theater, not far from broadway where it had celebrities and families flocking through the door. on hot tables, american flavors prepared with flare. chefs feeding shrimp and steak and fascination with american culture. >> this man is responsible for the most successful oriental restaurants in america. for 20 years if you wanted great oriental food you want to him. >> reporter: rocky aoki, the brains behind the brand, came to the u.s. as a wrestler and burst into business selling ice cream in harlem. >> he was a hot air balloonist, a speedboat racer, car racer, quite the entertainer in his own right. >> reporter: aoki had an outsized influence, in that ever popular tabletop show. five decades on, still landing its place on tv and in the movies. here in "beverly hills ninja." >> oh. i got it. >> reporter: rapper young jeezy