In upstate New York, Hokkaido Cafe has quickly become a go-to spot for students and locals craving a fresh take on Japanese cuisine. Founded by Ricky Li, the restaurant embodies his journey from starting from scratch to launching a second location in just two years.
Yet, rapid growth brought familiar pains: missed orders during rushes, reliance on costly third-party delivery apps, and the constant challenge of turning first-time visitors into regulars.
MenuSifu stepped in with a tailored tech stack designed for busy, growing restaurants. The integration began with a streamlined POS system that unified orders from all channels, cut errors significantly, and gave Ricky real-time sales and inventory insights right on his phone—freeing him to focus on food and customer experience.
To ease the rush-hour crunch, self-service kiosks were introduced, reducing queue times by 40%. For online growth, MenuSifu provided a branded ordering site and app, helping Hokkaido build a direct digital channel and reduce platform fees.
Beyond operations, MenuSifu's loyalty system helped turn casual diners into loyal fans through integrated points and automated SMS promotions. MenuSifu also provided 1-on-1 marketing support—from campaign ideas to social content—the cafe now runs targeted outreach that keeps tables full and orders growing.
"MenuSifu made it simple," says Ricky. "My team adopted it easily, and it helped us open our own online storefront, run smart promotions, and attract new customers consistently. That's why both our current and new location run on MenuSifu."
Today, Hokkaido Cafe isn't just a local favorite—it's a streamlined operation ready for what's next. With errors down, efficiency up, and a growing base of returning customers, Ricky's hustle is now powered by systems that work as hard as he does.
