Sake Express

Located just outside of Charlotte, NC, Sake Express is a beloved Japanese fast-casual restaurant known for its hibachi, sushi, and loyal customer base. This project was especially meaningful to me—it was my very first job, where I worked for 10 years before starting my creative business. Getting to return full circle and lead their rebrand was both nostalgic and an honor.

Sake Express never had a formal brand guide, so I was brought on to clean up and refine their existing logo, create a more uniform visual system, and build a brand that felt fun, homey, and welcoming—just like the experience you get when dining there. I developed a cohesive identity system with logo variations, a curated color palette, and updated design elements that captured their local, family-friendly vibe.

In addition to the branding, I designed and built a custom website to reflect their refreshed look, improve user experience, and highlight their menu, locations, and story.

Website: thesakeexpress.com