Today we’d like to introduce you to Jesus Cuevas. Them and their team share their story with us below:
Teriyaki J’s is a family-owned fast-food restaurant that was founded by chef and restauranteur Jesus Cuevas. Mr. Cuevas is a Mexico-born American who began working as a chef in Japanese restaurants around Los Angeles. Growing up as an immigrant, Mr. Cuevas had a vision of owning his own restaurant and fusing his favorite foods with his experience in Japanese cuisines to bring flavor to his communities. Today his goal is to open up more restaurants and bring his authentic flavor of teriyaki to other locations.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It wasn’t easy since I took out no loans. I did it with my own money took the risk but I said I have to make it work no matter what I will not fail I have a family I have to provide for. Knowing the chances of failure right in the middle of the pandemic Sept. 4, 2021 was my grand opening businesses were struggling to stay afloat everyone would tell me I was making a huge mistake at the time but I trusted my recipes I knew people are attracted to great food and amazing service. With the help of my family and friends, we all managed to come together and make this work. I honestly have to thank my father Gonzalo Cuevas for being such a great father and helping with everything he could from remodeling to now even helping with prep. With my wife and sister on cashier and myself and my brothers on the grill, we made an incredible team couldn’t have done it without them and even though it wasn’t easy no one had fast food restaurant experience I took the challenge and personally trained everyone to the best of my knowledge. The first two months were the hardest because everyone was still learning and I was the only experience personal and the city of Downey was really showing us love from the day we opened till today we have had a good steady customer base that keeps growing and we hope keeps on growing. We have been opened for a good eight months almost a year now. I’ve hired more amazing experienced cooks looking for part-time jobs and they have learned from me as I have learned from them. This journey was not easy but thanks to my amazing family, friends, and an amazing graphic designer, thank you for I couldn’t have done this without you.
We’ve been impressed with Teriyaki J’s, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Teriyaki J’s is a family-owned fast-food restaurant that was founded by chef and restauranteur Jesus Cuevas. He invites you to come try his teriyaki entrees and burgers with his own twist to them all his sauces are house made which is why the secrets in the sauce every teriyaki place has its own taste and his goal is to give you an authentic teriyaki flavor that will make you fall in love.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, my mother and father wanted me to go to school. As an immigrant, school, and work were essential to keep the family running. I quickly noticed that school was not for me. At the age of 14, I was working at an auto shop that my father and uncle owned. I decided to quit school during my junior year of high school, so my father would lend me as a working hand to landscaping friends who needed assistance. I was instructed by my father to learn as much as I could. I never wavered and always submitted to my father’s requests. Doing these jobs, I met a lot of hardworking people. They would always tell me that if I wanted to be somebody, I would have to work twice as hard because of my immigrant status. A high-paying job was out of the question for me. Eventually, I landed a job working at a Japanese restaurant. I was paid minimum wage, 7.50/hr, and worked 74 hours a week with only Thursdays off. I handled this schedule for 10 years. I promised myself I would save as much cash as possible during those years. At the age of 22, I met my wife. We dated for five years, I remember how difficult it was for us to make things work with only 1 day off a week. At the age of 27, I asked for her hand in marriage and soon thereafter we had our baby boy, Jaiden. It was through my marriage and fatherhood that I was able to apply for citizenship. Applying for citizenship was insanely nerve-wracking and scary. I managed to arrive at the US embassy in Juarez, Mexico for an interview with no assurance of returning to the states. Fortunately enough, I passed the interview. On my way out of the embassy, a gentleman asked me what I was going to do with my newfound residency. I had no idea what to say until I analyzed my time as an immigrant working in a foreign country. I made a promise to myself that I would use the money I saved to open up a restaurant. I did not want to open up any restaurant, but I dreamed of owning a chain one day. I returned home and began taking all of my shifts as lessons in owning my own business. In a little over a year after my interview, I was opening up my very first restaurant in the City of Downey, Teriyaki Js
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: teriyakijs.com
- Instagram: @teriyakijs
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teriyakijs/
Image Credits:
Images by Guadalupe Cuevas @louii_c Cielo Domingo
