The Sushi Assistant supports the sushi station by preparing ingredients, maintaining cleanliness and organization, and assisting the sushi team in delivering precise, high-quality dishes. This is a hands-on back-of-house role that helps ensure smooth service, consistency, and speed during busy kitchen periods.
- Purpose of the role
- Assist the Sushi Chef and wider kitchen team in preparing and presenting sushi items to the required standard.
- Maintain a clean, well-stocked, and efficient sushi workstation.
- Support smooth service by completing prep tasks accurately and on time.
- Help uphold food safety, hygiene, and quality standards at all times.
- Where the role sits
- This role is part of the Kitchen (Back of House) team.
- It sits within the sushi section of the kitchen operation and works closely with chefs, kitchen porters, and service teams as needed.
- The Sushi Assistant typically reports to the Sushi Chef, Sous Chef, or Head Chef, depending on the structure of the venue.
- Key areas of responsibility
- Prepare ingredients such as rice, fish, vegetables, garnishes, sauces, and accompaniments.
- Assist with basic sushi assembly, plating, and garnishing under supervision.
- Organize and label mise en place to ensure the station is ready for service.
- Monitor stock levels, rotate ingredients correctly, and report shortages or quality issues.
- Clean and sanitize tools, surfaces, and equipment in line with hygiene procedures.
- Follow portioning, presentation, and consistency standards set by the kitchen.
- Support safe handling of seafood and other perishables, including correct storage and temperature control.
- Respond quickly to instructions during service and help the team maintain pace and accuracy.
- Who succeeds in this role
- A successful Sushi Assistant is detail-oriented, reliable, and calm under pressure.
- They have strong hygiene awareness, good knife and food-handling discipline, and a willingness to learn.
- They work well as part of a team, take direction positively, and maintain high standards even during busy service.
- A strong sense of pride in presentation, cleanliness, and consistency is essential.