Kitchen Nightmares (2007–2014): Season 3, Episode 12 - Sushi Ko - full transcript
Tonight on Kitchen Nightmares...
Chef Ramsay heads
to California's Sushi Ko...
Where the fish isn't
the only thing...
This is a Japanese
health hazard.
That doesn't smell right.
You could kill
somebody.
Blah!
Owner Akira is a broken man...
Talk to me!
A mere shadow of the star chef
he once was.
And that's not all.
This once-proud father...
Has your father given up?
Is dragging his family
down with him.
My family is hanging
by a thread.
My family is hanging
by a thread.
His two grown children
long to see their father
happy again.
I can't remember
the last time I saw him
actually happy.
While the suffering wife Lisa...
Do you think you work
really hard all the time?
Gets more resentful every day.
He doesn't know how to get off
of his little,
skinny ass and work.
Her constant criticism...
Uhh! That's a nightmare.
May just push Akira...
I can't believe it!
And Chef Ramsay...
I need you to shut up.
Over the edge.
I'm not around.
In one of the most emotional
Kitchen Nightmares ever...
In one of the most emotional
Kitchen Nightmares ever...
I don't think I ever tell you
how much I love you.
It's just hard.
I just want to see you happy.
Chef Ramsay pulls out
all the stops...
You've forgotten
how talented you are.
To not only save
the restaurant...
We need
to bring him back.
But the family as well.
My family is really suffering.
Thousand Oaks, California--
an affluent suburb
outside of Los Angeles.
Akira and Lisa
were a young married couple
when they moved here
more than 20 years ago
from the bay area.
While Lisa raised
their young family,
Akira worked at a popular
and trendy Japanese restaurant
called Sushi Ko
in the wealthy suburb
of Bel-Air.
In the beginning,
I was a sous chef.
In the beginning,
I was a sous chef.
Akira learned the art
of sushi making in Japan.
He was good at his skill,
and so we started working
at Sushi Ko in Bel-Air,
and the restaurant
just took off
and just became
super successful.
My dad was a great chef.
He was so excited
when he was cooking.
We decided it was time
to venture
into our own bigger and better
and nicer Sushi Ko.
into our own bigger and better
and nicer Sushi Ko.
Hello!
Welcome to Sushi Ko!
We decided
to open our restaurant
in this beautiful
shopping center
in Thousand Oaks.
In the beginning,
business was booming.
Then it just slowed down...
Like somebody
put the brakes on.
It's pretty devastating to him.
It broke him.
It's tough, yeah.
Anybody walking around
out there?
Even if there's
nobody in here,
Even if there's
nobody in here,
Akira will scramble
to find somebody
to do a job for him.
And that irritates
the crap out of me.
Most of the time now,
my dad just
kind of walks around.
He doesn't, like,
do anything.
They're gonna
turn off the electric.
You have to pay that one.
We are losing, like,
$15,000 to $20,000 a month.
Credit-card debt
is hundreds of thousands.
We're as deep
as you could ever imagine.
We're as deep
as you could ever imagine.
We still are, like,
$9,000 behind.
Living with financial stress
is pretty bad.
I gave it to them.
My parents are always, like,
fighting and arguing and...
That's a
nightmare.
Never used to be like that.
Over the past four years,
Akira and I
have grown apart.
We work together,
and we live together,
but we don't speak
to each other.
It just isn't worth it.
My dad doesn't spend
enough time with us.
He's just less approachable.
Dad.
How many did you order?
Just one?
I don't really ever
talk to him anymore, and...
Dad!
Akira's spirits
are broken down,
And he just doesn't know
what to do anymore.
Life has been like hell
since we opened the restaurant.
If Sushi Ko closed tomorrow,
I think we could lose
everything--
our house, restaurant,
and our hope
and our dreams.
I can't remember the last time
I slept through a night,
I can't remember the last time
I slept through a night,
just always worried
about what's gonna happen next.
Chef Ramsay's our last hope.
Hello.
Hi, welcome
to Sushi Ko.
How are you?
I'm Lisa.
Lisa, nice to see you,
my darling.
And...
Akira.
Akira.
What's the connection?
Business partners?
27 years.
Oh, you're married
to each other?
Yes.
And you're the chef?
Okay.
And, Lisa, you run the...
Okay.
And, Lisa, you run the...
I'm kind of
the front-of-the-house lady,
greet the guests...
Right.
Serve tables,
if needed.
What is the problem
with Sushi Ko?
Clearly
there's no guests.
But what's the problem...
The main problem?
Which I do not know.
You know, we stand
in the window and do this,
trying to get people
to come in.
You lift up the--
Hey, come on in!
Lift up the blinds?
Does that--
We're here, whoo!
And that--that hasn't
worked around here?
So tell me
about Sushi Ko.
So then you bought out
the other partners
and bought the name?
Pretty much so, yes.
And they decided
to sort of move Sushi Ko
from Bel-Air to your
hometown here in Thousand Oaks?
Exactly.
So how long ago
did it open here?
Four years.
Um, I can't do anything
unless I find out
what the problems are.
So...I'd like to eat.
What would
you recommend? Um...
A what?
Japanese pizza?
I don't--
I don't like it.
Wow.
I'm not a big fan
of any of our food.
There's just, like,
no flavor anymore,
because Akira is not involved
enough in the kitchen.
Okay.
Why don't we sit down
and have lunch?
I'll look forward
to catching up
with both of you
after lunch, thank you.
Enjoy.
Lovely, thank you.
Come on in.
Some strange fixtures
on the wall.
Some strange fixtures
on the wall.
Are you ready?
Yes, please.
Okay.
Thank you.
Uh, right.
Let's start
with a little bowl of miso.
Okay.
And Akira mentioned
the sushi pizza.
He recommended that?
Yeah.
I wouldn't recommend it.
No?
No.
I would not recommend
the sushi pizza
to anybody.
Uh, I think it's vile.
Gotta try
the sushi pizza.
Just out of curiosity.
Good luck.
Plea--"Good luck."
Um, the green tower--
that sounds nice.
And then
let's end up with...
A little bit
of the salmon sashimi.
A little bit
of the salmon sashimi.
I think
that'll be enough.
You've got some of the best
and some of the worst.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Good. Excellent.
Some of the best
and some of the worst.
No one's afraid
to show their opinion here.
Well, here you are.
Your soup.
Thank you.
Here we go.
Miso soup
doesn't taste very fresh.
It's not actually
very hot either.
It's not actually
very hot either.
Thank you.
Chef, your green tower.
Thank you.
It's very salty, though,
isn't it?
It is.
Yeah.
Is that normal?
Yeah, that's normal.
Thank you.
Thank you.
What is that?
Someone's gray hair.
Ohh....
Um...
Are you finished
with the green tower?
Are you finished
with the green tower?
Oh, there's just--
I pulled out
this disgusting hair.
Ee. Yeah, I'm definitely
finished with that.
Oh, sorry.
I just wanted to...
Just die,
bury my head in the sand
when that happened.
Um...guys.
There's...a hair
in the green tower.
You gotta be
kidding me.
It's always,
like, a running joke.
Like, "Oh, my God,
there's a lot of things
going wrong."
So Akira disappears.
Your sashimi.
Your sashimi.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Lovely.
And is the salmon fresh?
Yes, it is.
Thank you.
John...
Frozen.
It just tastes
like it's frozen.
How is your sashimi?
That's definitely frozen.
It's very, very chewy.
My mistake.
I was just informed.
They are frozen.
They tasted frozen.
They are frozen.
They tasted frozen.
Is that normally...
The way--
they freeze all the fish?
I guess we get lazy
with our food.
Sushi pizza.
Yeah.
I've never been
to a Japanese restaurant
where I can have a pizza,
sushi-style,
and a chef-owner
that's no longer in the kitchen.
I'm nervous.
Just go with it.
Okay.
Um...that's
the sushi pizza?
It sure is.
It's rice, salmon, crab,
and mayonnaise, some cheese.
Wow.
and mayonnaise, some cheese.
Wow.
Thank you, love.
Japanese pizza.
Sorry.
That...
is rancid.
You were right.
That is an insult
to pizza, yeah?
And Japanese food.
Chef had fair warning
that it was gonna
be terrible.
I told him not to get it.
