driven Japanese destination with strong beverage program, though geographically separate.
- Zaytinya: Chef-driven Mediterranean restaurant in Washington D.C. operated by José Andrés Group. Comparable as a same-city upscale dining destination competing for special-occasion and business diners in downtown D.C.
- Iron Gate Restaurant: Upscale Mediterranean-influenced restaurant in Washington D.C. Comparable as a same-city, full-service, chef-driven restaurant competing for upscale D.C. diners and special-occasion demand, though cuisine differs.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
KAZ Sushi Bistro social profiles
Digital presenceKAZ Sushi Bistro financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
KAZ Sushi Bistro leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
KAZ Sushi Bistro funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
KAZ Sushi Bistro 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 KAZ Sushi Bistro
What does KAZ Sushi Bistro do?
KAZ Sushi Bistro is a Japanese restaurant offering freestyle Japanese cuisine (Japanese, Western, and international flavors) through lunch and dinner dine-in service, omakase and Kaz Tasting menus, takeout and delivery, and off-premise catering. The restaurant operates from a single downtown Washington D.C. location and sells sushi, sashimi, nigiri, rolls, bento boxes, small plates, desserts, sake, beer, wine, and cocktails directly to consumers and corporate clients.
Is KAZ Sushi Bistro a public or private company?
KAZ Sushi Bistro is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was KAZ Sushi Bistro founded?
KAZ Sushi Bistro was founded in 1999. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is KAZ Sushi Bistro based?
KAZ Sushi Bistro is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does KAZ Sushi Bistro make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Dine-in Service is the primary driver. The others are takeout and Delivery and catering Services.
Who are KAZ Sushi Bistro's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Inn at Little Washington, Makoto Restaurant, Sushi Taro, Sushi Yasuda and Sushi Nakazawa. Nobu Restaurants is listed as a broad incumbent. Regional players are Kazu Sushi, Sushi Ran, Zaytinya and Iron Gate Restaurant.
Does KAZ Sushi Bistro have an API?
No public API is recorded for KAZ Sushi Bistro.
What industry is KAZ Sushi Bistro in?
KAZ Sushi Bistro's product category is Japanese Restaurant. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFACAD, Ethnic & Regional Cuisine Restaurants, with a secondary code of THAFABAE, Asian Fast Casual (Pan-Asian, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Korean). Its NAICS code is 722511 and its SIC code is 5810.