How we started

Sticks'n'Sushi opened on March 22, 1994, at Nansensgade 59 as one of the first restaurants in Copenhagen specializing in sushi and yakitori sticks served in modern, designer interiors. The founders were Jens Rahbek Hansen, Thor Andersen, and Kim Rahbek Hansen.

In 1996, we opened our first takeaway at Nansensgade 47, where we combined a restaurant and takeaway in the same location for the first time. Today, we have approximately 1,400 employees with restaurants in Greater Copenhagen, England, and Berlin, Germany.

Throughout the years, we have created unique designs with respect for the local environment and history, so our local guests grow to love their "own" Sticks'n'Sushi.

From Basement to the Top

They had worked day and night with boards, pipes, and paint in a small rented basement space in central Copenhagen. The address was Nansensgade 59. Now, it was time for Danes to learn how to eat sushi—raw fish and rice with chopsticks.

Jens Rahbek had just returned from Japan after six years, bringing with him a qualification as a yakitori chef.

The idea of teaching Danes to enjoy good sushi was welcomed by Keiko Rahbek, Jens’ Japanese mother. But his brother, Kim Rahbek, thought it was too daring to serve only sushi. He felt they should add yakitori, small grilled skewers, in case Danes weren’t quite ready for raw fish. This caused some unease within the Japanese side of the family. Back in 1994, mixing the two dishes was simply against Japanese tradition and custom.

But Kim, who joined the idea of opening the restaurant because he saw a chance to pay off his student debt quickly, insisted that it should include both sushi and yakitori. So while Hiromasa, the eldest brother, designed the logo, they decided to name the restaurant exactly what it was: Sticks’n’Sushi.

A third family member, Thor Andersen, had saved a bit of money and was thus warmly welcomed into the small business partnership.

Jens cooked, Kim managed, and Thor built.