Today we’d like to introduce you to Farrah Talakshi.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Farrah. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
When grown-ups used to ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would always say that I wanted to own my own restaurant or work with money, in that order! Although I ended up pursuing the latter, I never lost the desire to own a restaurant. After more than a decade of financial consulting, completing my MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and moving to Calgary, Canada, I decided to leave the corporate world to pursue my true passion.
My cousin and co-founder Danyal and I share a deep love of sushi. A few years ago we were hanging out in California and were unsatisfied by the lack of options for good sushi restaurants that were affordable. As a student, he could not afford to go to a high-end restaurant every week. Ultimately, we were limited to corner sushi spots and pre-packaged grocery store sushi which was not fresh and limited in selection. We dreamed about creating a sushi restaurant concept that was high-quality, quick, reasonably priced and where we could choose our own ingredients.
That’s when Nushii, a “new way to eat sushi”, was born; and I have not looked back!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Starting any venture from scratch requires a lot of patience and attention to detail. Without much prior restaurant experience, it was a steep learning curve for me, personally. While there have been some ups and downs, our entire team was determined to get it right. We saw our challenges as learning experiences and kept pushing forward, careful not to duplicate previous mistakes. I am especially proud that our entire team, from the front-end assembly staff to the back-end prep staff, are committed and passionate about what we are serving. Our focus is ensuring that our customers have a great experience every time they visit Nushii.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Nushii Sushi Burritos and Bowls story. Tell us more about the business.
Nushii is a fast-casual restaurant concept. Our menu items range from sushi burritos, rice bowls and salads in a quick, customizable experience at an incredible value. All of our food is prepared in-house and our menu includes vegetarian and vegan items as well as several gluten-free options. We have a range of sauce that are all vegan. For those who prefer meat, we also serve grilled beef and chicken. At Nushii, you can customize your meal to your taste or pick from one of our signature items. Our most popular entrée, the Citrus Royal Salmon sushi burrito, is paired with a tangy yuzu pepper sauce, tart turnip beet pickles and a chopped kale blend topped with crispy potato strings. We also serve refreshing house-made teas, like our popular matcha coconut iced tea sweetened with organic agave nectar.
As a company, not only do we want to serve high quality food, but we are also committed to reducing our environmental footprint. We partner with vendors, farmers, fisheries and organizations like the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch to provide us with local, seasonal and responsibly-sourced ingredients. I can’t help but smile when customers say that they can’t find another restaurant like Nushii in Los Angeles.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Luck always plays a role, but I truly believe in making your own luck. Luck, hard work and a healthy dose of grit has made us successful so far. Learning from past experiences, acting on opportunities and taking calculated risks is key. I have chosen to pursue my passion and am determined to overcome challenges. Through the continued hard work and commitment of our entire Nushii team, as well as the love and support from friends and family, I am confident that we will be continue to serve our customers.
Pricing:
- California Ahi Tuna – $9.95
- Citrus Royal Salmon – $10.95
- Signature Spicy Tuna – $9.50
- Teri-Racha Chicken – $8.50
- Nyama-Yaki Beef – $8.95
- Curry Lemongrass Tofu – $7.95
Contact Info:
- Address: 1055 Broxton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024
- Website: nushii.com
- Phone: (310) 231-0380
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @nushiiyum
- Facebook: @nushiisushiburritos
- Twitter: @nushiiyum
- Yelp: yelp.com/biz/nushii-los-angeles-8
Image Credit:
@nushiiyum, @thrillist, @blondeswhoeat, @conradeats, @excercisewithextrafries
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