I told him not to get it.
Where's the chef?
The old Sushi Ko
always stood for the finest
in Japanese food.
But today's
disappointing lunch
proved to Gordon that
the only thing this Sushi Ko
has in common with
the former one is the name.
Did you know there's
a hair in the crab?
No? No one told you?
Are they wearing
hats back here?
You're askingme?
Yeah, I'm...
Are you guys wearing hats
for service?
Uh, no, sir.
Nothing at all?
No.
If you're telling them
what to do,
If you're telling them
what to do,
why can't they
wear a hat?
Oh,.
Let's go back
to the beginning.
When was
the miso soup made?
It was made yesterday.
Yesterday.
And just tell me,
why was the taste salty?
It's probably been sitting
in there reducing overnight.
What do you mean
"reducing overnight"?
You keep stuff
in the banbury overnight?
Correct.
What?
The sushi pizza
was a joke.
- Right.
- Okay.
Hideous, disgusting,
and an insult
to Japanese culture
and an insult
to Japanese culture
and an insult
to a pizza house.
You don't need me
to come in here and tell you
you look stupid
selling a sushi pizza
that tastes like gunk!
What were you doing
serving frozen fish to me
at lunchtime?
I would like to order
proper, fresh fish,
and it doesn't
actually happen.
I've never known
a Japanese restaurant
to freeze so much stuff.
I'm not here
to make you look stupid.
I'm not here
to make you look stupid.
But I can smell
Okay.
Can you say something?
Seriously.
Talk to me.
Talk to me.
Coming up...
This is a Japanese
health hazard.
A shocking inspection...
You could kill
somebody.
Has Gordon wondering
if Akira and Sushi Ko
can be saved.
Has your father given up?
Then...
My family is hanging
by a thread.
My family is hanging
by a thread.
It's a Kitchen Nightmares
intervention.
We need
to bring him back.
As Chef Ramsay
works with Lisa...
I want to be
more emotionally supportive.
Sammy...
I want to do as much as I can.
It's just hard.
And Hana...
I don't think I ever
tell you how much I love you.
To get Akira back on track.
My family's
really suffering.
You don't want to miss
what's coming up
on Kitchen Nightmares.
After getting very little
out of Akira,
Chef Ramsay decides to sit down
with the owners' children,
22-year-old Sammy
and 20-year-old Hana.
Was it always the plan
to have both of you
so involved from day one?
It was an idea
for us to come help
and give them a break
if they needed to.
But not to be here...
every weekend.
24-7.
I, most of the time,
don't even want to be here,
I, most of the time,
don't even want to be here,
'cause I'm here so much.
But gotta do
what you gotta do...
Yeah.
To help out
the family, so...
And here's my worry,
honestly.
It's the level of shortcuts
that are currently going on
in this restaurant.
right.
Has your father given up?
Yeah, I think he definitely
has on the inside,
but he doesn't
want to show it.
Do you ever tell him
to just stop,
take stock,
rethink?
He doesn't really listen.
Please don't get upset.
Please don't get upset.
I'm sorry, I just--
No, no, come on.
I--you know.
I know, I know.
It's hard for me
to think about.
I know it is, darling.
I totally get it.
I'm almost 21.
I should be
living my own life, but...
I can't, because I have
to help out my family,
and I can't leave them.
You're both
incredibly committed,
and I, you know, totally
respect that level of loyalty.
What I'm more nervous about
than anything
is the state
of the business.
Where do you see
the business?
Pretty much
as far down as you can go.
I've also recently,
like, in the past year,
I've also recently,
like, in the past year,
given money also.
And is it mum
that comes and asks or--
It was my dad that asked.
So initially,
I gave $10,000,
and then half a year ago,
he asked for $5,000.
And I was like,
"Of course," you know?
How?
Um, from working
my photography,
my own personal income.
If your family's
asking you for help,
I would help them
right away.
I have probably given
my parents
above $20,000--
a decent chunk of change...
for a 22-year-old,
I think.
for a 22-year-old,
I think.
There's a level of...
unfairness,
because you've both
been dragged into this
through no choice
of your own.
You've got my help.
I'm supporting
every one of you.
My family is hanging
by a thread.
There's only so much
I can do.
In the short time that Gordon
has been at Sushi Ko,
he has not only learned that
the restaurant is in shambles,
he has not only learned that
the restaurant is in shambles,
but that this once
tight-knit family
is suffering badly.
Hi, welcome to Sushi Ko.
I'll take you back
to your table.
Enjoy your dinner, guys.
What can I get for you?
Spicy tuna
rice cake okay?
Okay.
Bust it out, man.
Why do all these sticks
got burns on them?
Y-you don't buy them
like that, do you?
Why are they burnt?
Why are they burnt?
You what?
I can't believe
this is happening.
Where's Lisa?
No, Akira, don't run away
like a snake.
Okay.
I've just scraped
dried chicken off these.
We're cutting our costs.
There's bits of food
on there.
Do you think this is right?
Um...
Just feel how sticky
that is on the end.
That's food
being wiped off it.
That's food
being wiped off it.
It's 45 minutes into service,
And Sushi Ko is doing what,
unfortunately,
it does best--
disappointing its customers.
Okay, guys, they say
they don't like the tempura.
They said
it's way overcooked
and that that is
just really doughy.
Thank you.
Lisa...
It's coming back.
It's doughy and...
That's not
tempura broccoli.
It's mushy, yeah.
Blah!
Stop the broccoli.
Take it off.
Yeah, don't even, like,
do tempura anymore.
Why cause more damage?
Is that fryer hot enough?
Does it work properly,
the fryer--temperature?
Actually,
that's a great question.
It doesn't look
like it's hot enough.
It's not blasting it.
No.
Uh, that's scary.
That's a nightmare
piece of equipment
That's a nightmare
piece of equipment
that probably isn't
holding the temperature
'cause it's getting old...
Just like me.
Uh, Lisa, here.
Look at all this.
Oh, the spicy mayo.
So you don't keep
mayonnaise in the fridge?
No.
What?
"Refrigerate
after opening."
Feel how warm that is.
And how long has that
been staying outside for?
Truthfully?
For four years?
Yes.
This is a Japanese
health hazard.
This is a Japanese
health hazard.
This is about you
running your restaurant
properly.
And you're not.
Oh, my God.
What's this fridge for?
It's warm in here.
This fridge is on 50.
This--is this working,
this fridge?
When did it break down?
So we've got
big containers of ice...
Yes.
To keep
the ingredients cold?
To keep
the ingredients cold?
Vegetable?
We got dairy.
You've got eggs here.
Never chicken, beef here?
Look at me.
Why are you lying to me?
Akira, you could kill
somebody.
Bad food, a family in ruins,
and unsanitary conditions...
You could kill
somebody.
It's been quite a first day.
And as dinner service ends...
Thank you.
Chef Ramsay realizes
That Sushi Ko is in much worse
shape than he thought.
Right...
How was that for you?
I think our kitchen
could have run
a little smoother.
could have run
a little smoother.
I don't think you're taking it
seriously enough.
The rice, the soup,
the fridge,
the broccoli.
Talk to me.
I think that
Akira, you know,
could do a lot more.
There's so many
bad practices,
and you don't seem
to give a.
Have you given up?
I think he's given up.
How many of your customers
would order kushiyaki
if they knew they were
eating it or feeling it
off of wooden sticks that have
been used three weeks ago?
None of them.
It's almost like
you're a man in denial.
Anything to say or...?
He doesn't know
how to fix it, though.
He opened this place
on the assumption
that he was the delegator.
He's lost.
I think
that the restaurant's
I think
that the restaurant's
burnt him out.
He thought that
we were gonna be
living la vida loca,
and when the business
didn't go the way
it was supposed to,
he didn't know what to do.
But you don't really think
that you're lazy, right?
you think you work--
do you think you work
really hard all the time?
I said, "I think
you should go cook."
You go, "I don't want
to cook anymore."
That's the way Akira feels.
"If I can pay you to do it,
why should I do it?"
But you're
not really paying them.
Your kids
are paying them.
He doesn't know how to get
off of his little skinny ass
and really getting
to work.
Right, I want you--
Right, I want you--
I-I need you to shut up
for two minutes,
and I need you to talk.
