First off, let’s rephrase – To describe Akira Back as a Japanese restaurant is not all correct: The culinary creations that you will find at Akira Back reflected his diverse background as a Korean moving to America, trained for many years in Japanese restaurants in Japan and Europe, combined with his sense of adventure, boundless creativity and artistic flair delivers something different for the Hanoi market.
Akira Back Restaurants all over the World
Michelin Star Chef Akira Back continues to expand his global portfolio with sixteen restaurants currently open and an additional twelve with scheduled opening dates through 2024.
Known for his innovative interpretations of Asian fare with American influence, Chef Back's success is fueled by an impressive 20-year culinary background landing numerous awards and international media attention. Using only the high-quality ingredients and creating a culture of world-class service in a welcoming environment, Chef Back's restaurants embody classic cuisine continuously featuring innovative dishes that use the finest ingredients from the world's top purveyors.
Akira Back - a Michelin Chef
Born in Korea and raised in Colorado, Chef Back spent his early years as professional snowboarder and working at local restaurants to supplement his income. After seven years, he felt the same exhilaration in the kitchen as he did on his board, shaping his decision to pursue a full-time culinary career as a chef.
Since opening Yellowtail, Chef Back has been named "Best Chef in Las Vegas" by Las Vegas Weekly. He was awarded the title of "Rising Star" by Restaurant Hospitality (2008) and has had the distinct honor of hosting the prestigious James Beard House dinners in many years. In 2017, Chef Back received his greatest honor - the 2018 Seoul Michelin Guide Seoul awarded Chef Back's famed restaurant DOSA one Michelin star for its excellence in innovative cuisine and service - one of the highest accolades a chef can receive.
Moreover, Akira Back has had extensive broadcast experience, appearing on Food Network's 'Iron Chef America', NBC's 'The Today Show'; Food Network's 'Best Thing I Ever Ate'; The Cooking Channel's 'United Tastes of America'; or KBS's 'Success Mentor'.
Boundless Creativity
The menu at Akira Back goes beyond the classic offerings of perfectly executed sushi and hand rolls to include a list of bold creations that will open up a new world of Japanese cuisine. Seasonal prime and fresh products from all over the globe is key to the menu offering.
One of the dishes to quickly become a signature on the Akira Back menu is the Tuna Pizza, which encapsulates the chef's culinary ethos perfectly: amazing flavours and easy to eat, served on custom made plates printed with his mother's abstract artwork..
Let us overwhelm you in the most delectable way!
A Mother’s Artistic Hand
The vividness and its saturated palette soften the stiffness of wood and metal as well as brighten up a fairly dark room, make it feel more like a cozy place. The painting was done by Young Hee Back – the chef’s mother.
Placing his mom's artwork at the center of the restaurant expressed how much she means to Chef Akira and how he has always had her in his heart. Black and walnut dominant colours with touch of marble details gave the main dining room a luxurious and chic look. Some people might think that an abstract picture should not belong here, but chef Akira Back decided to break the cliché by putting a colourful abstract artwork along the ceiling. And he is right!
As a ceramic artisan, Young Hee Back also put her drawing skill in each bowl or plate she made. It can be the swirling shapes, an array of colourful patterns or a complete painting. If you have tried Tuna Pizza, you would found a secret underneath this delicious layer - a hidden beautiful artwork. This surprising excitement surely will enrich your experiences at our restaurant.