Chef Vincent Olivier

From La Rochelle to Tokyo

Born in La Rochelle, Vincent Olivier spent the first twenty years of his life there. After studying business, he gained experience in restaurants and discovered sushi almost by chance, answering a job advert. The precision, the rigour — everything captivated him immediately.

Convinced by his friend Pierre-Maël Belaïfa, himself a former French sushi champion, he travelled to Japan in October 2024. At the prestigious Tokyo Sushi Academy, he refined those precise gestures that had drawn him in, respecting traditional Japanese techniques.

Kinkō: a counter, six seats, a dialogue with the sea

Back in France, Vincent looked for a mentor, a sushi chef from whom to perfect his craft. He didn't find one. So he went it alone. In May 2025, he created Kinkō Omakase in the centre of Capbreton, in the Landes.

A six-seat counter where guests entrust him — sole master on board — for a refined and contemporary take on omakase around sushi. The fish is bought each morning directly from the boats at Capbreton harbour — no auction here, just the sea and the fishermen's trust.

Kinkō (均衡) means "balance" in Japanese. This word encapsulates the chef's vision: harmony between Japanese tradition and Atlantic produce, between technical rigour and sincerity.

French Sushi Champion 2026

On 15 April 2026, in La Rochelle — his hometown — Vincent Olivier won the 9th edition of the French Sushi Championship, against 14 other candidates. More than a title: a symbol for this 28-year-old chef who returned crowned to where it all began.

It was his third participation. Previous editions, he admits he hadn't trained much. This time, he arrived prepared. Hard work paid off.

Read the full championship article →

Recognised expertise

The rice is prepared following a precise process — washing, cooking, seasoning with rice vinegar — to achieve the perfect texture and temperature. The cutting of the fish follows traditional Japanese methods, adapted to each species. Each nigiri is shaped by hand in a few precise gestures.

His work has been featured in Sud Ouest and France Bleu, which highlighted this unique address in the Landes. Rated 5/5 on Google with over 100 reviews, Kinkō has established itself as a reference for Japanese cuisine in southwest France.