Meet Kodai Uno | Restaurant Owner / Chef

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kodai Uno and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kodai, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I grew up in a restaurant family. My father founded an Izakaya group in Tokyo that now operates 12 locations across Tokyo and over 200 Izakayas and restaurants run by his apprentices all over the world. Watching him build the business from the ground up had a huge impact on me from a young age.

As my brother and I took over the family business, we also wanted to challenge ourselves by bringing the true culture of Japanese Izakaya to the United States. That opportunity led us to open our own Izakaya in Santa Monica.

For us, it’s not just about serving food — it’s about sharing the atmosphere, hospitality, energy, and culture of a real Japanese Izakaya experience with people in America.

What should our readers know about your business?
Shirube’s story started long before we opened in Santa Monica. I was born into a restaurant family in Tokyo, Japan, where my father founded an Izakaya group that grew to 12 locations. Growing up in that environment taught me early on that restaurants are not just about food — they are about people, culture, energy, and creating a place where strangers feel connected.
My brother and I eventually took over the family business in Japan, but we also wanted to challenge ourselves by bringing authentic Izakaya culture to the United States. That vision led us to opening Shirube in Santa Monica.
What sets us apart is that we are not trying to create a “modern interpretation” of an Izakaya for social media trends. We want guests to experience the real atmosphere and spirit of a traditional Japanese Izakaya — the hospitality, the energy, the late-night culture, the small details, and food that is rooted in Japanese craftsmanship and consistency.
The journey has definitely not been easy. Opening and operating a restaurant in Los Angeles comes with constant challenges — staffing, rising costs, cultural differences, competition, long hours, and adapting traditional Japanese hospitality to a different market. There were moments where we had to learn everything from scratch again, even after already having years of restaurant experience in Japan.
One of the biggest lessons we learned is that consistency matters more than hype. Social media and trends can bring attention, but only quality, service, and genuine hospitality create loyal customers. We also learned the importance of building a strong team culture. Restaurants cannot succeed because of one person alone. Every cook, server, dishwasher, bartender, and guest becomes part of the story.
I am most proud of the fact that we built Shirube with authenticity while still evolving and adapting to Los Angeles culture. We respect tradition, but we are also not afraid to grow, experiment, and create new ideas. Whether it’s our Izakaya, new concepts like our curry brand, or collaborations with the community, we always try to move forward while staying true to who we are.
What I want the world to know about our brand is that Shirube is built on passion, resilience, and gratitude. We are a family business carrying generations of experience from Tokyo to California. Every plate, every service, and every challenge is part of a bigger story about bringing people together through food and culture.
At the end of the day, we are still learning, still improving, and still fighting every day to create something meaningful.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If one of my best friends came to Los Angeles for a week, I’d want them to experience more than just the tourist version of LA. I’d want them to feel the mix of cultures, creativity, food, ocean, nightlife, and the raw energy that makes this city special. The perfect LA trip is a balance between iconic spots and local hidden gems.
Day 1 — Welcome to the Westside
We’d start slow and ease into LA life. First stop would be Santa Monica — walk around the beach, Venice Boardwalk, and Abbot Kinney to people-watch and soak in the atmosphere. For food, I’d take them to Shirube Santa Monica to experience real Japanese Izakaya culture. Late night would probably end with drinks somewhere low-key and local instead of a flashy Hollywood club.
Day 2 — Downtown LA Energy
I’d take them to explore the Arts District and Little Tokyo because that’s where you really feel LA’s creative side. Coffee shops, street art, vintage stores, hidden bars, galleries — the whole vibe changes block by block. We’d hit some taco spots, maybe grab ramen in Little Tokyo, then finish with rooftop drinks downtown overlooking the skyline.
Day 3 — Malibu Day
One thing people underestimate about LA is how beautiful the coastline is. We’d drive up Pacific Coast Highway through Malibu, stop at beaches, maybe hike a little, and just enjoy the ocean. Lunch somewhere casual by the water. Sunset in Malibu is one of the best experiences in California.
Day 4 — Food Crawl Day
LA is one of the best food cities in the world because every culture exists here. We’d spend the whole day eating:
Korean BBQ in Koreatown
Sushi or handrolls
Mexican street tacos
Late-night burgers or birria
Maybe Japanese curry from our curry concept
The fun part of LA is honestly driving around chasing food spots.
Day 5 — Culture + Nightlife
I’d take them through Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Melrose, and Fairfax. Not because it’s the “real LA,” but because it’s part of the experience. Sneaker stores, fashion, music culture, influencers, cars, nightlife — it’s chaotic but entertaining. At night we’d either hit a live music venue, comedy club, or hidden cocktail bar.
Day 6 — Local Training / Real Life Day
This is probably the most personal day. I’d bring them into my real routine — kitchen prep, training, maybe even karate practice. I think the best way to understand someone’s city is seeing how they actually live. We’d finish the night with late-night Izakaya food and conversations after service when the city quiets down.
Day 7 — Slow Final Day
Last day would be relaxing:
Coffee near the beach
Japanese market runs
Maybe a Dodgers or Lakers game depending on the season
One final sunset by the ocean
What makes LA special to me isn’t just the famous places. It’s the mix of ambition, struggle, creativity, and cultures from all over the world existing together. You can eat world-class food from almost any country at 2AM, meet artists, athletes, chefs, entrepreneurs, and immigrants all chasing something bigger. That energy is inspiring.
I think the best version of LA is when you stop trying to “see attractions” and start experiencing the people, neighborhoods, and culture behind them.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Shout out to my father Takashi Uno, the living legend of Izakayas. Shout out to all my staff and team that makes everyday happen

Website: https://shirubeusa.com

Instagram: shirube_santamonica

Image Credits
credits are all mine