Sushi Kai

Our Story

Sushi Kai was founded by three partners from different backgrounds, united by one shared belief: great food does more than satisfy the appetite — it brings people together.

Founder Tony Chen began his culinary journey in Manhattan, New York. As a sushi chef with more than 20 years of experience in Japanese cuisine, Tony has always believed in using fresh, high-quality ingredients to create a memorable dining experience for every guest.

In 2016, Tony founded Poke Bowl Station in New York, bringing the concept of fresh, healthy, made-to-order Poké to more customers. With its unique concept and consistent quality, the brand quickly gained recognition.

In 2018, Tony expanded Poke Bowl Station to Gainesville, Florida, home of the University of Florida, where it was warmly welcomed by students, faculty, and the local community. In 2019, Tony brought the brand to Tallahassee, the capital of Florida, and opened two locations. As the concept continued to grow and evolve, these locations were later upgraded and rebranded as Natural Kitchen, further strengthening the brand’s commitment to fresh ingredients, healthy dining, and made-to-order meals.

Through years of restaurant ownership and hands-on experience, Tony developed not only strong culinary skills, but also a deep understanding of restaurant operations, product quality, and guest experience.

Co-founder Ben is a Japanese and Hibachi chef with more than 30 years of experience. Over the years, he has worked in Japanese restaurants across Florida, including Orlando, Fort Myers, Daytona Beach, and other cities. His decades of experience have given him a strong foundation in Japanese cuisine, Hibachi cooking, ingredient selection, consistency, and traditional techniques. Ben has always held himself to a high standard when it comes to food quality and execution.

Co-founder Ivan brings an international business perspective to Sushi Kai. Ivan graduated from Columbia University and began his career with JPMorgan、 where he was later assigned to work in Asia. He then started his own entrepreneurial journey in Hong Kong, gaining valuable experience in international markets, business management, and operations.

Ivan has always been drawn to vibrant college towns. He believes college towns are filled with young, diverse, and open-minded communities, making them ideal places for new food cultures and community-driven dining experiences to grow. With Florida State University, Florida A&M University, and Tallahassee State College, Tallahassee represents the kind of energetic and community-centered city that Ivan deeply values.

Today, Ivan brings his international business experience and understanding of college-town markets to Sushi Kai, helping the team build a restaurant brand focused on quality, efficiency, and long-term growth.

Each of the three founders brings something unique to Sushi Kai: Tony brings more than 20 years of Japanese culinary experience and years of restaurant entrepreneurship; Ben brings more than 30 years of Japanese and Hibachi cooking expertise; and Ivan brings a background in international finance, Asian markets, entrepreneurship, and college-town business strategy.

Together, their different journeys led to the creation of Sushi Kai.

The mission behind Sushi Kai is simple: to bring Tallahassee a true quality-focused Japanese All-You-Can-Eat dining experience, where guests can enjoy fresh, abundant, made-to-order sushi and Japanese cuisine at a reasonable price.

At Sushi Kai, we believe in made-to-order food, carefully selected ingredients, and dishes that balance flavor, quality, and freshness. We hope Sushi Kai becomes more than just a restaurant — a place for friends to gather, families to dine, students to relax, and the community to share great food together.

Located next to Trader Joe’s in Tallahassee, Sushi Kai is the result of decades of restaurant experience, culinary dedication, business vision, and a shared dream among its founders.

Welcome to Sushi Kai. We look forward to sharing the food and culture we love with Tallahassee.