Key Takeaways
TL;DR: This page profiles five private chefs you can book through Take a Chef for a sushi dinner at home, each with a profile and a booking link, including Sunyong Choi Bertsch, who focuses on Japanese and Korean cuisine, Gabriel Boyko and Mariana Ascoli.
- What to expect: Hand-crafted nigiri prepared on the spot, fish such as tuna from Toyosu Market, properly seasoned rice and, with some chefs, sake pairings or a full setup with staff, for anything from an omakase for two to a tasting for a group.
- Price: Across the 21 Japanese menus booked in Houston since we started, the median was $183 per guest; in the US over the last 24 months it went from $218 per guest for one or two people to $150 for 13 or more.
- Sunyong Choi Bertsch: A private chef and caterer focused on authentic Japanese and Korean cuisine, raised in a traditional Asian family in Southern California, who started cooking professionally after noticing a lack of authentic food experiences in the Houston area.
- Gabriel Boyko: A 2005 graduate of Le Cordon Bleu Pasadena who spent 12 years as executive chef at The Canyon in Malibu, cooking for 16 clients at once with multicultural, health-focused menus.
- Mariana Ascoli: A private chef whose wellness-driven, veggie-forward menus use premium ingredients and draw on travel, art exhibitions and daily life in Houston.
- How to book: Every chef on the page has a profile and a Book Now link, and you can also browse all the private chefs available in Houston or start from Take a Chef’s private sushi chef service.
Looking for a private sushi chef in Houston who can turn your dinner party into something people won’t stop talking about? This list covers five of the best. Whether you’re after a quiet omakase for two or a lively tasting for a group, these chefs bring restaurant-level skill and precision straight to your kitchen.
Some trained in fine-dining kitchens, spending years mastering the basics before ever touching a knife in public. Others found their voice in Houston kitchens, blending old-school technique with their own creative edge. You’ll notice different styles, but there’s one thing they all have in common—an almost obsessive attention to detail. From sourcing the fish to how the rice hits the plate, nothing’s left to chance.
Expect more than sushi. Think tuna flown in from Toyosu Market, hand-crafted nigiri prepared on the spot, and warm rice seasoned just right. A few chefs offer sake pairings, others come with full setups and staff. The point is—you’re not just booking a meal, you’re booking an experience.
These aren’t your average caterers. They’re artists with knives, and your countertop is their stage.
Índice
Houston’s Best Private Sushi Chefs You Can Book Right Now
Chef Araceli Perez
Araceli Perez has more than ten years of professional experience in kitchens in Austin and Houston, Texas, and in Tucson and Scottsdale, Arizona, from fine-dining restaurants to casual and neighborhood spots. Araceli cooks a wide range of cuisines, including an indulgent Japanese menu, and tailors every menu to the client’s tastes.
Chef Gabriel Boyko
Gabriel Boyko graduated from Le Cordon Bleu in Pasadena in 2005 and spent 12 years as executive chef at The Canyon in Malibu, cooking for 16 clients at once with varied, health-focused menus. Now based in Houston, Gabriel has cooked more Japanese menus for our clients in the city than any other chef on this list.
Chef Mariana Ascoli
Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Mariana Ascoli worked in plant-based restaurants and French fine-dining kitchens in Houston before becoming a private chef. The cooking is wellness-driven and veggie-forward, with premium ingredients and a vegan Asian menu among the options.
Chef Sunyong Choi Bertsch
Sunyong Choi Bertsch is a private chef and caterer focused on authentic Japanese and Korean cooking. Raised in a traditional Asian family in Southern California, Sunyong started cooking professionally after noticing how few authentic options there were in the Houston area, and offers a chef’s-choice sushi omakase.
Chef Satandria Winston
Satandria Winston trained at The Culinary Institute of America in San Antonio and runs a full-service catering company in Houston, with more than 18 years of experience. The specialties range from soul food and Creole to Japanese and Asian fusion, and Satandria has cooked Japanese menus for our clients in Houston.
What a private sushi chef costs in Houston
These are real prices, not estimates. Across the 21 Japanese menus our clients in Houston have booked since we started, the median was $183 per guest, and the middle half paid between $160 and $230. The price per guest goes down as the group grows, because the chef’s time, travel and setup are shared. These are the medians across the 395 Japanese menus booked in the US over the last 24 months:
| Group size | Median price per guest | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2 guests | $218 | $182–$250 |
| 3-6 guests | $170 | $155–$200 |
| 7-12 guests | $154 | $135–$185 |
| 13+ guests | $150 | $125–$165 |
Chefs send you their menu and price before you book, so you know the final cost up front; it depends on the menu, the ingredients and the number of guests.
If you’re ready to book a private chef in the city, you can explore our full list of private chefs available in Houston, covering all cuisines and occasions. Looking for something more specific? Check out our dedicated private sushi chef service to see what’s possible when tradition meets personal dining.
