What Roy Yamaguchi does

Roy Yamaguchi is a privately held, chef-founded restaurant group headquartered in Kailua, Hawaii (with its flagship Roy's location at 6600 Kalanianaole Highway in Hawaii Kai, Honolulu), operating a portfolio of restaurant concepts centered on the Hawaii-Inspired / Euro-Asian cuisine that founder Roy Yamaguchi pioneered as a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in 1976. The operating portfolio spans six restaurant brands — Roy's Restaurants (the flagship Hawaiian-Japanese fusion concept), Eating House 1849 (plantation-style cuisine), Beach House by Roy Yamaguchi (at Turtle Bay Resort), GOEN Dining + Bar (Kailua neighborhood concept), Humble Market Kitchin (at Wailea Beach Resort Marriott), and Luigi's Andiamo Pizza (brick-oven pizza at Wailea) — with 10 company-managed locations across Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island, plus 16 mainland Roy's franchise locations and a Guam presence. Beyond restaurant dining, the company generates ancillary revenue from catering and group dining services, online takeout/delivery ordering, gift cards (denominations $50-$500) accepted at 9 Hawaii locations, three signed cookbooks priced $24.95-$35, a $40 Chocolate Soufflé Kit, and the Asian Market Kitchen three-concept restaurant embedded on MSC Cruises' MSC Magnifica and MSC Seaside. Roy Yamaguchi's broader ecosystem also encompasses co-founding and chairing the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival (which has distributed over $3M to Hawaii beneficiaries since 2011) and, since January 2024, serving as Executive Director of the Culinary Institute of the Pacific at Kapiolani Community College, where a CIP x CIA workforce professional development program offers $1,500 tuition scholarships funded through the Hawaii Tourism Authority and Hawaii Ag & Culinary Alliance.

Name

Roy Yamaguchi

Legal name

Roy Yamaguchi

Website

https://royyamaguchi.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Roy Yamaguchi is a privately held, chef-founded Hawaii restaurant group operating a portfolio of six restaurant concepts — including flagship Roy's, Eating House 1849, Beach House, GOEN, Humble Market Kitchin, and Luigi's — serving tourists, local residents, and cruise line guests across Hawaii, the U.S. mainland, Guam, and MSC cruise ships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Honolulu

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Restaurant Dining: Dine-in restaurant service across multiple concepts including Roy's, Eating House 1849, Beach House, GOEN, and Humble Market Kitchin.
2. Catering & Group Dining: Catering services and group dining options for events and private parties.
3. Gift Cards: Sale of gift cards at 9 participating Hawaii locations and online, accepted for food, beverages, merchandise, tax and gratuity.
4. Cookbooks & Merchandise: Sale of signed cookbooks (Roy's Feasts from Hawaii at $24.95, Roy's Fish & Seafood at $35) and merchandise.
5. Chocolate Soufflé Kit: Online sale of Chocolate Soufflé Kit for Two at $40, includes baking rings, parchment, chocolate, and recipe.
6. Culinary Programs: Culinary Institute of the Pacific professional development programs at $1,500 per student for 5-day intensives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Roy Yamaguchi is a chef-founded restaurant group that operates a portfolio of restaurant concepts centered on Hawaiian-Japanese fusion cuisine across Hawaii, the U.S. mainland, Guam, and aboard MSC cruise ships. Core offerings include Roy's fine-dining restaurants, plus sub-brand concepts (Eating House 1849, Humble Market Kitchin, Goen Dining + Bar, Beach House, Luigi's Andiamo Pizza), supplemented by catering, online ordering, gift cards, cookbooks, and a Chocolate Soufflé Kit. The company also co-founded the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival and oversees culinary education programs at the Culinary Institute of the Pacific.

Product overview

Roy Yamaguchi operates a portfolio of restaurant concepts centered on Hawaiian-Japanese fusion cuisine. The core brand is Roy's Restaurants with locations across Hawaii (Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Big Island), the U.S. mainland, and Guam. Supporting sub-brands include Eating House 1849 (plantation-style cuisine), Humble Market Kitchin (Maui plantation comfort food), Goen Dining + Bar (Kailua neighborhood concept), Beach House (Turtle Bay oceanfront), and Luigi's Andiamo Pizza (Maui brick-oven pizza). Additional revenue streams include gift cards, signed cookbooks, and Chocolate Soufflé Kit for home chefs. The company also partnered with MSC Cruises for Asian Market Kitchen restaurants at sea, and co-founded the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival. Gift cards are accepted at 9 participating Hawaii locations only.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Asian Market Kitchen: Three-in-one restaurant concept on MSC cruise ships featuring sushi bar, teppanyaki grill, and Asian-fusion restaurant with panoramic ocean views
• Roy's Chocolate Soufflé Kit
• Hawaii Food & Wine Festival

