Azumi Restaurant Group

Azumi Restaurant Group, commonly known as Azumi, is a London-based hospitality company that owns and operates a portfolio of restaurant concepts. The group is associated primarily with contemporary Japanese and Japanese-inspired dining, combining specialist cuisine with design-led interiors, premium locations, and an international operating model. Its stated geographic footprint includes the United Kingdom, the Middle East, Asia, and the United States. The group’s development began with the opening of Zuma in London in 2002. The first Zuma restaurant was established near Harrods in Knightsbridge, on a backstreet close to Brompton Road. The concept became the foundation of Azumi’s restaurant portfolio and subsequently expanded internationally, including restaurant and residency formats. According to the referenced company history, Zuma has grown to 15 restaurants worldwide, although the material does not provide a date for that count or a complete location list. Azumi added ROKA in 2004, opening its first location on Charlotte Street in London. ROKA broadened the group’s offer through a robatayaki-focused Japanese restaurant format, while retaining the group’s emphasis on contemporary presentation and social dining. The company later developed additional concepts, including Oblix at The Shard, ETARU, and INKO NITO. These brands allowed Azumi to operate across different dining occasions and settings, from high-rise destination restaurants to neighborhood venues and more casual Japanese formats. Oblix opened at The Shard in London in 2013. ETARU debuted in Las Olas in 2017 as a neighborhood Japanese eatery, extending the group’s presence into the United States. The available reference material identifies these openings as important stages in the expansion of Azumi’s brand portfolio, but does not provide a complete account of every subsequent opening, closure, partnership, residency, or market entry. Rainer Becker and Arjun Waney are identified as Azumi’s co-founders, with Becker also specifically associated with the creation of Zuma. Sven Koch is identified in the reference material as chief executive officer of Azumi Restaurant Group. No appointment date, ownership structure, financial information, public listing, or official corporate website is supplied in the available material. Azumi is therefore best described as an active, privately held restaurant group whose identity is built around a house of premium and contemporary dining brands rather than a single consumer packaged-goods product.

Azumi Restaurant Group was established by Rainer Becker and Arjun Waney. The group’s history is generally traced to the opening of Zuma London in 2002. Located near Harrods in Knightsbridge, the restaurant introduced the concept that became the foundation of Azumi’s international restaurant portfolio. Zuma subsequently expanded to multiple locations worldwide, including residency formats; the referenced material states that the brand reached 15 restaurants globally, without specifying the date of that figure. In 2004, Azumi opened the first ROKA on Charlotte Street in London. ROKA added a distinct Japanese grill and robatayaki-oriented format to the group’s operations. The concept complemented Zuma while giving Azumi a broader presence within London’s premium dining market. The group continued to diversify its concepts. Oblix at The Shard opened in 2013, positioning the brand within one of London’s prominent high-rise destinations. In 2017, ETARU debuted in Las Olas as a neighborhood Japanese eatery, extending Azumi’s operating footprint into the United States. The group has also developed INKO NITO, another concept identified in the company’s portfolio. Azumi’s business model is based on operating several restaurant brands rather than relying on a single format. Its concepts span premium destination dining, Japanese grill cuisine, neighborhood restaurants, and more casual Japanese-inspired offerings. The group’s stated markets include the United Kingdom, the Middle East, Asia, and the United States. Sven Koch is identified as the company’s chief executive officer. The available reference material does not establish a precise legal founding year, provide ownership or financial details, or document the full chronology of international openings and brand developments.

• 2017

  ETARU debuts in Las Olas

  [1]Azumi Restaurant Groupen.wikipedia.org

  ETARU opens as a neighborhood Japanese eatery in Las Olas, marking a documented United States expansion.

• 2013

  Oblix opens at The Shard

  [1]Azumi Restaurant Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Azumi launches Oblix at The Shard in London.

• 2004

  ROKA launches in London

  [1]Azumi Restaurant Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The first ROKA restaurant opens on Charlotte Street, expanding Azumi's portfolio with a separate Japanese grill concept.

• 2002

  Zuma London opens

  [1]Azumi Restaurant Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The first Zuma restaurant opens near Harrods in Knightsbridge, providing the foundation for Azumi Restaurant Group.

A multi-concept international restaurant group focused on contemporary Japanese and Japanese-inspired dining, premium hospitality, distinctive restaurant environments, and location-led destination experiences.

• Contemporary Japanese restaurant · 2002

  Zuma

  Zuma is the restaurant concept that launched Azumi in 2002. Its first location opened in Knightsbridge, London, near Harrods. The concept subsequently developed an international network of restaurants and residency locations. The available material identifies Zuma as having 15 restaurants worldwide, but does not provide a dated location list or detailed current operating count.

• Japanese grill and robatayaki restaurant · 2004

  ROKA

  ROKA was introduced by Azumi in 2004 with a first restaurant on Charlotte Street in London. It extends the group’s Japanese dining portfolio through a grill-led format associated with robatayaki-style cooking and contemporary, social restaurant settings. The supplied reference identifies ROKA as one of Azumi’s principal brands but does not provide a complete global location history.

• Destination restaurant · 2013

  Oblix at The Shard

  Oblix at The Shard opened in London in 2013. It represents Azumi’s use of prominent architectural and destination locations for hospitality concepts. The reference material confirms the opening and the association with The Shard but does not provide further details about the menu, operating model, or later locations.

• Neighborhood Japanese restaurant · 2017

  ETARU

  ETARU debuted in Las Olas in 2017 as a neighborhood Japanese eatery. Its launch broadened Azumi’s brand architecture beyond the group’s established London destination restaurants and documented the company’s expansion into the United States.

• Japanese-inspired restaurant

  INKO NITO

  INKO NITO is one of the additional restaurant brands associated with Azumi Restaurant Group. The supplied reference confirms its inclusion in the group’s portfolio but does not provide a launch year, location chronology, or detailed description of its operating format.

• 2017

  Launch of ETARU in Las OlasProduct launch

  Background

  Azumi diversified its formats and expanded its documented presence into the United States.

  Action taken

  ETARU opened in Las Olas as a neighborhood Japanese eatery.

  Aftermath

  The opening extended Azumi's concept portfolio and geographic reach beyond the United Kingdom.

  Source

• 2013

  Launch of Oblix at The ShardProduct launch

  Background

  Azumi continued developing concepts tied to prominent hospitality destinations in London.

  Action taken

  The group opened Oblix at The Shard.

  Aftermath

  The opening added a high-profile London destination to Azumi's brand portfolio.

  Source

• 2004

  Introduction of ROKAProduct launch

  Background

  Following the establishment of Zuma, Azumi expanded its portfolio with a second restaurant concept.

  Action taken

  The first ROKA opened on Charlotte Street in London.

  Aftermath

  ROKA gave the group a distinct Japanese grill and robatayaki-oriented format.

  Source

• 2002

  Launch of Zuma LondonProduct launch

  Background

  Azumi began building its restaurant portfolio with the introduction of Zuma near Harrods in Knightsbridge.

  Action taken

  The group opened its first Zuma restaurant in London.

  Aftermath

  Zuma became the foundation for Azumi's subsequent multi-brand and international expansion.

  Source

1. 1Azumi Restaurant Groupen.wikipedia.org