This is part of the reason
why you've lost your voice.
Not only is your wife
wearing the trousers,
but she's speaking
for you.
What is it?
Talk to me.
Come on.
Talk to me.
Come on, Akira.
Me.
I'm angry that Akira's
lost his ability
to communicate
with people.
And it was good
to get it out.
Akira, once a proud chef,
Has lost his way.
And unfortunately,
his family is being dragged
down with him.
Chef Ramsay knows that
in order for this restaurant
to have any chance
of surviving,
he must find a way
to bring them together.
he must find a way
to bring them together.
Tough day yesterday,
uh, really tough.
I'm outside
the family home now,
and it's clear that Akira
is a broken man,
and in order to get
this restaurant fixed,
I need the old Akira back.
So I can't do that
without the family's help.
I just wanted to talk
I just wanted to talk
to all three of you,
um, about Akira.
He's a broken man,
a man with a tremendous weight
on his shoulders.
This is a man that is not
just on the edge.
The whole family's
involved in this.
You can feel the divide,
just in terms
of the friction
that's built between you.
Every day, every second.
Take me back
when you first met.
Um, he was really
funny and cute.
He had a lot of energy,
and he used to think
of goofy things to say,
and he used to think
of goofy things to say,
even though he didn't speak
English very well and...
He never smiles anymore now.
So sad.
Yeah, it's so sad.
Dad is just kind of
away from everybody,
I think.
He's removed now.
He's not like a part
of the family, really.
It's just always
just me and the kids,
and he's just gone.
He'll just, like, stand
and just stare,
'cause he doesn't know
what to do.
He's...
He's lost.
I miss, like...
When he was just smiling
when I walked in the door,
When he was just smiling
when I walked in the door,
you know?
We need
to bring him back.
If that restaurant's
got any chance
of really, seriously
turning around,
it can't be done
without him.
No, I know that.
I agree.
We can't do it
without him.
He's the heartbeat.
I need each
and every one of you
to give him a--phuh!
A lift,
in a way that his
self-esteem rises,
the confidence
starts to shine,
and more importantly,
we start to get him back.
I think my dad,
he's checked out.
I think my dad,
he's checked out.
I can't remember the last time
I saw him, like...
Actually happy,
like, waking up happy,
going to bed happy.
I wish he could come back
and make it all right.
Where have you been,
on the lake?
Sit down.
Yeah, I know. Well, "A,"
I wanted to--I wanted to come
and, uh, see
where it all started.
and, uh, see
where it all started.
There's a level of distance
that we've grown apart.
We need
to narrow the gap.
Sammy, you go first.
What inspires you most
about dad?
Working up
from dishwasher to...
Restaurant owner.
He's always the one
that tells me
to get it right
the first time.
I learned all my hard work
from him, so...
Yeah, it's just tough,
you know.
Like, I want to do
as much as I can.
It's just hard.
Okay?
I believe him.
Thank you, Sammy.
Hana...
If there was one thing
that you would want to say
that you've never had
the chance to do
over the last
four years,
what would it be?
I don't think
I ever tell you
How much I love you.
I, like--I say
I love you, but...
I never really
express it.
I just want
to see you happy.
I want to try to be
more emotionally supportive.
We want to support you,
and we want to do
everything we can.
It would be a dream
just to...
be our old selves again.
Let's pretend that we...
Let's pretend that we...
We're starting out,
and, like, let's try to find
each other again
and be friends.
Today we are
gonna start it fresh.
We wipe the slate clean.
We start the day
with a family hug.
Group hug!
Yes?
Coming up...
Chef Ramsay puts his plan
for Sushi Ko
into effect.
Tonight
is a comeback service.
But Lisa is not supportive.
I still don't think
he's working very hard.
It's clear the restaurant
is not the only thing
that's on the line.
Akira-san!
So is their marriage.
Cut him some slack.
The wounds run deep,
and no one is backing down...
- Bang!
- Not Lisa...
I'm not gonna
take all the blame.
And not Akira.
And not Akira.
I can't believe this!
The emotional family meeting
really touched Chef Ramsay,
and he made arrangements
to give Akira and the restaurant
some much-needed help.
Hello!
I decided that this family
needs a little lift,
a little leg up.
I've never been
to any Japanese restaurant
and seen a fridge
with a block of ice in there
that broke down
four months ago.
So I made a few phone calls
and managed
to get hold
of seven brand-new
counter traulsen
refrigeration units.
counter traulsen
refrigeration units.
Top of the line, yeah.
Come here and have a look.
Come round.
Yeah, that's right.
Yeah, trust me.
Number one.
Come round.
Look, come round, Lisa.
Open them up.
He's smiling.
The fridges, to me,
are amazing.
They're beautiful.
They're great.
But to see Akira's face
when he heard out about it
was the best,
because that's the only time
I've seen him smile
in four years.
I didn't stop there.
I didn't stop there.
Come with me.
Yes.
Have a look at
two stunning
Vulcan deep fat fryers.
Oh, my God!
That's so amazing.
The most amazing
eight-ring gas burner.
The most amazing
walk-in freezer.
Temperature is visual.
No more ice bucket.
Now we have no excuses.
Great.
New equipment is just part
of Chef Ramsay's plan.
He knows there's
another critical change
that has to be made
at Sushi Ko.
It's an asset they should
have taken advantage of
a long time ago.
Tonight
you're gonna cook.
Okay.
It's a comeback service.
Okay.
Okay?
But I want you to grab it
and run with it.
All right.
How you feeling?
Excellent.
Excellent.
Okay.
Good.
Akira, today's gonna help
oversee tonight's launch
of the sushi bar.
Okay?
Please, welcome
the man himself back.
Look at you!
You little pocket rocket.
Look at you!
Whoo-hoo!
Welcome back!
Yes!
Seeing my dad
in his chef's suit
was really exciting.
The sushi bar
is where my dad belongs.
It's where he started off,
and he was
a great chef before.
and he was
a great chef before.
And he's getting back in it,
so that's great.
Okay, Lisa,
open the door.
Hello.
Welcome to Sushi Ko.
It's gonna be you two?
For dinner service,
Not only will they be
serving fresh fish,
Chef Ramsay prepares with Akira
two new salmon dishes
that will be featured
on tonight's menu.
Are you folks
ready to order?
We'll try
the Sushi Ko crunch.
Okay.
All right.
I don't think Akira's
taking it seriously.
Even though we are starting
to see a glimpse
of the old Akira
shining behind the sushi bar...
Chef Ramsay notices
that his wife Lisa
Chef Ramsay notices
that his wife Lisa
is not supporting him.
Have some food for you guys
right here.
It's excellent.
It's good.
I like it.
I still don't think
he's working very hard.
Okay, yeah.
Okay, thanks for
double-checking on everything.
Is he working hard?
I don't think so.
He's still just
walking around.
I'm worried that Akira's
not gonna ever be the chef
That he should be.
I don't think he'll really
follow through with it.
I don't think he'll really
follow through with it.
All right.
Here's some share plates
and soy dishes.
Wasn't there supposed
to be avocado in it?
Yeah, did they put
avocado? No?
They didn't.
Okay, I'll be right back.
Lisa, these are wrong.
Eel roll is supposed
to have avocado in it.
Okay.
And this is supposed to be
a Hawaiian roll
with the shrimp
on top instead,
but it's
a California roll.
That's a nightmare.
Akira-san!
The eel roll's supposed
to have avocado inside,
and that needs
Hawaiian sauce.
and that needs
Hawaiian sauce.
Okay, all right.
Ugh! Really
pisses me off.
Lisa's really tough
with Akira.
When she gets going,
just get out of the way.
It's like a tornado.
No, 205 is me.
Thank you.
Thank you.
And the roll.
Yay!
Thank you!
I'm so glad to have Akira
back behind the bar.
It makes everything go
so much smoother.
Done, done,
done, done, done.
This is incredible.
With Akira standing
behind the bar,
dressed as a chef,
running his restaurant,
already there's a completely
different feel
to last night's service.
Watching my dad
working the kitchen
and smiling
almost the whole time,
and smiling
almost the whole time,
it was just a great feeling.
Thank you.
Everything's getting better.
As dinner service
comes to an end,
It's clear that Sushi Ko
has a long way to go.
