Michael Hung Moves On As Bushi-tei Hits the Market

Chef Michael Hung's last day at Japantown's Bushi-tei was yesterday, as owner Tak Matsuba has decided to put his once Michelin-starred restaurant on the market. The restaurant will stay open, continuing to produce its unique style of Japanese cuisine with a California inflection, as Matsuba determines if or when a next owner will take over. Hung's former sous chef, Lisa Aoki—who has worked at Jardiniere and Fifth Floor—will hold down the kitchen with the existing team, and the menu will be scaled back to more "familiar" offerings indicative of the Bushi-tei style.

Matsuba's family has run Bushi-tei with meticulous attention to detail for over six years, earning three stars from Bauer in 2006. Fans should know that this is a "for sale" case much like that of Medjool and Thermidor. The restaurant is not necessarily going to close any time soon. Matsuba sold Bushi-tei Bistro late last year, but we've yet to see if the sale of Bushi-tei will be completed.

Meanwhile, Hung says he'll be taking some time off and "doing some stages" as he decides where to go next.

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