Akira Back's signature AB Tuna Pizza

Korean-American chef Akira Back (Sung Ook Back) opened his first restaurant in Florida, at Delray Beach’s The Ray Hotel, on March 25. Situated between Boca Raton and Palm Beach, Akira Back Delray is the professional snowboarder-turned-chef’s 18th restaurant, adding to the cities of Paris, Las Vegas, Dubai, Beverly Hills, San Diego, Toronto, Singapore and Seoul, to name a few. (His restaurant Dosa in Seoul received a Michelin star in 2018.)

Korean-American celebrity chef Akira Back opened his first restaurant in Florida, his namesake Akira ... [+] Back in Delray Beach’s The Ray Hotel on March 25, 2022

Born in Seoul, Back and his family moved to Aspen, Colorado when he was 13, and didn’t speak a word of English. “I did not even know how to say, ‘How are you doing?,’” he muses. “So when I moved, it was culture shock.” He turned to snowboarding with the sole intention of making friends and learning the language, but ended up competing professionally for several years. When he was 19, he began working for sushi master Kenichi Kanada in Aspen, where he learned the hard way to “respect the rice.” He spent seven years training in Japanese cuisine.

“[Although] I learned Japanese cuisine, I could not deny my palate,” Back shares. “I’m very Korean-American. I grew up eating my mom’s food and I still eat my mom’s food. I wanted to do this with my own twist.” This is the reason why the backbone of Akira Back’s cuisine is “modern Japanese with Korean accents.”

Jeju Domi incorporates Back's Korean heritage with marinated masago, red sorrel and chojang

At the Delray location, diners can expect popular signatures like the AB Tuna Pizza, laced with umami aioli, micro shisho and white truffle oil; Jeju Domi, which incorporates his Korean heritage with marinated masago, red sorrel and chojang; and Lobster Tempura, with Korean pear, serrano, beetroot and Amazu ponzu. Signature sushi rolls include Pop Rockin’ (spicy crab, cucumber, asparagus— and yes, watermelon pop rocks!); Perfect Storm (shrimp tempura, spicy tuna, salmon belly aburi and chipotle mayo); and Hot Mess (crab tempura, sashimi poke and spicy ponzu aioli). They are also offering Nazo 9, the chef’s signature mystery box of sashimi and sushi unveiled table side.

Pop Rockin' does in fact feature (watermelon) pop rocks along with spicy crab, cucumber and ... [+] asparagus

Because of the South Florida location, Back plans to inject his signature AB cigar dessert with the filling of key lime pie. He adds that in two to three months, they will also be adding a Catch of the Day.

“I’ve been coming to Delray for a long time,” he shares. “I have a lot of friends here and it’s a good community for tennis.” Back is a tennis aficionado, and enjoys this sport with his 10-year-old daughter.

The main dining area, designed by Celano Design Studios, is clad with undulating teak panels and is anchored by three curved wood trellis structures. The semi-open kitchen features sushi and robata grill dining counters. Artworks of Back’s mother Young-Hee Back are fashioned onto the wall tiles, sofa fabrics and plates. “All my restaurants have my mom’s art,” he shares. “It’s a signature element.” Back adds that they just built their dream family home together in Las Vegas, where he has been based for the last 15 years, since he opened his first restaurant, Yellowtail Japanese Restaurant and Lounge.

The wall tiles at the Delray Beach location are by Akira Back's artist mother, Young-Hee. “All my ... [+] restaurants have my mom’s art,” he shares.

Back makes sure to travel to each location several times a year. With 18 restaurants and 12 more openings planned by the end of 2024, what is the secret to Akira Back’s success? “Nobody believes when I say [that] you have to be very blessed and lucky, and somehow you want to bring the luck to your life,” he shares. “You have to follow your dreams, you have to be passionate about what you are doing. You have to be surrounded by people better than you. All my chefs are better than I am. I have to hire people better than I am to [make it work]. I truly believe that’s [the secret of] my success—I truly hire the best of the best.”

Akira Back's private label sake, a junmai ginjo from Iwate, Japan, is also available the the ... [+] restaurant

Akira Back Delray is located on the ground floor of The Ray Hotel (by Menin Development), 233 NE 2nd Ave., Delray Beach, FL 33444. For more information visit www.akirabackdelray.com or www.akiraback.com