But the new equipment,
Akira's new attitude,
and a couple of new dishes
have Chef Ramsay feeling better
about its chances.
First of all,
Let me be really blunt,
uh, with you.
And something you--
you need to hear.
Okay.
Yeah?
Honestly...
Yes?
Honestly...
Yes?
Tonight you were
a different man.
The change
is night and day.
Not only did you
look good,
but you seemed
to look like
you were enjoying
what you were doing.
I've got total respect
for you today.
Good job.
Thanks.
I need a quick chat
with your wife.
Now, he may have changed,
Now, he may have changed,
but unfortunately,
you haven't.
The difference in that man
in 24 hours
is night and day.
And not once tonight
did you mention
anything to him.
And you can't be
that cold.
You're acting
like a block of ice.
He's not your head chef.
He's your husband.
Yeah.
And here's the thing.
You're tough.
You've been through a lot.
And over the last
four or five years,
And over the last
four or five years,
you've become stronger
than he has.
Coming from the outside in,
it's so evident.
You're ,
bang, bang, bang.
Back off.
I'm not around.
I'm not gonna take
all the blame,
But I agree
that I am a bitch to Akira
and I'm--I agree that
it's not a good way to be.
I think,
between you and I,
that man needs you
more than ever before.
Oh, totally, yeah.
What you need to do
is cut him some slack,
is cut him some slack,
not just for him,
but for the family's sake...
before it's too late.
After Chef Ramsay's
conversation with Lisa...
That man needs you
more than ever before.
And with Akira's
commitment to change...
Gordon and his team
went ahead
with a much-needed makeover
of Sushi Ko.
Chef Ramsay!
Good morning.
Look at you two holding hands
and cuddling as well.
Chef Ramsay pleaded with me
to embrace Akira
and try to give him
the support he needs.
the support he needs.
So this is a really
crucial point in our lives.
It's like
being reborn again.
Okay, today we're relaunching
the new Sushi Ko.
So we have to bring Sushi Ko
into the modern era.
The decor has to stand out
as something
not just cutting edge,
but fresh
with a wonderful appeal.
Are you ready?
Yeah.
Yeah? Let's go.
Let's go, baby.
Let's go.
Come in!
Look at that.
Oh, my God!
Contemporary,
And it's got that
really fresh appeal to it.
Oh, my God.
Oh, I'm shaking!
Oh, my God.
Oh, I'm shaking!
Good-bye, samurai warrior.
The minute you step
in this door,
great colors,
it's fresh and modern.
Oh, my God!
When I first arrived,
It was like sitting
inside a prison.
Now it's beautiful.
Look at the color.
Dark, moody red.
That's my picture!
Ohh!
You have a serious artist
in the family,
You have a serious artist
in the family,
but no one's ever,
ever shown him off.
They're cool,
they're sophisticated.
Lisa, are you happy?
I'm...So happy.
It's just amazing.
The color is just perfect.
Group hug!
Group hug.
Hey, sexy, come over here.
Akira,
go in the middle.
Whoo!
Everybody hug Akira!
Chef Ramsay is bringing us
together as a family.
My parents are, like,
more happy than I've seen them
in forever.
It's awesome.
He's a new man.
He's a new man.
He's smiling.
Yay!
After revamping Sushi Ko
into a stylish, contemporary
Japanese restaurant,
Chef Ramsay
moves on to the menu...
Welcome to the new food!
Whoa!
Have a look.
By modernizing
the traditional sushi dishes.
Albacore tartare
with avocado,
crispy salmon cake,
seared tuna with a salsa,
uh, japanese-style
curried mussels,
teriyaki chicken.
The rolls,
we've got the fire roll--
clean, modern,
great execution.
clean, modern,
great execution.
Okay, so...
Word of the relaunch has spread
through the community,
and Chef Ramsay
has surprised the owners
with traditional
taiko drummers
to officially
kick off the evening.
Amazing.
All right!
- Thank you.
- Oh, my God.
All right, ladies and gentlemen,
thank you so much for coming.
Akira, the official
welcoming and the opening
of this restaurant.
Excellent.
Hello.
Welcome to Sushi Ko.
As the first orders make
their way into the kitchen...
You make sure--
back him up, okay?
An energized Akira
pumps up the cooks
for the big night.
Help each other.
Talk to each other, okay?
Sure.
All right.
First one of the night.
Sushi Ko crunch.
Let's bust one out.
They just got two more.
Lettuce wrap
in the window.
Okay, give it to me.
The yellowtail roll.
Akira, at his rightful
place in the kitchen,
pushes the first orders out.
Oh, my gosh,
that's really good.
And customers are satisfied
with what the new Sushi Ko
has to offer.
The beef
is very tender.
But soon after,
old habits return,
and Akira
is doing everything
except what he needs
to do most--cook.
except what he needs
to do most--cook.
Thank you.
All right,
thank you very much.
I've been waiting for a special
for a half an hour.
Lisa, the food's
hanging around
too long in the window.
Okay.
Without a leader,
the kitchen
is falling behind.
It's dying
in the window.
And the impact
is starting to be felt
in the dining room.
No.
There's more tickets there.
Earlier tonight,
Akira was doing really well
Behind the sushi bar,
Behind the sushi bar,
but now he's falling back
into his old ways already.
He's out bussing tables,
and he's not paying attention
to what's happening.
We need him to be
back behind the bar again.
What are you doing
carrying that thing?
"They need the help."
All right.
Honestly, I'm worried.
You went back
to your old ways.
You didn't cook anything.
You bussed tables,
you served food.
You delegated.
Why weren't you cooking?
Why weren't you...
Why weren't you cooking?
Why weren't you...
Can you not do it?
You're not
a manager.
You're not a busboy.
You're the chef.
Come on.
Finally, towards
the end of dinner service,
Akira took
Chef Ramsay's advice...
Okay.
And jumped back into cooking
in the kitchen.
210.
Yeah, thank you.
But, for the most part,
it was his staff
who pulled together
and made tonight's relaunch
a success.
Thank you!
The good news
about tonight
is the customers
loved the food.
Yeah.
Yes?
This restaurant
took a huge leap forward...
Oh, yeah.
Oh, yeah.
In terms of spreading
the message out there.
In terms of spreading
the message out there.
But I just want to know
what you're gonna do.
What's gonna happen
when I'm gone?
You are a talented man!
You've just forgotten
how talented you are.
What are you talented for,
picking up plates?
No.
Why are you
a talented man?
Cooking.
That's right.
So if you're gonna
dress the part,
look the part,
cook your socks off.
you got it.
If I catch
your skinny little ass
that side of the table,
I swear to God...
But, Lisa, you've got
to support each other.
I came in, I first arrived,
the whole family,
not just the restaurant,
was just fragmented--
four different individuals
seeking different ambitions
with different attitudes,
and no one singing
off the same page.
But there's a reconnect
that's taken place.
There's a level of clarity,
proper understanding,
and we all know
what we've got to do.
Please.
Having Chef Ramsay
come into our lives is...
It's meant the world.
Yeah, we have to start over,
and I'm nervous as
that it's not
gonna go smoothly.
And I just am thankful
for this new chance.
Take care.
Thank you.
Yes.
Good night.
Thank you so much.
Arigato.
Domo arigato.
Thank you.
Been an absolute
pleasure.
All right, give me a hug.
All right, give me a hug.
They never hug
in Japan.
He's gonna
pick you up.
Okay.
Bye.
It was really cool
to see my parents
Give each other
kisses and stuff.
I haven't seen that
in a while.
Group hug.
Working with each other
and supporting each other,
it's gonna give us more hope
than we had before.
What a week.
We made a lot of changes.
What a week.
We made a lot of changes.
We changed the equipment,
we changed the menu,
and we changed the decor.
But what this family
failed to realize
is that their greatest asset
was something I could
never have given them,
because it was themselves.
And it's that that will
make this place successful.
Whew, what a week.
Sayonara, Thousand Oaks.
In the days that followed,
Sushi Ko
saw a boost in business,
and Lisa and Akira were working
as a team once again.
and Lisa and Akira were working
as a team once again.
Yeah, let's clean
this space up here.
Recently, they decided
that in order
to maximize profits,
they would search out
a new location
where the rents
weren't as high.
