Austin, Meet Seigo

The Aburi Oshi Sushi concept is deeply rooted in tradition while embracing innovation, an idea pioneered by the founder, Seigo Nakamura. Seigo’s culinary journey began in a small sushi restaurant in Miyazaki, Japan, which he took over from his father at the age of 20. Driven to create something unique, Seigo expanded to nine locations and popularized the groundbreaking concept of Aburi Sushi—flame-seared sushi—a technique that marries traditional Japanese sushi making with proprietary sauces and flame-searing. 

During his travels abroad in his late 20s, Nakamura was inspired by how sushi had evolved into a global phenomenon, particularly in its embrace of salmon as a top sushi topping. In Japan, raw fish (sashimi) is more commonly consumed, so this discovery sparked his desire to craft something new that would appeal to international palates. After years of refining the concept, he created the Aburi Salmon Oshi Sushi—a dish that has since become a fan-favorite across his restaurants.

In 2008, Nakamura left Japan at the age of 32 with the goal to bring Aburi Salmon Oshi Sushi to North America by opening his first restaurant abroad, Miku Vancouver. Ever since, Miku has been changing and leading the Vancouver culinary scene, winning over global culinarians and creating an extremely loyal brand following and identity for 16 years. In the Guide's 2023 Vancouver announcement, Miku Vancouver was named a MICHELIN Guide Recommended restaurant. In 2015 the company set sights on the East Coast for the next phase of Canadian expansion. A strategic multi-brand strategy per geographical market has brought Canada’s largest city, Toronto, four highly profitable venues, including Miku, Minami, Aburi TORA, and Aburi Hana. Aburi Hana received Canada’s first MICHELIN star in September 2022 and in September 2023. In the Summer of 2024, Aburi Restaurants opened its first-ever Food Hall concept, Aburi Sushi, serving premium temaki (hand rolls) in Toronto’s first high-end Food Hall, Waterworks. The Aburi Restaurants group owns and operates two restaurants in Tokyo, Japan, including Aburi TORA Futako Tamagawa, one of Tokyo’s most famous sushi restaurants, and nine properties in Vancouver, British Columbia and Toronto, Ontario.