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    Chef

    Jesse Ito

    Chef and Owner, Royal Sushi & Izakaya

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    Chef
    Venue
    Royal Sushi & Izakaya · Restaurant

    Made By record

    Awards & recognition

    4 total

    1 winner

    James Beard Award logoJames Beard AwardWinnerBest Chef: Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA)2026James Beard Award logoJames Beard AwardNomineeBest Chef: Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA)2026James Beard Award logoJames Beard AwardSemifinalistBest Chef: Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA)2026James Beard Award logoJames Beard AwardSemifinalistBest Chef: Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA)2025
    Portrait of Jesse Ito

    Portrait of Jesse Ito

    i. Biography

    Jesse Ito is the chef and owner of Royal Sushi & Izakaya in Philadelphia’s Queen Village, where he opened the restaurant in 2016 and built a nationally recognized omakase program centered on an eight-seat sushi counter. He grew up in his family’s Japanese restaurant, Fuji, in suburban New Jersey, and later partnered with Royal Restaurant Group to launch Royal Sushi & Izakaya in Philadelphia. In 2026, he won the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic.

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