YO! Sushi is one of the best-known Japanese food brands in the UK, making it a natural point of interest for anyone exploring sushi franchise opportunities. Founded in London and developed into a multi-format business with restaurants and supermarket kiosks, the brand combines strong consumer recognition with a franchise model designed for accessible, high-footfall locations.
This page provides an overview of YO! Sushi as a franchise brand, including its background, the reasons it attracts franchise interest, the support it offers, and the cost information currently available through public sources.
Matching Your Location
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Japanese Food Franchise Brands

YO! Sushi began in London’s Soho in 1997 and helped introduce a more casual, visually distinctive way of enjoying Japanese food in the UK. The brand became widely associated with its kaiten-style conveyor belt concept and colour-coded dishes, while also building a broader menu that extends beyond sushi to include hot street food and fusion-inspired options.
Over time, YO! Sushi has grown from its restaurant roots into a broader food business with more than 50 restaurants and over 370 Tesco supermarket kiosks. As part of Wonderfield Group, the brand also sits within a larger international food business with substantial scale across sushi kiosks, grab-and-go locations, and restaurant operations.

One of the main reasons YO! Sushi stands out as a franchise opportunity is the strength of its established brand in the UK market. The company presents itself as the UK’s largest sushi franchise operator and positions its kiosk model as a ready-made route for franchisees entering the Japanese food sector with the backing of an already recognised name. Its presence in Tesco supermarkets is another major advantage, placing franchisees in high-footfall retail environments and reducing some of the location challenges that often come with standalone food businesses.
Alongside its market appeal, YO! Sushi highlights practical business advantages such as central support, strength in ingredient sourcing, and a system designed to support stable operations. The franchise is also positioned as a model that can help attract skilled staff and maintain a high-quality customer experience through its established operating approach.
YO! Sushi supports franchisees through training, onboarding, and ongoing operational support. New partners receive structured training at the Wonderfield Training Academy and hands-on experience in a live kiosk, followed by support from a dedicated Regional Manager.
The brand also provides support with location selection, marketing campaigns, supplier infrastructure, pricing, and new product development, giving franchisees practical assistance both before opening and after launch.
| YO! Sushi - Trafford Park | 4.2 out of 5.0 (as of April 2, 2026) |
|---|
Customer feedback on YO! Sushi has generally been very positive. Reviewers often highlight the freshness and quality of the food, the wide variety on offer, and the fun, casual dining experience. Guests also mention the restaurant’s relaxed atmosphere, attentive service, and the balance between familiar favourites and more distinctive menu items, suggesting that YO! Sushi leaves a strong impression as an approachable and well-recognised Japanese dining brand.
Lovely! Bit pricey but so worth it! Fresh and flavourful. A different eating out experience that we all enjoyed! Although we hadn’t long been for carvery at the pub across from the Trafford centre, so didn’t get much but eldest wanted to try it so we ended our shopping trip here! Would come back purely for the quality
Wonderful food as always, great service,Dora our server was very attentive. Mamma San the chef was producing her masterpieces as we watched. Amazing skill and talent.
Service was great, Liam gave us a warm welcome and went the extra mile to cater for my sister who has numerous allergies. He ensured that our food was suitable for us all and that health and safety to keep things separate was followed. The food was top notch and Liams service was above and beyond. Will be coming again.
According to YO! Sushi’s website, franchisees should expect a one-off franchise fee, start-up costs, and an ongoing royalty fee based on a percentage of sales.
However, the company does not publish detailed figures on its website, instead directing interested parties to request a prospectus for full financial information. As a result, the publicly available materials outline the overall cost structure, but not the exact level of investment required.
| Company Name | YO! Sushi UK Ltd |
| Total Number of Restaurants (Including Company-Operated Locations) | Over 50 restaurants publicly stated on the franchise page ※ The brand story page separately says it has close to 100 restaurants worldwide. |
| Address | 69 Wilson St, London EC2A 2BB, United Kingdom |
YO! Sushi presents a compelling franchise opportunity for those interested in the Japanese food sector, particularly because it combines strong brand recognition with a structured support system and a proven kiosk format. While prospective franchisees would need to request further financial details directly from the company, the publicly available information suggests that YO! Sushi offers a clear and accessible route into a well-established brand.
Readers who would like to compare other Japanese restaurant franchise options can also explore a broader overview of alternative opportunities.
Matching Your Location
3 Recommended
Japanese Food Franchise Brands
Even within Japanese food, the most receptive customer segments vary by genre. This section introduces recommended Japanese food genres based on the characteristics of the prospective area, along with Japanese franchise brands that already operate locations in the United States. The focus is on the food that can be offered by joining each franchise brand.

