i. Biography
Executive Chef Tadashi Kusunoki leads Kusunoki Nagoya in Tokyo, where the work is built around modern tempura omakase. In a city that values precision and restraint, his cooking relies on measured pacing, controlled rhythm, and the gradual reveal of each course.
The Path
Executive Chef is the role Tadashi Kusunoki holds at Kusunoki Nagoya. That position shapes the kitchen’s pace, the sequence of the meal, and the level of discipline the room asks for. In Tadashi Kusunoki’s hands, Executive Chef is less a title than a daily framework for keeping technique sharp while preserving the clarity a chef-led progression depends on. It places him at the center of service, where each course is guided with intention rather than excess.
The Work Today
In Tokyo, Kusunoki’s work is defined by modern tempura omakase: a focused format built around a chef-led progression rather than an à la carte menu. The strength of that format is in its concentration. Each course is set in relation to the next, so flavor, temperature, texture, and timing unfold in deliberate steps. In Tadashi Kusunoki’s kitchen, modern tempura omakase depends on knowing what to hold back as much as what to present. Without an à la carte menu, the structure stays tight, and the trust sits with the chef’s sequence and the small shifts that register course by course.
Signature
Tadashi's signature dishes include kuruma-ebi. Kuruma-ebi fits naturally in a cuisine that values delicacy and exactness. As a signature, it can carry a meal without crowding it, relying on timing, texture, and the chef’s control. Within Tadashi Kusunoki’s modern tempura omakase, it sits inside a broader vocabulary of clean execution and close attention to the differences between one course and the next.
Acclaim
Tadashi's honors include Tabelog Silver Award (2026) and Opinionated About Dining Japanese Restaurants, 17th. These honors place Tadashi Kusunoki in a field where precision and consistency are being measured by peers and diners alike. The Tabelog Silver Award (2026) marks one point of recognition, while Opinionated About Dining Japanese Restaurants, 17th, adds another. Together, they point to cooking that has earned attention for its control, its discipline, and the structure of a chef-led experience.
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Tadashi
What is Tadashi Kusunoki's current role?
As of 2026, Tadashi Kusunoki is Executive Chef.
What recognition has Tadashi Kusunoki received?
Tabelog Silver Award (2026).
What is Tadashi Kusunoki known for?
Modern tempura omakase.
