Japanese indie restaurant chain creates 18 jobs with fourth venue

Ali Karakaya

Yakinori, a Birmingham independent Japanese restaurant chain, has opened its fourth restaurant in five years, after securing a £140,000 loan from HSBC UK.

Yakinori has used part of the funding to rennovate a 3,000 sq ft premises in the Touchwood Shopping Centre, Solihull, including a new commercial kitchen.

Established in 2015, Yakinori has developed its portfolio of restaurants predominantly in the West Midlands and South West, with locations in Birmingham’s Grand Central, Selly Oak, as well as Park Street in Bristol. Known for producing a wide variety of staple Japanese dishes, such as Sushi and PokéNori, the new Yakinori restaurant in Solihull will create 18 full and part-time jobs.

Owner and founder, Ali Karakaya, hopes to expand the business beyond the West Midlands, to become a key player in the Japanese food market.

He said: “As a Birmingham-born family, we’re thrilled to open another Yakinori restaurant close to home. We’re committed to offering the very best that Japanese food has to offer, with a great customer experience to match. Our ambition is to take the Yakinori brand nationwide, and with the support from our HSBC UK relationship manager, Pav Dheensa, we’re now one step closer to this goal.”

Mark Lupton, area director at HSBC UK Birmingham Business Banking, said: “HSBC UK has supported Yakinori since its first restaurant opened in 2015. Over this time, it has been great to see the company grow and it is a pleasure to lend further support for the new opening in Solihull. We wish the team the best of luck as they look to fulfill the huge demand across Birmingham and the West Midlands for outstanding oriental food.”

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