The Fuji Grill is a high quality quick service Japanese restaurant for lunch, dinner, and catering. We are home of "Healthy and Authentic Japanese Food." The Fuji Grill prepares and cooks for customer health by including no MSG and no Skin. Our special Fuji teriyaki sauce and Fuji ponzu dressing have been developed by our master chef Mr. Kazuo Ikeda. Our founder Mr. Kazuo Ikeda has over 25 years of Japanese food experience and will strive to provide to our customer a healthy and enjoyable experience for any time of the week.



Tired of the same fast food choices? Why not try something at the Fuji Grill? Although our restaurant is a value oriented quick service establishment, the food may remind you of something you see at a traditional sit down restaurant. Our Tokyo Steak must go through a special marinating process to reach its peak flavor and tenderness. Our Salmon and Tuna are supplied to us with strict quality control, ensuring excellent flavor. And unlike many other quick service restaurants, our items are designed with your health in mind. We also offer a wide range of vegetarian and seafood choices, as well as sugar free beverages such as Japanese Green Tea. Our master chef Kazuo Ikeda has developed the Fuji Grill recipes with his many years of Japanese cooking experience. We're sure you'll find something to love at the Fuji Grill.



Hello, I am John Lee, President of the Fuji Grill. If you want to know more about me, here's a short history and resume:

1973-1998: After receiving an Mechanical Engineering degree from a university in Seoul, Korea, Mr. Lee worked as an engineer in the United States for over 25 years, working with others and founding his own Electro-mechanical components production company.

1973-1998: At the same time, Mr. Lee was also assisting with family-operated food concession services in the City and County of Los Angeles.

1998-2004: Mr. Lee worked as a business broker at VR Business Brokers (Fullerton and Newport Beach), earning the Silver and Bronze awards for best VR salesman. During this time, he also held the position of Master Franchisor for The Flame Broiler. During his two-year contract period, he expanded the franchise to more than 10 stores in the Southern California area.

2004-Present: Mr. Lee, in cooperation with Mr. Ikeda, founded and oversaw the growth of the new Fuji Grill Japanese Quick-Service Restaurant Franchise, as well as the upscale full-service Fuji Yama Restaurant in Newport Beach. With 8 franchise locations and growing, Mr. Lee hopes that the fresh, healthy, delicious, convenient and affordable Fuji Grill concept will continue to grow and serve more satisfied customers everyday.




Hello, I'm Kazuo Ikeda, Vice President of the Fuji Grill.
If you'd like to know more about me, here's a short history and resume:

1983-1986: Mr. Ikeda served as a Japanese food chef at Prince Hotel in Toronto, Canada, and as a Japanese Steak & Seafood chef at Lob Bock Restaurant in Tokyo, Japan.

1987-1991: Mr. Ikeda became a head Teppan-Yaki chef at Ichibiri, an authentic Japanese restaurant in Laguna Niguel, USA.

1992-1996: Mr. Ikeda was a manager and franchiser of a food service company, Kyouritumentenansu, Inc. of Japan. His duties involved setup and development of new stores, including

1996-1997: Mr. Ikeda was the owner and founder of Ikeda Company in Japan, and during this time he developed food products for major super- markets, such as Isetan, Tokyo, and Takashimaya supermarkets in Japan. He developed a healthy dumpling suited for Japanese tastes.

1997-1999: Mr. Ikeda moved back to America and returned to Ichibiri restaurant in Laguna Niguel, California. He served as assistant manager.

1999-2001: Mr. Ikeda was a Sushi chef and dinner course manager at ABE restaurant in Newport Beach, California. The ABE restaurant is one of highest rated restaurants (26 points) as voted by the Zagat survey. During this period, Mr. Ikeda helped improve the quality of the food and the service to the customer. He also developed many types of new recipes.

2001-Present: Mr. Ikeda started a small, high quality Japanese restaurant in Costa Mesa, California. Named "Choito," its specialty is serving reasonably priced Japanese cuisine. It is a pilot restaurant for the Fuji Grill, Inc. He researched and developed a healthy and reasonably priced Japanese Quick Service Restaurant.(QSR). Mr. Ikeda's dream is that "Fresh and Naturally Delicious" Japanese foods can be serviced to the general public for a reasonable price. The Fuji Grill shall be the home of "Healthy and Authentic Japanese Food."


Young Y. Lee received her degree in Nursing from Ewha University in Seoul, Korea.

During the late 70s to early 80s, Young worked as a head nurse at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Neonatal Department in Torrance, California.

After raising three children, Young worked from 2000-2003 as a marketing manager for Krantz & Lee Associates, Inc.

Since 2004, Young has been working with Fuji Grill, Inc. as Marketing Director, helping her husband John J. Lee and his partner Kazuo Ikeda to run a successful franchise operation.





We are pleased to welcome Gary L. Hines as the San Diego regional franchisor for the Fuji Grill.

Gary brings over 35 years of small business and franchise experience to the Fuji Grill, having brokered hundreds of restaurant businesses large and small, from donut shops and dinner houses to major fast food franchises. Gary has also owned and operated six different small businesses.

Since 1993, Gary has worked as the Southern California Master Franchise for VR Business Brokers while owning and operating a VR franchise in Newport Beach, CA. His office has won numerous awards and was ranked within the top ten VR offices internationally 4 times in the last 8 years.

As a licensed California Real estate broker since 1982, Gary Hines currently holds the designation of Certified Business Intermediary for substantial experience and comprehensive education in small business valuation and brokerage. In this capacity, Gary also serves as an expert witness relating to small business matters.