Deeply rooted from the streets of Kyoto, Japan the ultimate expression of flavors, colors, and cooking methods in one outstanding menu by Chef Sugimura.
PinKU is understanding. Socially relevant. Japanese urbanity. It tells a story.
John Sugimura is executive chef, concept-brand director, and partner at PinKU Japanese Street Food in Minneapolis and at MSP Airport. He is a second-generation Japanese-American professionally trained sushi chef, whose life-long love of sushi blossomed during time spent in Kyoto, Japan. Eating John’s cuisine is like eating in his grandmother’s restaurant in the 1930s. It is the ultimate expression of flavors, colors, and cooking methods, coming together in an authentic experience that is one-of-a-kind.
PinKU has amassed a portfolio of prestigious awards in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area. Highlights include:
The Global Food of the Twin Cities – JAPANESE
- Travel & Leisure Magazine, 2017
Best Sushi
- Best of the Twin Cities, City Pages, 2017
Best Restaurant Nominee
- Best of the Twin Cities, City Pages, 2017
(Reader’s Choice Poll)
Best New Restaurants
- MPLS-St. Paul Magazine, 2016
Best Global Restaurant
- Minneapolis Monthly, 2016
Best New Restaurants
- Minneapolis Monthly, 2016
Top 10 Twin Cities Restaurant Dishes of 2016
- StarTribune
(Crispy Shrimp)
Our mission is to create the original chef-inspired fine-casual national restaurant brand for Japanese street food using the finest fish and ethnic ingredients for a cultural, entertaining, and educational experience.
Popular yellowtail with crispy onions, cracked-crispy and creamy shrimp, salted then seared salmon, and spicy tuna prepared with vegetables, seasoned rice or fat roll headline the menu. Fried things including dumplings, fried ramen and crispy pork from the streets of Kyoto.
