Chefs perform for diners at Shirasoni

Name of Business: Shirasoni Japanese Restaurant

Type of business: Restaurant

Owner/manager: Stan Le manages this restaurant for his family.

Founded: March 2009

Address: 6367 Lone Tree Way, Brentwood

Phone number: 240-7808

Hours: Monday through Friday lunch 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; dinner 4:30 to 9:30; Saturday and Sunday 12 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Dinner is served all day.

Number of employees: 40

Products and services: Teppanyaki-style dining. Teppanyaki became famous in the United States through the Benihana chain, which opened its first restaurant in New York in 1964. Teppanyaki steakhouses place an emphasis on the chef performing a show for the diners, introducing new variations and tricks. Teppanyaki uses a variety of steak and other meats, along with vegetable accompaniments.

Shirasoni also serves a variety of sushi, steak and seafood. They have a full bar and coffee hours are Monday through Friday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

How did you get into the business: Le said that his family worked in the food industry for 10 years owning a few grocery stores.

"This idea was just an extension on that business," he said. The family opened its first restaurant in Stockton and then came to the Brentwood area.

Best part about the business?: "When the customers come in for a special occasion," Le said. "My favorite time in the restaurant is when someone is singing 'Happy Birthday.' "

Worst part about the business?: Le said that he really didn't have any worst moments to speak of.

Key to success: Le says that at his restaurants he lives by two rules: Customers first, employees first.

"If the customers and the employees are happy then a business will have success," he said.
He also said it was important in the restaurant business to have good, quality food.

Biggest misperception about the business: "All lunch restaurants take a long time or that in a teppanyaki restaurant they wait for a table to fill up before doing any cooking," he said. "Here we cook no matter if there is one or five. It doesn't matter." Le said that they make sure that everyone is out at the lunch hour in 45 minutes.

Future plans: Le said their goal is to keep going as they are. They are planning special after-hours nights with a live band. The first date will be Aug. 8, and the bar will be open from 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.