Hidden Gems: Meet Josh Brock of Hippie Hibachi

Today we’d like to introduce you to Josh Brock.

Hi Josh, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am originally from Columbia, SC and moved here a little over four years ago and became vegan shortly after. I have worked every job you can in a restaurant and definitely found my passion for cooking after going vegan. Shortly after going vegan, my cravings for hibachi set in, and there was nowhere to get it, so I started making my own at home. It took me about a year to get all of my recipes right and that is when I came up with a name for my restaurant, Hippie Hibachi.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been a huge learning curve with this being my first restaurant. We have had some great help along the way. In the beginning, our main struggle was getting contractors in and getting the space built. We kept having to push the opening date back, but thankfully everyone was patient with us. We took on some projects ourselves which were exciting and challenging. Our biggest hurdle now is staffing, and I know we aren’t alone in this.  Functioning understaffed affects everyone, but our team is getting stronger everyday and our food is definitely more consistent.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We are the world’s first vegan hibachi restaurant and we are 100% gluten-free. I named it Hippie Hibachi to convey the peaceful and compassionate side of vegans. All of our plates come with fried rice and veggies and you can pick one or two proteins. Our most popular is chicken and shrimp, but I like pairing either the impossible or tofu with our specialty organic mushrooms, so good! I am proud to be the first vegan hibachi restaurant ever and proud to be in Atlanta because I have always been jealous of the vegan options in L.A. or New York. The vegan community is very strong in Atlanta and we are growing.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Veganism is booming and I don’t see it slowing down! I am excited to see even more options for vegan cuisine in the Atlanta food scene. I also think the perception of vegan food will evolve, as it’s already changing, and those that are skeptical will realize that plant-based food is flavorful and delicious.  I hope Hippie Hibachi has contributed to this already, and always encourage people to bring their non-vegan friends in for a meal. I have a lot of goals set for the growth of Hippie HIbachi, which include accessibility in areas with fewer vegan options and a few innovative ideas!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.hippiehibachi.com
• Instagram: @hippiehibachi

Image Credits
Photos taken by Thomas Forman Jr.