Regardless of the location,
the most valuable lesson
this family may have learned
was not how to run
their business,
but how to appreciate
each other.
Chef Ramsay heads
to California's Sushi Ko...
Where the fish isn't
the only thing...
This is a Japanese
health hazard.
That doesn't smell right.
You could kill
somebody.
Blah!
Owner Akira is a broken man...
Talk to me!
A mere shadow of the star chef
he once was.
And that's not all.
This once-proud father...
Has your father given up?
Is dragging his family
down with him.
My family is hanging
by a thread.
My family is hanging
by a thread.
His two grown children
long to see their father
happy again.
I can't remember
the last time I saw him
actually happy.
While the suffering wife Lisa...
Do you think you work
really hard all the time?
Gets more resentful every day.
He doesn't know how to get off
of his little,
skinny ass and work.
Her constant criticism...
Uhh! That's a nightmare.
May just push Akira...
I can't believe it!
And Chef Ramsay...
I need you to shut up.
Over the edge.
I'm not around.
In one of the most emotional
Kitchen Nightmares ever...
In one of the most emotional
Kitchen Nightmares ever...
I don't think I ever tell you
how much I love you.
It's just hard.
I just want to see you happy.
Chef Ramsay pulls out
all the stops...
You've forgotten
how talented you are.
To not only save
the restaurant...
We need
to bring him back.
But the family as well.
My family is really suffering.
Thousand Oaks, California--
an affluent suburb
outside of Los Angeles.
Akira and Lisa
were a young married couple
when they moved here
more than 20 years ago
from the bay area.
While Lisa raised
their young family,
Akira worked at a popular
and trendy Japanese restaurant
called Sushi Ko
in the wealthy suburb
of Bel-Air.
In the beginning,
I was a sous chef.
In the beginning,
I was a sous chef.
Akira learned the art
of sushi making in Japan.
He was good at his skill,
and so we started working
at Sushi Ko in Bel-Air,
and the restaurant
just took off
and just became
super successful.
My dad was a great chef.
He was so excited
when he was cooking.
We decided it was time
to venture
into our own bigger and better
and nicer Sushi Ko.
into our own bigger and better
and nicer Sushi Ko.
Hello!
Welcome to Sushi Ko!
We decided
to open our restaurant
in this beautiful
shopping center
in Thousand Oaks.
In the beginning,
business was booming.
Then it just slowed down...
Like somebody
put the brakes on.
It's pretty devastating to him.
It broke him.
It's tough, yeah.
Anybody walking around
out there?
Even if there's
nobody in here,
Even if there's
nobody in here,
Akira will scramble
to find somebody
to do a job for him.
And that irritates
the crap out of me.
Most of the time now,
my dad just
kind of walks around.
He doesn't, like,
do anything.
They're gonna
turn off the electric.
You have to pay that one.
We are losing, like,
$15,000 to $20,000 a month.
Credit-card debt
is hundreds of thousands.
We're as deep
as you could ever imagine.
We're as deep
as you could ever imagine.
We still are, like,
$9,000 behind.
Living with financial stress
is pretty bad.
I gave it to them.
My parents are always, like,
fighting and arguing and...
That's a
nightmare.
Never used to be like that.
Over the past four years,
Akira and I
have grown apart.
We work together,
and we live together,
but we don't speak
to each other.
It just isn't worth it.
My dad doesn't spend
enough time with us.
He's just less approachable.
Dad.
How many did you order?
Just one?
I don't really ever
talk to him anymore, and...
Dad!
Akira's spirits
are broken down,
And he just doesn't know
what to do anymore.
Life has been like hell
since we opened the restaurant.
If Sushi Ko closed tomorrow,
I think we could lose
everything--
our house, restaurant,
and our hope
and our dreams.
I can't remember the last time
I slept through a night,
I can't remember the last time
I slept through a night,
just always worried
about what's gonna happen next.
Chef Ramsay's our last hope.
Hello.
Hi, welcome
to Sushi Ko.
How are you?
I'm Lisa.
Lisa, nice to see you,
my darling.
And...
Akira.
Akira.
What's the connection?
Business partners?
27 years.
Oh, you're married
to each other?
Yes.
And you're the chef?
Okay.
And, Lisa, you run the...
Okay.
And, Lisa, you run the...
I'm kind of
the front-of-the-house lady,
greet the guests...
Right.
Serve tables,
if needed.
What is the problem
with Sushi Ko?
Clearly
there's no guests.
But what's the problem...
The main problem?
Which I do not know.
You know, we stand
in the window and do this,
trying to get people
to come in.
You lift up the--
Hey, come on in!
Lift up the blinds?
Does that--
We're here, whoo!
And that--that hasn't
worked around here?
So tell me
about Sushi Ko.
So then you bought out
the other partners
and bought the name?
Pretty much so, yes.
And they decided
to sort of move Sushi Ko
from Bel-Air to your
hometown here in Thousand Oaks?
Exactly.
So how long ago
did it open here?
Four years.
Um, I can't do anything
unless I find out
what the problems are.
So...I'd like to eat.
What would
you recommend? Um...
A what?
Japanese pizza?
I don't--
I don't like it.
Wow.
I'm not a big fan
of any of our food.
There's just, like,
no flavor anymore,
because Akira is not involved
enough in the kitchen.
Okay.
Why don't we sit down
and have lunch?
I'll look forward
to catching up
with both of you
after lunch, thank you.
Enjoy.
Lovely, thank you.
Come on in.
Some strange fixtures
on the wall.
Some strange fixtures
on the wall.
Are you ready?
Yes, please.
Okay.
Thank you.
Uh, right.
Let's start
with a little bowl of miso.
Okay.
And Akira mentioned
the sushi pizza.
He recommended that?
Yeah.
I wouldn't recommend it.
No?
No.
I would not recommend
the sushi pizza
to anybody.
Uh, I think it's vile.
Gotta try
the sushi pizza.
Just out of curiosity.
Good luck.
Plea--"Good luck."
Um, the green tower--
that sounds nice.
And then
let's end up with...
A little bit
of the salmon sashimi.
A little bit
of the salmon sashimi.
I think
that'll be enough.
You've got some of the best
and some of the worst.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Good. Excellent.
Some of the best
and some of the worst.
No one's afraid
to show their opinion here.
Well, here you are.
Your soup.
Thank you.
Here we go.
Miso soup
doesn't taste very fresh.
It's not actually
very hot either.
It's not actually
very hot either.
Thank you.
Chef, your green tower.
Thank you.
It's very salty, though,
isn't it?
It is.
Yeah.
Is that normal?
Yeah, that's normal.
Thank you.
Thank you.
What is that?
Someone's gray hair.
Ohh....
Um...
Are you finished
with the green tower?
Are you finished
with the green tower?
Oh, there's just--
I pulled out
this disgusting hair.
Ee. Yeah, I'm definitely
finished with that.
Oh, sorry.
I just wanted to...
Just die,
bury my head in the sand
when that happened.
Um...guys.
There's...a hair
in the green tower.
You gotta be
kidding me.
It's always,
like, a running joke.
Like, "Oh, my God,
there's a lot of things
going wrong."
So Akira disappears.
Your sashimi.
Your sashimi.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Lovely.
And is the salmon fresh?
Yes, it is.
Thank you.
John...
Frozen.
It just tastes
like it's frozen.
How is your sashimi?
That's definitely frozen.
It's very, very chewy.
My mistake.
I was just informed.
They are frozen.
They tasted frozen.
They are frozen.
They tasted frozen.
Is that normally...
The way--
they freeze all the fish?
I guess we get lazy
with our food.
Sushi pizza.
Yeah.
I've never been
to a Japanese restaurant
where I can have a pizza,
sushi-style,
and a chef-owner
that's no longer in the kitchen.
I'm nervous.
Just go with it.
Okay.
Um...that's
the sushi pizza?
It sure is.
It's rice, salmon, crab,
and mayonnaise, some cheese.
Wow.
and mayonnaise, some cheese.
Wow.
Thank you, love.
Japanese pizza.
Sorry.
That...
is rancid.
You were right.
That is an insult
to pizza, yeah?
And Japanese food.
Chef had fair warning
that it was gonna
be terrible.
I told him not to get it.
I told him not to get it.
Where's the chef?
The old Sushi Ko
always stood for the finest
in Japanese food.
