Michelin-Starred Chef Signed On To Lead Rooftop Japanese Restaurant At RMD Group's Revamp Of Downtown San Diego's Former Grand Pacific Hotel

January 8, 2019

Two time Michelin-starred chef, Akira Back, is signed on to lead the 5,000 square foot rooftop, modern Japanese restaurant being installed as part of RMD Group's multi-concept revamp of the historic Grand Pacific Hotel in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter.

News broke early last year that San Diego's RMD Group - the hospitality company behind such downtown cocepts as Volcano Rabbit, Rustic Root, Side Bar, and Ciro's Pizzeria - had big plans to construct a multi-level, multi-concept restaurant, bar and entertainment venue at the historic Grand Pacific Hotel building sited at the corner of 5th and J in the heart of the Gaslamp. Last Fall, the company announced that it hired highly-respected native San Diego chef James Montejano to oversee developing the culinary side of the company's numerous dining venues, including helming the kitchen at the 7,000 square foot, onsite steakhouse and whisky bar - Huntress.


Now word is out that RMD Group will be opening a rooftop, high-end Japanese restaurant called Lumi, helmed by highly decorated chef Akira Back. Back was born in Korea and raised in Aspen, CO, where he was a professional snowboarder before eventually becoming the executive chef of Nobu. Back has opened restaurants in 9 countries over his career, including Yellowtail by Akira Back and Kumi by Akira Back, both in Las Vegas, as well as his namesake Akira Back restaurants in Singapore, Toronto, Vietnam, Bangkok, Jakarta, and New Delhi. Back also operates Dosa in Seoul, which has earned the chef Michelin Star honors for the past two years.




A post shared by Lumi by Akira Back (@lumirooftop) on

Lumi is being billed as "an energetic and upscale rooftop experience serving modern Japanese fare and sushi accompanied by handcrafted libations in a vividly unique atmosphere." Set to open as early as Spring 2019, Lumi by Akira Back will feature Asian flavors with a California twist. The restaurant will also have a full liquor license, boasting a large list of Japanese beer, sake, whisky and cocktails, as well as its own Toki highball machine. The restaurant is being designed by Davis Ink, who will use organic materials and Japanese architectural inspiration to emphasize the outdoor atmosphere and downtown views, including a bar constructed with granite boulders and ceilings layered with living plants. 

For more information about RMD Group & Lumi, visit rmdgroupsd.com/lumi.