omakase sushi japanese sando sashimi
CHEF CHOO
I began my chef's journey in 1992, working all across South Korea both in fine dining and 5-star hotels, like the Westin Chosun. It was here I was able to master the unique flavors of both the East and the West, creating award-winning fusion dishes.
Seeking a new challenge, I came to Austin in 2005, to work as the Executive Chef at Haru(now Ichi Umi). During my time here, I was able to explore the never-ending nuances of sushi, pairing unique cuts, techniques, and flavors together while developing our Omakase menu.
In 2021 I left Haru to embark on a new journey, Choo Omakase. Here, my work is not mass-produced. By working in small quantities, I've been able to pioneer fish cutting, prepping techniques, and unique pairings that highlight each ingredient's purest flavor, all in less than 48hours. With Choo Omakase I've created a bespoke sushi experience, and what I believe to be true Omakase.
Austin's very first Japanese Sando-centric shop 🥪
Sando is the Japanese shortened English for Sandwich. Sando is a light and enjoyable menu that Japanese people like to eat. It is a bit different than your normal everyday sandwich which has fresh vegetables, meats, and or seafood.
The most important part of Sando is the milk bread (shokupan). The bread joins with the various ingredients in a simple and smooth manner, where you can enjoy and taste the natural flavor of each topping. Once you've tasted Sando you will definitely become addicted to it.
I hope from now on, through me, you can feel the charm of Sando.
History of Choo Sando
We would like to share the story of Choo Sando for those who are not familiar with how it was started.
In July 2021, I aparted from the Japanese Restaurant that I served for 10 years. It was not easy to work as a chef for one restaurant for a decade as there were many moments that I wanted to quit because it was quite difficult and physically demanding. Furthermore, I had received many lucrative offers from other restaurants, but I stayed there due to the joy and the gratitude I received from the awesome people whom I worked with. And I wanted to share these grateful moments with more people.
During that time, our church @austinevergreenchurch was raising funds to build a new church. Naturally, I joined the force and began to think about how I can contribute to the cause. At that moment, God allowed me to encounter the idea of Sando. So, around August of that year, I began to make Sando to raise funds for the church project. I advertised the Sando through Instagram, and with the help of my followers, I was able to raise $7,661 through 7 rounds of selling 687 sandwiches to 190 customers. I want to express my gratitude once more to those who helped during the time.
The main purpose of Choo Sando is to continue to spread love. 💕 We aim to provide encouragement and joy to the needy as we intend to donate the sandwich to wherever it is needed. 🙏
We ask for your continued interest and support so that we can deliver love to many people in the future.
The Ultimate At-Home Omakase Experience 🍣
With over 30 years of experience, Chef Choo's world-renown knife skills and unique flavor pairings result in an Omakase experience like no other. With just 48 hour turnaround time from the market to your table, this guarantees the freshest tasting fish possible. Enjoy!