Gyu-Kaku delivers authenticity through certified Japanese A5 Wagyu. By also featuring USDA Prime beef, they offer steakhouse-quality dining at accessible prices.
From import to processing, Japanese staff strictly manage quality at every step, delivering the same authentic flavor found in premium yakiniku restaurants in Japan.
| Franchise fee | $50,000 |
|---|---|
| Initial investment | Approx. $1,215,444 to $2,606,540 |
| Royalty | 5% on annual sales up to approx. $1,500,000 4.5% on annual sales from approx. $1,500,000 to $2,000,000 4% on annual sales over approx. $2,000,000 |
| Number of restaurants | 825 worldwide (including 63 in the United States and 580 in Asia) |
| TripAdvisor rating | 4.3 out of 5.0 (442 reviews)*2 |

A wide range of toppings, from chicken katsu to omelets, ensures a fresh experience every visit, driving strong customer loyalty.
In addition to toppings, customers can adjust rice portions and spice levels, making the menu enjoyable for those who prefer milder flavors as well as those who want larger portions.
| Initial franchise fee | $40,000 |
|---|---|
| Initial investment | Not listed |
| Royalty | Not listed |
| Number of restaurants | 1,480 worldwide (including 11 in the United States and 1,467 in Asia) |
| TripAdvisor rating | 4.3 out of 5.0 (41 reviews)*3 |

As a popular chain with 861 locations in Japan*1, franchisees are able to consistently serve udon noodles with a firm, chewy texture, supported by the headquarters after opening.
The noodle-making, boiling, and cooling processes are demonstrated in an open kitchen, allowing customers to enjoy a freshly made, live dining experience.
| Franchise fee | $40,000 to $64,000 |
|---|---|
| Initial investment | $1,126,500 to $1,980,000 |
| Royalty | 5% of sales |
| Number of restaurants | 1,188 worldwide (including 23 in the United States and 1,155 in Asia) |
| TripAdvisor rating | 4.5 out of 5.0 (108 reviews)*4 |
*1 Source: Marugame Udon official website(https://jp.marugame.com/shop/), as of a December 2025 survey
*2 TripAdvisor: New York City location, as of October 28, 2025(https://www.tripadvisor.jp/Restaurant_Review-g60763-d3175593-Reviews-Gyu_Kaku_Japanese_BBQ-New_York_City_New_York.html)
*3 TripAdvisor: Irvine location, as of October 28, 2025(https://www.tripadvisor.jp/Restaurant_Review-g32530-d9750729-Reviews-Coco_Ichibanya-Irvine_California.html)
*4 TripAdvisor: Los Angeles location, as of October 28, 2025(https://www.tripadvisor.jp/Restaurant_Review-g32655-d4019757-Reviews-Marugame_Monzo-Los_Angeles_California.html)
* TripAdvisor ratings are based on the highest-rated U.S. location.
*The number of restaurants is based on the following references. As of a December 2025 survey
Gyu-Kaku official website(https://www.gyukaku.ne.jp/world.php)
CoCo Ichibanya official website(https://www.ichibanya.co.jp/comp/ir/finance/highlight/graph01.html)
Marugame Udon official website(https://jp.marugame.com/shop/)