Products and services

• Roy's Restaurants Hawaiian-Japanese fusion cuisine fine-dining restaurants featuring fresh local ingredients and signature dishes including blackened ahi, poke, and chocolate soufflé. Multiple locations across Hawaii (Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Big Island), the U.S. mainland, and Guam.
• Eating House 1849 Plantation-style restaurant concept inspired by the original farm-to-table cuisine of ancestral Hawaii, featuring Southeast Asian, American, and Hawaiian favorites with haute cuisine finesse. Locations in Waikiki and Poipu, Kauai.
• Humble Market Kitchin Restaurant at Wailea Beach Resort Marriott on Maui, inspired by Roy Yamaguchi's grandfather's general store, serving Hawaii plantation-era comfort food with influences from Japan, China, Portugal, Korea, and the Philippines. Does not accept Roy's gift cards.
• Goen Dining + Bar Neighborhood restaurant in Kailua, Oahu featuring locally sourced seafood and Asian-inspired flavors, designed to reflect the community of Windward Oahu.
• Beach House by Roy Yamaguchi Oceanfront restaurant located at Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu's North Shore, featuring signature cocktails like the Beach House Spiced Mai Tai and oceanfront dining.
• Luigi's Andiamo Pizza Hand-tossed pizza restaurant at Wailea Beach Resort on Maui, cooking 12-inch pizzas in a custom brick oven imported from Italy with fresh local ingredients; each pizza serves 2-3 people.
• Asian Market Kitchen (MSC Cruise Ships) Three-in-one restaurant concept on MSC cruise ships (Seaside, Magnifica) featuring sushi bar, teppanyaki grill, and Asian-fusion restaurant with panoramic ocean views, developed by Chef Roy Yamaguchi.
• Roy's Feasts from Hawaii Cookbook Signed cookbook by Roy Yamaguchi and John Harrisson showcasing Hawaiian flavors, Euro-Asian cooking style, and locally grown ingredients; priced at $24.95. ISBN-13: 978-1-58008-848-0.
• Roy's Fish & Seafood: Recipes from the Pacific Rim Cookbook Signed cookbook featuring recipes from Roy's restaurants, explaining uses, flavors, and cooking qualities of Pacific fish and seafood including tuna, mahimahi, snapper, opah, sea bass, moi, lobster, squid, and shrimp; priced at $35. ISBN 978-1-58008-482-6.
• Chocolate Soufflé Kit for Two Home chef kit containing soufflé baking rings, parchment papers, liners, 8 oz. chocolate, and detailed recipe with baking instructions; makes 8 soufflés. Priced at $40.
• Gift Cards Gift cards accepted at 9 participating Hawaii locations (Roy's Hawaii, Eating House 1849, GOEN Dining + Bar, Beach House). Not valid at mainland U.S., Guam locations, or Humble Market Kitchin. Available in denominations from $50 to $500.
• Online Ordering & Catering Online ordering system for takeout and delivery from Roy's Hawaii locations, including Super Bowl Sunday specials and cook-at-home meal options. Full-service catering and group dining services for events and private parties at Hawaii locations.
• Culinary Institute of the Pacific Professional Development Programs (CIP x CIA) 5-day culinary intensive professional development programs at $1,500 per student, with certificates from both the Culinary Institute of the Pacific and the Culinary Institute of America, continuing education credits, and digital badges. Focus on Hawaii-sourced ingredients and sustainable practices. Full 100% tuition scholarships available through Hawaii Ag & Culinary Alliance for up to 32 participants per cohort.
• Hawaii Food & Wine Festival Premier epicurean destination event in the Pacific co-founded by Roy Yamaguchi and Alan Wong, featuring over 150 internationally renowned chefs and wine/spirit producers across multiple islands. Has raised over $3 million for Hawaii beneficiaries since 2011.

Quantifiable outcome

• First chef from Hawaii to win James Beard Award in 1993, helping put Hawaii's cuisine on the map
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and major.

