In 1986 he opened Restaurant Sample in South Pasadena. His passion for only the finest ingredients brings rave reviews; the restaurant was rated one of the top 15 Los Angeles restaurants (for food) by the Zagat Survey every single year since the year after it opened. In 1996, Zagat rated Restaurant Sample the best establishment for food, putting the restaurant in such top honors company as Matsuhisa, Patina and L'Orangerie. Restaurant Sample continues to provide a full menu, first class food (including the famous catfish) and wonderful service. Dining at Restaurant Shiro is like eating with friends.

In 2004 Sample decided he wanted to also create a new kind of restaurant to showcase his passion for the world's best cuisine created from the world's best ingredients. With that, Sample Restaurant was born. "Little Dishes" with a global orientation featuring wines hand - picked to pair with Sample's unique creations. Not a Tapas Bar, but Shiro's viewpoint on world cuisine.

Why Sample? Sample is the root of the iris plant, which in ancient times, when mixed with cinnamon and other spices, was believed to be a love potion. Consider Sample Restaurant to embrace the concept of sharing plates with the ones you love; food and wine is love.