But today's
disappointing lunch
proved to Gordon that
the only thing this Sushi Ko
has in common with
the former one is the name.
Did you know there's
a hair in the crab?
No? No one told you?
Are they wearing
hats back here?
You're askingme?
Yeah, I'm...
Are you guys wearing hats
for service?
Uh, no, sir.
Nothing at all?
No.
If you're telling them
what to do,
If you're telling them
what to do,
why can't they
wear a hat?
Oh,.
Let's go back
to the beginning.
When was
the miso soup made?
It was made yesterday.
Yesterday.
And just tell me,
why was the taste salty?
It's probably been sitting
in there reducing overnight.
What do you mean
"reducing overnight"?
You keep stuff
in the banbury overnight?
Correct.
What?
The sushi pizza
was a joke.
- Right.
- Okay.
Hideous, disgusting,
and an insult
to Japanese culture
and an insult
to Japanese culture
and an insult
to a pizza house.
You don't need me
to come in here and tell you
you look stupid
selling a sushi pizza
that tastes like gunk!
What were you doing
serving frozen fish to me
at lunchtime?
I would like to order
proper, fresh fish,
and it doesn't
actually happen.
I've never known
a Japanese restaurant
to freeze so much stuff.
I'm not here
to make you look stupid.
I'm not here
to make you look stupid.
But I can smell
Okay.
Can you say something?
Seriously.
Talk to me.
Talk to me.
Coming up...
This is a Japanese
health hazard.
A shocking inspection...
You could kill
somebody.
Has Gordon wondering
if Akira and Sushi Ko
can be saved.
Has your father given up?
Then...
My family is hanging
by a thread.
My family is hanging
by a thread.
It's a Kitchen Nightmares
intervention.
We need
to bring him back.
As Chef Ramsay
works with Lisa...
I want to be
more emotionally supportive.
Sammy...
I want to do as much as I can.
It's just hard.
And Hana...
I don't think I ever
tell you how much I love you.
To get Akira back on track.
My family's
really suffering.
You don't want to miss
what's coming up
on Kitchen Nightmares.
After getting very little
out of Akira,
Chef Ramsay decides to sit down
with the owners' children,
22-year-old Sammy
and 20-year-old Hana.
Was it always the plan
to have both of you
so involved from day one?
It was an idea
for us to come help
and give them a break
if they needed to.
But not to be here...
every weekend.
24-7.
I, most of the time,
don't even want to be here,
I, most of the time,
don't even want to be here,
'cause I'm here so much.
But gotta do
what you gotta do...
Yeah.
To help out
the family, so...
And here's my worry,
honestly.
It's the level of shortcuts
that are currently going on
in this restaurant.
right.
Has your father given up?
Yeah, I think he definitely
has on the inside,
but he doesn't
want to show it.
Do you ever tell him
to just stop,
take stock,
rethink?
He doesn't really listen.
Please don't get upset.
Please don't get upset.
I'm sorry, I just--
No, no, come on.
I--you know.
I know, I know.
It's hard for me
to think about.
I know it is, darling.
I totally get it.
I'm almost 21.
I should be
living my own life, but...
I can't, because I have
to help out my family,
and I can't leave them.
You're both
incredibly committed,
and I, you know, totally
respect that level of loyalty.
What I'm more nervous about
than anything
is the state
of the business.
Where do you see
the business?
Pretty much
as far down as you can go.
I've also recently,
like, in the past year,
I've also recently,
like, in the past year,
given money also.
And is it mum
that comes and asks or--
It was my dad that asked.
So initially,
I gave $10,000,
and then half a year ago,
he asked for $5,000.
And I was like,
"Of course," you know?
How?
Um, from working
my photography,
my own personal income.
If your family's
asking you for help,
I would help them
right away.
I have probably given
my parents
above $20,000--
a decent chunk of change...
for a 22-year-old,
I think.
for a 22-year-old,
I think.
There's a level of...
unfairness,
because you've both
been dragged into this
through no choice
of your own.
You've got my help.
I'm supporting
every one of you.
My family is hanging
by a thread.
There's only so much
I can do.
In the short time that Gordon
has been at Sushi Ko,
he has not only learned that
the restaurant is in shambles,
he has not only learned that
the restaurant is in shambles,
but that this once
tight-knit family
is suffering badly.
Hi, welcome to Sushi Ko.
I'll take you back
to your table.
Enjoy your dinner, guys.
What can I get for you?
Spicy tuna
rice cake okay?
Okay.
Bust it out, man.
Why do all these sticks
got burns on them?
Y-you don't buy them
like that, do you?
Why are they burnt?
Why are they burnt?
You what?
I can't believe
this is happening.
Where's Lisa?
No, Akira, don't run away
like a snake.
Okay.
I've just scraped
dried chicken off these.
We're cutting our costs.
There's bits of food
on there.
Do you think this is right?
Um...
Just feel how sticky
that is on the end.
That's food
being wiped off it.
That's food
being wiped off it.
It's 45 minutes into service,
And Sushi Ko is doing what,
unfortunately,
it does best--
disappointing its customers.
Okay, guys, they say
they don't like the tempura.
They said
it's way overcooked
and that that is
just really doughy.
Thank you.
Lisa...
It's coming back.
It's doughy and...
That's not
tempura broccoli.
It's mushy, yeah.
Blah!
Stop the broccoli.
Take it off.
Yeah, don't even, like,
do tempura anymore.
Why cause more damage?
Is that fryer hot enough?
Does it work properly,
the fryer--temperature?
Actually,
that's a great question.
It doesn't look
like it's hot enough.
It's not blasting it.
No.
Uh, that's scary.
That's a nightmare
piece of equipment
That's a nightmare
piece of equipment
that probably isn't
holding the temperature
'cause it's getting old...
Just like me.
Uh, Lisa, here.
Look at all this.
Oh, the spicy mayo.
So you don't keep
mayonnaise in the fridge?
No.
What?
"Refrigerate
after opening."
Feel how warm that is.
And how long has that
been staying outside for?
Truthfully?
For four years?
Yes.
This is a Japanese
health hazard.
This is a Japanese
health hazard.
This is about you
running your restaurant
properly.
And you're not.
Oh, my God.
What's this fridge for?
It's warm in here.
This fridge is on 50.
This--is this working,
this fridge?
When did it break down?
So we've got
big containers of ice...
Yes.
To keep
the ingredients cold?
To keep
the ingredients cold?
Vegetable?
We got dairy.
You've got eggs here.
Never chicken, beef here?
Look at me.
Why are you lying to me?
Akira, you could kill
somebody.
Bad food, a family in ruins,
and unsanitary conditions...
You could kill
somebody.
It's been quite a first day.
And as dinner service ends...
Thank you.
Chef Ramsay realizes
That Sushi Ko is in much worse
shape than he thought.
Right...
How was that for you?
I think our kitchen
could have run
a little smoother.
could have run
a little smoother.
I don't think you're taking it
seriously enough.
The rice, the soup,
the fridge,
the broccoli.
Talk to me.
I think that
Akira, you know,
could do a lot more.
There's so many
bad practices,
and you don't seem
to give a.
Have you given up?
I think he's given up.
How many of your customers
would order kushiyaki
if they knew they were
eating it or feeling it
off of wooden sticks that have
been used three weeks ago?
None of them.
It's almost like
you're a man in denial.
Anything to say or...?
He doesn't know
how to fix it, though.
He opened this place
on the assumption
that he was the delegator.
He's lost.
I think
that the restaurant's
I think
that the restaurant's
burnt him out.
He thought that
we were gonna be
living la vida loca,
and when the business
didn't go the way
it was supposed to,
he didn't know what to do.
But you don't really think
that you're lazy, right?
you think you work--
do you think you work
really hard all the time?
I said, "I think
you should go cook."
You go, "I don't want
to cook anymore."
That's the way Akira feels.
"If I can pay you to do it,
why should I do it?"
But you're
not really paying them.
Your kids
are paying them.
He doesn't know how to get
off of his little skinny ass
and really getting
to work.
Right, I want you--
Right, I want you--
I-I need you to shut up
for two minutes,
and I need you to talk.
This is part of the reason
why you've lost your voice.
Not only is your wife
wearing the trousers,
but she's speaking
for you.