• Kapiolani Community CollegeflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2023Roy Yamaguchi serves as Executive Director of the Culinary Institute of the Pacific at Kapiolani CC. Oversees credit and non-credit programs, culinary research, food innovation, internships and apprenticeships. Donates entire salary to UH Foundation for student scholarships.
• Blue ApronminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2021Partnership to offer exclusive Roy Yamaguchi Hawaii-inspired menu options for Blue Apron meal kit delivery. Featured dishes include togarashi scallops with beurre blanc and charred gochujang pork with sour cherry soy sauce.
• BuzzFeed TastymajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 October 2017Partnership to access 100+ million Tasty food fans. Tasty shares preview videos of Hawaii recipes and covers the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival across Facebook and Instagram platforms.
• Alan WongflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Co-founder and co-chair of the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival. Wong is also a James Beard Award-winning chef and together they have built Hawaii's premier epicurean event that has given over $3 million to local beneficiaries since 2011.
• MSC CruisesmajorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerAsian Market Kitchen developed for MSC cruise ships including MSC Magnifica and MSC Seaside. Three-in-one restaurant with sushi bar, teppanyaki grill, and Asian-fusion restaurant with panoramic ocean views.
• Culinary Institute of America (CIA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIP x CIA workforce professional development program collaboration. Inaugural 5-day culinary intensives with certificates from both CIA and CIP, continuing education credits and digital badges. Focus on Hawaii-sourced ingredients and sustainable practices.
• Hawaii Tourism AuthoritymajorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvided majority of tuition scholarships for inaugural 32 participants in the CIP x CIA workforce development program. Supporting culinary education as part of Hawaii's visitor industry recovery.
• Hawaii Ag & Culinary AlliancemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides full 100% tuition scholarships for up to 32 participants in Culinary Institute of the Pacific professional development cohorts. Supports culinary workforce development.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mama's Fish House: Iconic Maui-based destination restaurant known for Hawaiian seafood and island cuisine. Both Mama's Fish House and Roy's compete for the same tourist and food enthusiast segment seeking authentic Hawaii dining experiences, with comparable premium positioning and media recognition.
• Hula Grill Waikiki: Hawaii-based oceanfront restaurant offering Hawaii Regional Cuisine with direct competition for the Waikiki tourist dining segment that Roy's Waikiki and Eating House 1849 Waikiki also target. Both brands emphasize locally sourced Hawaiian ingredients and Pacific Rim flavors.
• Momofuku: David Chang's celebrity chef restaurant group spanning multiple concepts (Momofuku Noodle Bar, Ssäm Bar, etc.) with cookbook publishing, consumer products, and media presence. Comparable as a multi-concept celebrity chef brand with diversified revenue streams beyond dine-in service.
• Alan Wong's Restaurants: Alan Wong is a fellow James Beard Award-winning Hawaii-based chef and Roy Yamaguchi's co-founder of the Hawaii Food & Wine Festival. Wong operates Honolulu restaurants including Alan Wong's Honolulu, with a similar Hawaiian Regional Cuisine approach. Both chefs are credited as pioneers of Hawaii's contemporary culinary identity.

Broad incumbents

• Nobu: Celebrity chef-driven global restaurant group founded by Nobu Matsuhisa with a Japanese-Peruvian fusion cuisine approach. Comparable to Roy Yamaguchi's operations as another globally recognized Japanese-fusion chef brand with embedded locations (hotels, casinos) and cruise ship dining partnerships.

Emerging players

• Monkeypod Kitchen by Roy Yamaguchi: Casual Hawaii-based restaurant concept featuring Hawaii Regional Cuisine with pizza and cocktails, partially owned by Roy Yamaguchi. While sharing the founder, it represents a more casual price point than Roy's flagship fine-dining restaurants and competes with Goen Dining + Bar and Eating House 1849.
• Chef Chai / Pacific Rim Kitchen: Hawaii-based chef-driven restaurant offering Hawaiian fusion cuisine by Chef Chai Chaowasaree. Comparable as an independently operated Hawaii chef-led restaurant competing for the same local and tourist dining market that Roy Yamaguchi's concepts serve.

Regional players

• Tidepools (Grand Hyatt Kauai): Another premium Hawaii resort restaurant offering Pacific Rim cuisine with oceanfront dining. Comparable to Beach House by Roy Yamaguchi at Turtle Bay and Humble Market Kitchin at Wailea Beach Resort Marriott as a Hawaii resort dining concept competing for tourist fine dining occasions.
• Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa Dining: Premium Maui resort dining including Japengo, a Hawaii Regional Cuisine restaurant similar to Roy's Kaanapali and Humble Market Kitchin. Direct competition for Maui tourist fine dining and group events at premium price points.
• Artizen by MW (Marriott Waikiki): Hawaii resort dining concept operating under Marriott Waikiki. Comparable as premium Hawaii restaurant competing for the same tourist and group dining occasions as Roy's Waikiki, Eating House 1849 Waikiki, and Beach House locations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/goendiningbar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/roy-yamaguchi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Roy Yamaguchi