IRO Sushi is set to make its Scottish debut in Glasgow this summer after signing its first site in Scotland, with the fast-growing Japanese food brand targeting up to 20 locations across the country.
The new restaurant will open at 249–257 Sauchiehall Street, taking over the former Oodles Wok unit. The exact opening date has not yet been announced. The Glasgow launch marks the beginning of IRO Sushi’s planned Scottish rollout, with the company already looking for additional sites and franchise partners in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.
Founded in 2014 by trained sushi chef Chhong Sherpa, IRO Sushi specialises in made-to-order sushi alongside Japanese-inspired hot dishes. The brand has expanded primarily through franchising and now operates more than 35 locations across the UK, having opened more than 20 sites over the past three years.
“Glasgow is an important milestone for IRO Sushi and our first step into Scotland,” said Sherpa, Founder and CEO of IRO Sushi. “We have reviewed opportunities here for several months, and Sauchiehall Street gives us the right platform to introduce IRO Sushi to customers in Glasgow and build from there.”
“We are already looking at further opportunities in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen and believe Scotland could support up to 20 IRO Sushi locations over time,” he added. “We will grow carefully with the right sites and franchise partners, while maintaining the quality, value and operating standards that have driven our growth.”
IRO Sushi’s Scottish expansion comes after a strong period of UK growth. The brand opened new restaurants in Woking, Tunbridge Wells, Maidenhead and Bristol during the first half of 2026. For the 26 weeks ended June 30, 2026, the company reported system sales of £11.1 million, up 28% year on year, while like-for-like sales increased 20%.
The business has set a longer-term ambition of reaching 100 locations globally by 2030, with its expansion strategy extending beyond the UK into Europe and the Middle East. In November 2025, IRO Sushi said it had signed agreements for at least 10 additional stores and reported system sales of approximately £16 million for the year to March 2025, up 56% year on year.
Franchising remains a central component of the growth strategy. IRO Sushi launched its franchise programme in 2019 and provides franchisees with support across site selection, restaurant design, operations, marketing and training. Its current franchise programme includes two weeks of head-office training, pre-opening support from its head chef and front-of-house management team, and ongoing operational assistance.
The company has also been developing its franchise proposition to make expansion more accessible to operators, including joint-venture arrangements supported by external financing. The strategy is intended to help the brand recruit additional franchise partners while maintaining operational standards as its estate expands.
IRO Sushi positions itself around fresh, made-to-order Japanese food at accessible prices. Its menu spans sushi, sashimi, nigiri and rolls as well as katsu curries, teriyaki, noodles and gyozas, giving the business a broader fast-casual proposition beyond sushi alone.
The Glasgow opening therefore represents both a new geographic market for IRO Sushi and a further test of its franchise-led expansion model. With Scotland identified as having capacity for up to 20 restaurants, the Sauchiehall Street site is expected to serve as the launch point for a wider Scottish network.
