Akira Back, Executive Chef, Yellowtail Japanese Restaurant & Lounge

A Korea native and former professional snowboarder who was raised in Colorado, Chef Akira Back brings his sense of adventure and boundless creativity into the kitchen at Yellowtail Sushi Restaurant & Bar, which opened in the summer of 2008 at Las Vegas’ Bellagio Resort & Casino. Back’s menu encompasses classic Japanese cuisine, which features innovative dishes that utilize fresh ingredients from the world’s top purveyors. Yellowtail’s signature dishes earned him acclaim. He was awarded the title of “Rising Star” by Restaurant Hospitality in October 2008 and, in December 2008, he had the distinct honor of hosting a multi-course dinner at the prestigious James Beard House.
 
Akira spent his early years as a professional snowboarder, showing off his talents in extreme movies, and garnered praise by industry magazines like Snowboarder and Transworld. To supplement his income, Akira started cooking in local Aspen restaurants to earn extra cash. He soon realized that the adventure and thrill he experienced on the slopes also existed in the kitchen. After seven years on the professional snowboarding circuit, Akira decided to pursue a full-time culinary career.
 
After graduating from The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes in Colorado, Akira began his epicurean adventure in earnest 1993 at Kenichi in Aspen. He was later recruited to expand Kenichi in Austin, Texas followed by Kenichi in Kona, Hawaii.
 
Akira’s love of travel and culinary exploration took him to Japan and throughout Europe, where he trained under the leading master chefs, including Masaharu Morimoto and Brian Nagao, and learned the value of using rare and exotic ingredients. In 2003, Back returned to Aspen and was hired as the Executive Chef of Nobu Matsuhisa’s namesake restaurant.
 
In 2008, Back appeared on an episode of the Food Network’s Iron Chef America and battled Iron Chef Bobby Flay. He later became a spokesperson for Japanese knife company Suisin knives. Back also was a spokesperson for The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes and was featured on the school’s Fall ’08 ad campaign, which is still airing on the Food Network.
 
Award-winning Chef Back continues to surprise and delight customers at Yellowtail Restaurant & Lounge with his signature dishes and menu of authentic traditional and modern Japanese cuisine.

Learn more about Chef Akira Back
Akira Back - Restaurant Hospitality
Akira on Iron Chef America
Akira Back Profiled on The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes
Photos from Yellowtail - Flickr