Meet Natsuko Travioli and Hugo and Ilka Komatsu of Temakira

Today we’d like to introduce you to Natsuko Travioli and Hugo and Ilka Komatsu.

Hugo, Ilka, and Natsuko, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Hugo and I (Natsuko), were colleagues and friends at our previous job at PIMCO, the Investment Management company. We both had a good amount of years in the financial industry and we were at a point to move forward to something different and we each went our own way. We kept in touch after we left the company but soon after Hugo suggested we go into business together and he had a business model from Brazil he thought would work in the US. I was quickly convinced it would translate here. At the time, I happened to work for a restaurant that had its roots from an establishment that is said to have started the cone style hand rolls in Japan, so it felt like a great idea and it was. Ilka joined us a year into the business, also with a diverse background including career in the financial industry but also at a large trading company from Japan, it gave us a great mix of talents and balance. It’s great to have three people to run a business so we can vet ideas and make sound decisions.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
From the time we started to discuss the possibility of starting a business, it took 2 years to do the planning due to various hurdles. Finding a good location is not easy in this market and it was a challenging task to figure out how we proceed in the business, when we were completely new to the industry. Nothing went the way we expected and every little thing was a challenge. However, with patience and thorough planning, it all came together well, we’ve received many compliments from customers, even just on how well thought-out the restaurant is, in addition to its being delicious! So, it appears that the hard work that we put into it shows.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Temakira – what should we know?
We are a fast-casual sushi restaurant that specializes in hand rolls. We’ve taken a very popular business model from Brazil where there are many Japanese Brazilians. We’ve put our own spin to the model and put together a menu that is the best of Japan, Brazil and the US. So technically it is fusion but we are proud that we’ve been able to do it in a way that people from Japan and Brazil still agree that it is good as what they would find in their home countries and yet we have been able to appeal to our main target, the locals. And this is because all three partners of the business are bi or tri-cultural and have a great understanding of the culture we are part of. And I believe this definitely one of the reasons that the food we offer sets us apart from of our competitors. We are proud that our first location did so well that we were able to open 2 more in the 2nd year. And this has only been possible due to the great employees we’ve been able to gain as part of our Temakira family and the local community that has supported us through this time.

Our restaurant is a good option for lunch, a mid-day snack, as well as dinner since you can easily adjust the quantity you order plus we have various options to fit the need of various types of meals. People also appreciate the option to customize a roll.

One roll is a good snack, two to three is a meal and we offer appetizers and alcohol so can be a quick and reasonable dinner option. The casual yet stylish setting makes it a great place to dine all day long.

We now also offer Poke Bowls that have become so popular. Any of our rolls can be served in a bowl!

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Having a positive outlook, believing in what we do while continually improving and always moving forward.

Contact Info:

• Address: 259 E. 17th St.,
  Costa Mesa, CA 92627
• Website: www.temakira.com
• Phone: 9496500305
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @temakira_handrolls
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handrollshop/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/temakira-costa-mesa

Image Credit:
Joshua Park
Tim Chan
Anne Watson

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