We're looking for an ambitious Sushi Prep Lead who wants to be part of opening a new restaurant in Lake Tahoe.
This is a ground-floor opportunity:
real influence over our recipes and operations, room to grow with the business from day one, and a life in a mountain town most people only get to visit. Opening in November 2026, we're building a two-in-one concept in the Lake Tahoe area: a handroll bar serving lunch and dinner alongside a café focused on matcha, specialty coffee, and Japanese pastries. This role will own the daily preparation behind our handroll program. We're looking for someone who knows sushi and raw fish, cares deeply about ingredient quality and consistency, and wants more ownership than simply executing someone else's prep list. You'll work closely with the opening team to help refine recipes, portions, prep systems, and kitchen workflow—and have the opportunity to grow into a larger leadership role as the business grows. What You'll Own Receive, inspect, break down, trim, portion, and properly store fish and seafood Prepare fish and seafood specifically for handroll service Cook and season sushi rice and manage batch timing throughout the day Prepare sauces, marinades, vegetables, garnishes, toppings, and other handroll components Help develop and refine recipes, portions, and prep procedures Complete daily prep and ensure the handroll bar is fully stocked and ready before service Set and maintain pars based on expected volume Monitor ingredient quality, freshness, yields, and waste Maintain proper labeling, dating, FIFO, refrigeration, and temperature controls Replenish the handroll team during service when needed Maintain an exceptionally clean and organized prep environment Help build opening, closing, prep, and food-safety procedures Train additional prep team members as the restaurant grows Communicate product needs, shortages, quality issues, and operational opportunities to management Who We're Looking For Previous sushi or raw-fish preparation experience Strong knife skills and confidence handling high-quality seafood Experience preparing sushi rice A strong understanding of food safety and raw-seafood handling Organized, clean, consistent, and detail-oriented Comfortable working independently and taking ownership of a prep program Interested in developing recipes and improving kitchen systems—not just following them Reliable and able to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment Excited by the idea of joining a restaurant at the beginning and growing with it What Success Looks Like When the doors open for service, the handroll team has everything they need: beautifully prepared fish, fresh sushi rice, sauces, garnishes, and fully stocked stations. Prep is consistent, waste is controlled, the kitchen is organized, and service can focus entirely on making great food for guests. More importantly, we're looking for someone who wants to help build the program, not simply work a station. You'll be joining before opening, helping establish how we operate, and have the opportunity to take on more responsibility as the restaurant grows.
