Our Story

We’ve always loved having friends over — gathering around our table, sharing homemade dishes and laughter. Those moments inspired us to open our own restaurant and share that same home-style dining experience with more people.

Even after living in the U.S. for over 15 years, we often missed the comfort of real Japanese home cooking — the kind that brings you back to family. Many of our recipes come from our moms and grandmas, carrying the flavors of where we came from.

Born in Osaka, Také grew up surrounded by his mother’s cooking and Japan’s lively food culture. Kayo, born in Kobe, learned from her food-loving parents and her father’s dedication to hospitality. The two met in Austin in 1996 and have been together ever since — in life and in RESTAURANTS.

While raising our two children, Kaya and Kenta, we’ve also built and run several establishments. Balancing family and business hasn’t always been easy, but through it we’ve grown — as chefs, as partners, and as parents — sharing our love for food and community every day.

Asazu family businesses throughout the years:

• 2006 – We began our journey with Deli Bento, a small catering company selling Japanese bento boxes at the Sunset Valley Farmers Market and to local businesses.
• 2009 – We opened our first food trailer, Sushi-A-Go-Go, serving made-to-order sushi rolls prepared by SKILLED CHEFS.
• 2010 – A second Sushi-A-Go-Go trailer opened on Barton Springs Road, bringing fresh sushi to even more Austinites.
• 2011 – Our dream restaurant, Komé Sushi Kitchen, opened its doors.
• 2012 – We expanded with Daruma Ramen, our marudori-style ramen shop in downtown Austin.
• 2013 – Partnering with A LONG TIME FRIEND Motoyasu Utsunomiya, we opened Sa-Tén Coffee & Eats on Springdale Road — a Japanese-inspired café blending great coffee and casual comfort food.
• 2017 – Komé moved to a larger space at 5301 Airport Blvd, our current home.
• 2018 – We launched Ni-Komé Sushi & Ramen inside Fareground at One Eleven, Austin’s first food hall.
• That same year, Sa-Tén Coffee & Eats opened its second location inside Komé’s original building at 4917 Airport Blvd.
• 2019 - WE OPENED UROKO, FIRST CASUAL COUNTER SERVICE TEMAKI CONCEPT AT 1023 SPRINGDALE RD.
• 2020 - WE CLOSED, NI-KOME SUSHI & RAMEN, DARUMA RAMEN DUE TO COVID.
• 2023 - WE CLOSED SA-TEN SECOND LOCATION (ON AIRPORT BLVD).
• 2026 – We’re excited to bring back Daruma Ramen, reviving our beloved ramen shop with a new space and new energy — still rooted in the same dedication to comfort, flavor, and community.

We’re proud to continue growing with Austin — sharing Japanese flavors, culture, and hospitality through every restaurant we create.

We hope you enjoy your meal at Komé!

— Také & Kayo Asazu