What is it?
Talk to me.
Come on.
Talk to me.
Come on, Akira.
Me.
I'm angry that Akira's
lost his ability
to communicate
with people.
And it was good
to get it out.
Akira, once a proud chef,
Has lost his way.
And unfortunately,
his family is being dragged
down with him.
Chef Ramsay knows that
in order for this restaurant
to have any chance
of surviving,
he must find a way
to bring them together.
he must find a way
to bring them together.
Tough day yesterday,
uh, really tough.
I'm outside
the family home now,
and it's clear that Akira
is a broken man,
and in order to get
this restaurant fixed,
I need the old Akira back.
So I can't do that
without the family's help.
I just wanted to talk
I just wanted to talk
to all three of you,
um, about Akira.
He's a broken man,
a man with a tremendous weight
on his shoulders.
This is a man that is not
just on the edge.
The whole family's
involved in this.
You can feel the divide,
just in terms
of the friction
that's built between you.
Every day, every second.
Take me back
when you first met.
Um, he was really
funny and cute.
He had a lot of energy,
and he used to think
of goofy things to say,
and he used to think
of goofy things to say,
even though he didn't speak
English very well and...
He never smiles anymore now.
So sad.
Yeah, it's so sad.
Dad is just kind of
away from everybody,
I think.
He's removed now.
He's not like a part
of the family, really.
It's just always
just me and the kids,
and he's just gone.
He'll just, like, stand
and just stare,
'cause he doesn't know
what to do.
He's...
He's lost.
I miss, like...
When he was just smiling
when I walked in the door,
When he was just smiling
when I walked in the door,
you know?
We need
to bring him back.
If that restaurant's
got any chance
of really, seriously
turning around,
it can't be done
without him.
No, I know that.
I agree.
We can't do it
without him.
He's the heartbeat.
I need each
and every one of you
to give him a--phuh!
A lift,
in a way that his
self-esteem rises,
the confidence
starts to shine,
and more importantly,
we start to get him back.
I think my dad,
he's checked out.
I think my dad,
he's checked out.
I can't remember the last time
I saw him, like...
Actually happy,
like, waking up happy,
going to bed happy.
I wish he could come back
and make it all right.
Where have you been,
on the lake?
Sit down.
Yeah, I know. Well, "A,"
I wanted to--I wanted to come
and, uh, see
where it all started.
and, uh, see
where it all started.
There's a level of distance
that we've grown apart.
We need
to narrow the gap.
Sammy, you go first.
What inspires you most
about dad?
Working up
from dishwasher to...
Restaurant owner.
He's always the one
that tells me
to get it right
the first time.
I learned all my hard work
from him, so...
Yeah, it's just tough,
you know.
Like, I want to do
as much as I can.
It's just hard.
Okay?
I believe him.
Thank you, Sammy.
Hana...
If there was one thing
that you would want to say
that you've never had
the chance to do
over the last
four years,
what would it be?
I don't think
I ever tell you
How much I love you.
I, like--I say
I love you, but...
I never really
express it.
I just want
to see you happy.
I want to try to be
more emotionally supportive.
We want to support you,
and we want to do
everything we can.
It would be a dream
just to...
be our old selves again.
Let's pretend that we...
Let's pretend that we...
We're starting out,
and, like, let's try to find
each other again
and be friends.
Today we are
gonna start it fresh.
We wipe the slate clean.
We start the day
with a family hug.
Group hug!
Yes?
Coming up...
Chef Ramsay puts his plan
for Sushi Ko
into effect.
Tonight
is a comeback service.
But Lisa is not supportive.
I still don't think
he's working very hard.
It's clear the restaurant
is not the only thing
that's on the line.
Akira-san!
So is their marriage.
Cut him some slack.
The wounds run deep,
and no one is backing down...
- Bang!
- Not Lisa...
I'm not gonna
take all the blame.
And not Akira.
And not Akira.
I can't believe this!
The emotional family meeting
really touched Chef Ramsay,
and he made arrangements
to give Akira and the restaurant
some much-needed help.
Hello!
I decided that this family
needs a little lift,
a little leg up.
I've never been
to any Japanese restaurant
and seen a fridge
with a block of ice in there
that broke down
four months ago.
So I made a few phone calls
and managed
to get hold
of seven brand-new
counter traulsen
refrigeration units.
counter traulsen
refrigeration units.
Top of the line, yeah.
Come here and have a look.
Come round.
Yeah, that's right.
Yeah, trust me.
Number one.
Come round.
Look, come round, Lisa.
Open them up.
He's smiling.
The fridges, to me,
are amazing.
They're beautiful.
They're great.
But to see Akira's face
when he heard out about it
was the best,
because that's the only time
I've seen him smile
in four years.
I didn't stop there.
I didn't stop there.
Come with me.
Yes.
Have a look at
two stunning
Vulcan deep fat fryers.
Oh, my God!
That's so amazing.
The most amazing
eight-ring gas burner.
The most amazing
walk-in freezer.
Temperature is visual.
No more ice bucket.
Now we have no excuses.
Great.
New equipment is just part
of Chef Ramsay's plan.
He knows there's
another critical change
that has to be made
at Sushi Ko.
It's an asset they should
have taken advantage of
a long time ago.
Tonight
you're gonna cook.
Okay.
It's a comeback service.
Okay.
Okay?
But I want you to grab it
and run with it.
All right.
How you feeling?
Excellent.
Excellent.
Okay.
Good.
Akira, today's gonna help
oversee tonight's launch
of the sushi bar.
Okay?
Please, welcome
the man himself back.
Look at you!
You little pocket rocket.
Look at you!
Whoo-hoo!
Welcome back!
Yes!
Seeing my dad
in his chef's suit
was really exciting.
The sushi bar
is where my dad belongs.
It's where he started off,
and he was
a great chef before.
and he was
a great chef before.
And he's getting back in it,
so that's great.
Okay, Lisa,
open the door.
Hello.
Welcome to Sushi Ko.
It's gonna be you two?
For dinner service,
Not only will they be
serving fresh fish,
Chef Ramsay prepares with Akira
two new salmon dishes
that will be featured
on tonight's menu.
Are you folks
ready to order?
We'll try
the Sushi Ko crunch.
Okay.
All right.
I don't think Akira's
taking it seriously.
Even though we are starting
to see a glimpse
of the old Akira
shining behind the sushi bar...
Chef Ramsay notices
that his wife Lisa
Chef Ramsay notices
that his wife Lisa
is not supporting him.
Have some food for you guys
right here.
It's excellent.
It's good.
I like it.
I still don't think
he's working very hard.
Okay, yeah.
Okay, thanks for
double-checking on everything.
Is he working hard?
I don't think so.
He's still just
walking around.
I'm worried that Akira's
not gonna ever be the chef
That he should be.
I don't think he'll really
follow through with it.
I don't think he'll really
follow through with it.
All right.
Here's some share plates
and soy dishes.
Wasn't there supposed
to be avocado in it?
Yeah, did they put
avocado? No?
They didn't.
Okay, I'll be right back.
Lisa, these are wrong.
Eel roll is supposed
to have avocado in it.
Okay.
And this is supposed to be
a Hawaiian roll
with the shrimp
on top instead,
but it's
a California roll.
That's a nightmare.
Akira-san!
The eel roll's supposed
to have avocado inside,
and that needs
Hawaiian sauce.
and that needs
Hawaiian sauce.
Okay, all right.
Ugh! Really
pisses me off.
Lisa's really tough
with Akira.
When she gets going,
just get out of the way.
It's like a tornado.
No, 205 is me.
Thank you.
Thank you.
And the roll.
Yay!
Thank you!
I'm so glad to have Akira
back behind the bar.
It makes everything go
so much smoother.
Done, done,
done, done, done.
This is incredible.
With Akira standing
behind the bar,
dressed as a chef,
running his restaurant,
already there's a completely
different feel
to last night's service.
Watching my dad
working the kitchen
and smiling
almost the whole time,
and smiling
almost the whole time,
it was just a great feeling.
Thank you.
Everything's getting better.
As dinner service
comes to an end,
It's clear that Sushi Ko
has a long way to go.
But the new equipment,
Akira's new attitude,
and a couple of new dishes
have Chef Ramsay feeling better
about its chances.
