A sushi chef is one of the most respected people in any kitchen, and the job is far harder than it looks from the guest’s side of the counter. Kaizu Japanese Restaurant is hiring a Sushi Chef, and if rice, fish and sharp knives are your craft, this is a vacancy to take seriously.
About Kaizu
Kaizu is named after a coastal city in Japan, and it built its reputation in Abu Dhabi as a fine-dining Japanese restaurant. The team describes the atmosphere as something like a five-star hotel restaurant, even though it sits on one of the capital’s older streets, with Japanese wall art adding to the feel.
The cooking is Japanese-inspired fusion. Chefs are encouraged to be creative, and dishes are made from scratch, from miso-marinated black cod to grilled tiger prawn with homemade mayo. For a sushi chef, that means you’re expected to respect the craft and bring your own ideas too.
What a sushi chef does here
- Prepare sushi rice properly: washing, cooking, seasoning and holding it at the right temperature
- Make nigiri, maki, uramaki and sashimi with clean cuts and neat presentation
- Handle, fillet and portion fish carefully, and check freshness every day
- Keep knives razor sharp and treat them with respect
- Set up and break down the sushi station, with everything labelled, covered and stored at safe temperatures
- Work with the head chef on specials, plating and menu ideas
- Order and manage stock of fish, nori, rice and garnishes, and keep waste low
- Follow HACCP and cold chain rules without exception
What they’ll likely expect
- Proven experience as a sushi chef in a Japanese restaurant, with most employers wanting at least a couple of years
- Excellent knife skills and a good understanding of different fish, such as salmon, tuna, yellowtail and sea bream
- Confidence with sushi rice, because that’s where most chefs are really judged
- A food handler certificate and solid food safety habits
- Speed during service, with consistency from the first plate to the last
- Willingness to learn the house style and work as part of a team
- Enough English to communicate with the kitchen and floor team
How to prepare for a sushi trial
Most restaurants will ask you to cook at the interview, and a sushi trial is usually simple but unforgiving.
- Expect to make rice, a few pieces of nigiri, a basic roll and some sashimi cuts. Neatness and consistency matter more than fancy tricks.
- Bring your own knives if allowed, sharp and clean, and arrive early in spotless whites.
- Keep your station tidy as you work, with a damp cloth close by and no clutter.
- Be ready to talk about the fish you know, how you check freshness and how you store it.
- Show respect for Japanese technique, but stay open to fusion. This kitchen values both.
Why this could be a smart career move
Fine-dining Japanese experience travels well. Once a restaurant like Kaizu is on your CV, other employers in the UAE and abroad take your application more seriously. You also get to work in a kitchen where creativity is welcome, which is not always true in traditional sushi bars, and that can help you grow from sushi chef towards senior chef or head of station. If you want to learn how a fusion menu is built from scratch, this is a good place to do it.
