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Key people at How Do You Roll?.
How Do You Roll? was an Austin, Texas-based fast-casual sushi restaurant franchise that enabled customers to customize their own sushi rolls through a counter ordering process. It was founded in 2008 by brothers Yeun Yung and Peter Yung. Operating on a franchise model, the company had established 15 operating locations and sold 40 franchises by its appearance on Shark Tank, expanding its presence to states including California, Arizona, Florida, and North Carolina. Founders Yeun Yung and Peter Yung pitched the concept on Shark Tank, attracting an offer from investor Kevin O'Leary, though the deal did not materialize. The company was acquired by a private restaurant group in June 2015, but as of August 2021, it appears to be out of business with no active locations.
Key people at How Do You Roll?.
How Do You Roll? was a fast-casual sushi restaurant chain that allowed customers to customize their own maki rolls using fresh ingredients, sauces, and toppings, positioning itself as a "Chipotle for sushi" in the quick-service dining space.[1][3][4] Founded in 2008 in Austin, Texas, by brothers Yuen and Peter Yung, it franchised starting in 2010, peaking with around 15 open locations and 40 franchises sold across states like Texas, California, Arizona, and Florida, while emphasizing affordability, speed, and quality through proprietary rice-mixing machines.[1][2][3][4] The company was acquired by a private restaurant group in June 2015 and ceased operations by 2017, with no stores remaining open as of early 2021; its website and social media are now defunct.[1][3][4]
It served lunch-goers and sushi enthusiasts seeking convenient, build-your-own options without fine-dining prices or wait times, solving the gap between slow, expensive sushi bars and low-quality fast food.[3][4] Franchisees benefited from training, equipment via the founders' Maki Maki, L.L.C., and support like grand openings and marketing templates, though high entry costs ($317K–$518K initial investment) limited broader scaling.[2]
How Do You Roll? emerged from brothers Yuen Yung (CEO) and Peter Yung's frustration with limited quick sushi options during Yeun's 9-5 job lunches in Austin.[3][4] They launched the first location as Maki on October 1, 2008, rebranding to How Do You Roll? in September 2009 to better capture the customizable, fun concept.[1] Early traction came from a four-step customer build process—selecting proteins, veggies, rice (white or brown), sauces, and toppings—appealing to both traditional sushi fans and those avoiding raw fish with non-traditional fillings.[1][3][4]
Pivotal exposure hit in 2013 on Shark Tank Season 4, Episode 16, where the brothers pitched for $1M at 12% equity to fuel expansion, highlighting 15 open stores and 40 sold franchises; Kevin O’Leary offered $1M at 20% but the deal collapsed.[3][4] Franchising ramped up from 2010 with a $35K fee, 7% royalties, and veteran discounts, but growth stalled post-2015 acquisition, leading to full closure by 2017.[1][2][4] Maki Maki, L.L.C. persists as a supplier under the Yungs.[1][3]
How Do You Roll? rode the early 2010s fast-casual dining boom, blending Chipotle-style personalization with sushi to democratize ethnic cuisine amid rising demand for healthy, customizable quick meals.[3][4] Timing aligned with franchise expansion fever post-recession, when consumers sought value-driven alternatives to fast food or pricier sit-down spots, amplified by Shark Tank visibility that spotlighted scalable food concepts.[3][4] Market forces like urbanization, health trends (e.g., sushi's fresh image), and franchising's low-capital scaling favored it initially, influencing the ecosystem by proving sushi's viability in non-coastal U.S. markets and inspiring copycats like Maki-Mee or Ginger Sushi Boutique.[2]
Though not tech-native, its machines hinted at operational tech integration in food service, prefiguring app-based customization in modern chains; its closure underscores franchise risks in oversaturated quick-service, shifting influence to supply-side plays like the Yungs' ongoing Maki Maki operations.[1][3]
With all locations shuttered since 2017 and no active brand presence, How Do You Roll? is defunct as a restaurant chain, its legacy tied to pioneering customizable sushi franchising.[1][3][4] The Yungs' pivot to Maki Maki suggests backend sustainability in equipment/training, potentially fueling quiet comebacks via single-location sushi spots or new ventures.[1][3] Trends like ghost kitchens, delivery-first models, and AI-driven customization could revive similar concepts, but high franchise costs and competition from established players (e.g., Jamba, Pokeworks) dim revival odds without fresh capital. Its Shark Tank arc humanizes the fast-casual grind—spotlighting how timing and execution separate hits from roll-ups that unravel.