First of all,
Let me be really blunt,
uh, with you.
And something you--
you need to hear.
Okay.
Yeah?
Honestly...
Yes?
Honestly...
Yes?
Tonight you were
a different man.
The change
is night and day.
Not only did you
look good,
but you seemed
to look like
you were enjoying
what you were doing.
I've got total respect
for you today.
Good job.
Thanks.
I need a quick chat
with your wife.
Now, he may have changed,
Now, he may have changed,
but unfortunately,
you haven't.
The difference in that man
in 24 hours
is night and day.
And not once tonight
did you mention
anything to him.
And you can't be
that cold.
You're acting
like a block of ice.
He's not your head chef.
He's your husband.
Yeah.
And here's the thing.
You're tough.
You've been through a lot.
And over the last
four or five years,
And over the last
four or five years,
you've become stronger
than he has.
Coming from the outside in,
it's so evident.
You're ,
bang, bang, bang.
Back off.
I'm not around.
I'm not gonna take
all the blame,
But I agree
that I am a bitch to Akira
and I'm--I agree that
it's not a good way to be.
I think,
between you and I,
that man needs you
more than ever before.
Oh, totally, yeah.
What you need to do
is cut him some slack,
is cut him some slack,
not just for him,
but for the family's sake...
before it's too late.
After Chef Ramsay's
conversation with Lisa...
That man needs you
more than ever before.
And with Akira's
commitment to change...
Gordon and his team
went ahead
with a much-needed makeover
of Sushi Ko.
Chef Ramsay!
Good morning.
Look at you two holding hands
and cuddling as well.
Chef Ramsay pleaded with me
to embrace Akira
and try to give him
the support he needs.
the support he needs.
So this is a really
crucial point in our lives.
It's like
being reborn again.
Okay, today we're relaunching
the new Sushi Ko.
So we have to bring Sushi Ko
into the modern era.
The decor has to stand out
as something
not just cutting edge,
but fresh
with a wonderful appeal.
Are you ready?
Yeah.
Yeah? Let's go.
Let's go, baby.
Let's go.
Come in!
Look at that.
Oh, my God!
Contemporary,
And it's got that
really fresh appeal to it.
Oh, my God.
Oh, I'm shaking!
Oh, my God.
Oh, I'm shaking!
Good-bye, samurai warrior.
The minute you step
in this door,
great colors,
it's fresh and modern.
Oh, my God!
When I first arrived,
It was like sitting
inside a prison.
Now it's beautiful.
Look at the color.
Dark, moody red.
That's my picture!
Ohh!
You have a serious artist
in the family,
You have a serious artist
in the family,
but no one's ever,
ever shown him off.
They're cool,
they're sophisticated.
Lisa, are you happy?
I'm...So happy.
It's just amazing.
The color is just perfect.
Group hug!
Group hug.
Hey, sexy, come over here.
Akira,
go in the middle.
Whoo!
Everybody hug Akira!
Chef Ramsay is bringing us
together as a family.
My parents are, like,
more happy than I've seen them
in forever.
It's awesome.
He's a new man.
He's a new man.
He's smiling.
Yay!
After revamping Sushi Ko
into a stylish, contemporary
Japanese restaurant,
Chef Ramsay
moves on to the menu...
Welcome to the new food!
Whoa!
Have a look.
By modernizing
the traditional sushi dishes.
Albacore tartare
with avocado,
crispy salmon cake,
seared tuna with a salsa,
uh, japanese-style
curried mussels,
teriyaki chicken.
The rolls,
we've got the fire roll--
clean, modern,
great execution.
clean, modern,
great execution.
Okay, so...
Word of the relaunch has spread
through the community,
and Chef Ramsay
has surprised the owners
with traditional
taiko drummers
to officially
kick off the evening.
Amazing.
All right!
- Thank you.
- Oh, my God.
All right, ladies and gentlemen,
thank you so much for coming.
Akira, the official
welcoming and the opening
of this restaurant.
Excellent.
Hello.
Welcome to Sushi Ko.
As the first orders make
their way into the kitchen...
You make sure--
back him up, okay?
An energized Akira
pumps up the cooks
for the big night.
Help each other.
Talk to each other, okay?
Sure.
All right.
First one of the night.
Sushi Ko crunch.
Let's bust one out.
They just got two more.
Lettuce wrap
in the window.
Okay, give it to me.
The yellowtail roll.
Akira, at his rightful
place in the kitchen,
pushes the first orders out.
Oh, my gosh,
that's really good.
And customers are satisfied
with what the new Sushi Ko
has to offer.
The beef
is very tender.
But soon after,
old habits return,
and Akira
is doing everything
except what he needs
to do most--cook.
except what he needs
to do most--cook.
Thank you.
All right,
thank you very much.
I've been waiting for a special
for a half an hour.
Lisa, the food's
hanging around
too long in the window.
Okay.
Without a leader,
the kitchen
is falling behind.
It's dying
in the window.
And the impact
is starting to be felt
in the dining room.
No.
There's more tickets there.
Earlier tonight,
Akira was doing really well
Behind the sushi bar,
Behind the sushi bar,
but now he's falling back
into his old ways already.
He's out bussing tables,
and he's not paying attention
to what's happening.
We need him to be
back behind the bar again.
What are you doing
carrying that thing?
"They need the help."
All right.
Honestly, I'm worried.
You went back
to your old ways.
You didn't cook anything.
You bussed tables,
you served food.
You delegated.
Why weren't you cooking?
Why weren't you...
Why weren't you cooking?
Why weren't you...
Can you not do it?
You're not
a manager.
You're not a busboy.
You're the chef.
Come on.
Finally, towards
the end of dinner service,
Akira took
Chef Ramsay's advice...
Okay.
And jumped back into cooking
in the kitchen.
210.
Yeah, thank you.
But, for the most part,
it was his staff
who pulled together
and made tonight's relaunch
a success.
Thank you!
The good news
about tonight
is the customers
loved the food.
Yeah.
Yes?
This restaurant
took a huge leap forward...
Oh, yeah.
Oh, yeah.
In terms of spreading
the message out there.
In terms of spreading
the message out there.
But I just want to know
what you're gonna do.
What's gonna happen
when I'm gone?
You are a talented man!
You've just forgotten
how talented you are.
What are you talented for,
picking up plates?
No.
Why are you
a talented man?
Cooking.
That's right.
So if you're gonna
dress the part,
look the part,
cook your socks off.
you got it.
If I catch
your skinny little ass
that side of the table,
I swear to God...
But, Lisa, you've got
to support each other.
I came in, I first arrived,
the whole family,
not just the restaurant,
was just fragmented--
four different individuals
seeking different ambitions
with different attitudes,
and no one singing
off the same page.
But there's a reconnect
that's taken place.
There's a level of clarity,
proper understanding,
and we all know
what we've got to do.
Please.
Having Chef Ramsay
come into our lives is...
It's meant the world.
Yeah, we have to start over,
and I'm nervous as
that it's not
gonna go smoothly.
And I just am thankful
for this new chance.
Take care.
Thank you.
Yes.
Good night.
Thank you so much.
Arigato.
Domo arigato.
Thank you.
Been an absolute
pleasure.
All right, give me a hug.
All right, give me a hug.
They never hug
in Japan.
He's gonna
pick you up.
Okay.
Bye.
It was really cool
to see my parents
Give each other
kisses and stuff.
I haven't seen that
in a while.
Group hug.
Working with each other
and supporting each other,
it's gonna give us more hope
than we had before.
What a week.
We made a lot of changes.
What a week.
We made a lot of changes.
We changed the equipment,
we changed the menu,
and we changed the decor.
But what this family
failed to realize
is that their greatest asset
was something I could
never have given them,
because it was themselves.
And it's that that will
make this place successful.
Whew, what a week.
Sayonara, Thousand Oaks.
In the days that followed,
Sushi Ko
saw a boost in business,
and Lisa and Akira were working
as a team once again.
and Lisa and Akira were working
as a team once again.
Yeah, let's clean
this space up here.
Recently, they decided
that in order
to maximize profits,
they would search out
a new location
where the rents
weren't as high.
Regardless of the location,
the most valuable lesson
this family may have learned
was not how to run
their business,
but how to appreciate
each other.