Chef news

James Beard-nominated chef RJ Yoakum joins team at Dallas' Sushi Kozy

Chef RJ Yoakum has been named chef de cuisine of Sushi Kozy.

Photo courtesy of Sushi Kozy

A local chef whose last tenure at a high-profile Dallas restaurant included both high acclaim and a mysterious departure is back in the kitchen: Chef RJ Yoakum has been named chef de cuisine of Michelin-recommended Sushi Kozy.

According to a release, his position at the omakase restaurant started January 3.

“Sushi Kozy is a place where tradition and creativity coexist,” says Yoakum in the release. “I’m excited to collaborate with this team to build an experience rooted in precision, seasonality, and a deep respect for the ingredients and the people behind them.”

After tenures at lauded restaurants such as The French Laundry in Napa and Angler in San Francisco, Yoakum was hired in 2023 as executive chef at Georgie, the buzzy restaurant in Dallas' Knox Street district. He quickly become a favorite of foodies and made Georgie a hot reservation.

During his time, Georgie nabbed a spot on the Michelin Guide's list of "Recommended" restaurants — one of 57 in Texas and 19 in the DFW area.

In addition, Yoakum himself earned a nomination in the 2025 James Beard Awards for "Emerging Chef - a chef who displays exceptional talent, character, and leadership ability."

But in June 2025, Yoakum left Georgie at the request of Stephan Courseau, founder of Travis Street Hospitality and owner of Georgie, who said in a statement, "We recently became aware of multiple violations of company policy that do not align with our company's values."

Sushi Kozy, an upscale omakase restaurant, opened in 2025 in downtown Dallas from chef-owner Paul Ko, previously of Uchi. Sushi Kozy earned Michelin-Recommended status last fall.

"Rooted in the principles of kaiseki, Japan’s traditional multi-course dining style, Sushi Kozy offers a progression-driven experience that emphasizes balance, restraint, and artistry, the release says.

Ko says Yoakum brings teamwork, a pursuit of excellence, discipline, and a respect for sourcing to Sushi Kozy's omakase experience, and that they'll work together "to further refine the restaurant’s seasonal narrative."

“Sushi Kozy represents everything we value — intention, seasonality, and respect for craft,” says Ko. “RJ’s background and mindset align seamlessly with our philosophy, and his addition allows us to push forward thoughtfully while staying true to the soul of what we do.”

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Teresa Gubbins contributed to this story.

Sudden shutters

Salad and Go to close all remaining Dallas restaurants and exit Texas

Photo by Salad and Go

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Quick-salad chain Salad and Go is saying goodbye to Dallas-Fort Worth. The healthy drive-thru company is closing its remaining 25 area restaurants and exiting Texas as it shifts its focus to Arizona and Nevada.

CEO Mike Tattersfield first revealed the closures to the Phoenix Business Journal, confirming that the company will close 25 stores in Texas and seven stores in Oklahoma. He told the publication that Salad and Go would also move its headquarters from Coppell to Arizona and close its Dallas commissary kitchen.

"After assessing our business, we made the decision to exit our Texas and Oklahoma markets and refocus on strengthening our core operations in Arizona and Nevada,” said Tattersfield in an emailed statement. “This step positions Salad and Go for long-term success and ensures we are able to keep delivering on our mission of making fresh, nutritious food convenient and affordable.”

The shutters come at the heels of the September 2025 closing of 41 Texas locations, including all units in Austin, Houston, and San Antonio. At the time, Tattersfield said shrinking its statewide footprint would allow the chain to prioritize its Dallas and Oklahoma business.

Husband-and-wife Tony and Roushan Christofellis founded Salad and Go in 2013 with a mission to make fast food healthier. The tiny drive-thru only stores — some as little as 750 square feet — kept costs down, allowing the brand to sell salads for under $8.

The menu also featured salads, wraps, and soup, served alongside drinks such as lemonade, tea, and cold brew. Tellingly, its latest seasonal offering was the Big AZ Burrito, a not-so-lite wrap with shredded beef, eggs, and triple the amount of pepper Jack cheese.

Salad and Go made its Texas debut in 2021, opening its first location in Plano. The brand quickly expanded, nearly doubling the number of stores over the past two years. By May 2025, they had more than 140 locations. With the closure of the Texas and Oklahoma locations, that number is now down to 70.

Still, the company maintains that Texas and Oklahoma are still key markets.

“We intend to return when the time is right," said Tattersfield in the statement.

The last 25 Dallas-Fort Worth locations that will now close are:

Addison: 3810 Belt Line Rd
Arlington: 938 N Cooper St.
Arlington: 4828 S Cooper St.
Carrollton: 4213 N Josey Ln.
Dallas: 5101 Ross Ave.
Dallas: 10002 Marsh Ln.
Dallas: 4401 Lemmon Ave.
Euless: 211 E Euless Blvd.
Fairview: 351 Stacy Rd.
Farmers Branch: 13005 Josey Ln.
Fate: 4950 E. I-30
Fort Worth: 6900 Blue Mound Rd.
Fort Worth: 4601 Diaz Ave.
Frisco: 7310 Preston Rd.
Grand Prairie: 1045 W Warrior Trail
Hurst: 2250 Precinct Line Rd.
McKinney: 4751 S Custer Rd.
Mesquite: 1950 N Town East Blvd.
Plano: 1400 Coit Rd.
Prosper: 1320 N Preston Rd.
Richardson: 850 E Campbell Rd.
Rowlett: 3201 Lakeview Pkwy.
Sachse: 5010 S State Hwy 78
Watauga: 8448 Denton Hwy.
Waco: 723 S. 6th St.

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Teresa Gubbins contributed to this story.

salad and go closings