May is AAPI Heritage Month, a time to celebrate and recognize the history, culture, and achievements of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. To honor this occasion, we are highlighting some of our incredible AAPI-owned restaurant partners. These restaurants are owned and operated by talented entrepreneurs who have poured their hearts and souls into their establishments, bringing the authentic and diverse flavors of their culture to their communities. Join us in celebrating AAPI Heritage Month by learning more about some of our remarkable AAPI-owned restaurants from the owners themselves in the Q&A below.
Gangnam Sushi & Grill
Location: Tempe, Arizona
Owner: Johnathan Park
Cuisine type: Japanese, mainly sushi
Favorite dish: Stir-fried octopus
What would you like others to know about your restaurant?
We cater to the general public. We try to make sure everything is made from scratch—all our sauces. We try to keep as traditional as possible with a modern twist.
What has owning a business taught you?
A lot of people think owning a business means you get to do whatever you want. It is the opposite—you are on duty 24-7. You have to focus on the minor details all the time. You are always on the grind. You have to be able to know and do everything if you are going to ask others to do something. You have to remember that people who work for you chose to work for you. And you don’t order them around, it is a request. There must be a mutual level of respect.
What advice do you have for aspiring restaurant owners?
Be ready to be stressed. There will always be stress. Don’t expect things to go smoothly, there will always be things that go wrong.
Bone Kettle
Location: Pasadena, California
Owner: Eric Tjahyadi
Cuisine type: Indonesian dishes that revolve around slow-cooked bone broth
Favorite dish: Oxtail dumplings
What would you like others to know about your restaurant?
We are family owned and operated. Our menu is a true collaboration and a reflection of our team’s experiences, interpretations, and love for Southeast Asian cuisine. We’re proud to be a part of the Old Pasadena community of small businesses and mom n’ pop restaurants. We love showcasing our culture in an uplifting and inspiring way and we always hope that customers come through the door to experience something new and adventurous.
What has owning a business taught you?
You will make a ton of mistakes and fail many times, but you’ll learn how to get back up.
What advice do you have for aspiring restaurant owners?
Approach everything with wonder/curiosity and an open mind, but never lose sight of your vision. Be prepared for changes and being uncomfortable.
Dragon Flame
Location: Tempe, Arizona
Owner: Kun Mao
Cuisine type: Northern Chinese
Favorite dish: Lemon chicken
What would you like others to know about your restaurant?
Our food is healthy. We use real bone broth and real ingredients. We are the only restaurant in Arizona that serves a lot of the dishes that we have, for example we serve lemon chicken which is the ancestor of orange and pineapple chicken. We have customers from Los Angeles and New York who come here for the chicken. Our fried rice is genuine Chinese fried rice rather than the Americanized version, our materials are imported from China. I am so happy to spread the Chinese culture through food.
What has owning a business taught you?
To have people skills, be calm, and have patience. Adversity is normal and something everyone has to learn to overcome. Details matter. Do not cheat on the steps, the ingredients, and the care. Be serious. Cooking food is not only cooking food. How to encourage people. I learned to appreciate that every day, I am creating a legacy.
What advice do you have for aspiring restaurant owners?
Do not think the restaurant is only cooking. Learn people skills, pay attention to details, and control your emotions. The easy way is not always the best way. Quality ingredients and pride in your food matters.
Happy Baos
Location: Mesa, Arizona
Owner: Matthew Ma
Cuisine type: Chinese
Favorite dish: Xiao Long Bao aka soup dumplings
What would you like others to know about your restaurant?
We specialize in handmade dumplings, noodles, and baos—family recipes passed down through generations.
What has owning a business taught you?
Planning and organization can help you a lot along the way.
What advice do you have for aspiring restaurant owners?
If you want to open a restaurant, make sure that you know how to do the work, build a system so you don’t have to always be present, and build a good work environment for your employees.
Soosanghan Pocha
Location: Palisades Park, New Jersey
Owner: Sung Kim
Cuisine type: Korean and pub food
What would you like others to know about your restaurant?
We are a Korean pub with a bar, karaoke, and outdoor dining. We are an entertaining place and a lot of fun. We can host indoor and outdoor parties.
What advice do you have for aspiring restaurant owners?
Work hard and always be prepared to invest in upgrades.
Hon Machi Sushi & Cocktails
Location: Chandler, Arizona
Owner: Jungsuk (Jackie) Byun
Cuisine type: Japanese, sushi, and Asian Fusion
Favorite dish: Salmon sushi
What would you like others to know about your restaurant?
We have a great fresh sushi selection and non-sushi items as well for everyone to enjoy. We offer fast and caring service.
What has owning a business taught you?
I am happy to see people smiling when they walk out from my restaurant. It taught me to be patient and taught me about building great customer relationships. If you care, the customer knows it and appreciates your food. When people say nice things about my food it makes me happy and inspires me to keep on providing great food for them.
What advice do you have for aspiring restaurant owners?
If I put myself as a customer in a situation, I ask myself, “Was the food I bought a good value?” You must always be aware of what your customer cares about. When you care, people will come back. Marketing is important and you must search the demographics around your location. If you go somewhere with less competition, it can be easier.
We hope this spotlight on AAPI-owned restaurants has inspired you to try new foods and support local businesses. Each of these featured restaurants are a testament to the hard work, passion, and dedication of AAPI entrepreneurs, who have successfully brought their culinary visions to life. Thank you to all the wonderful AAPI-owned restaurants that allowed us to share their stories and advice.
The information contained in this digital content is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as providing tax, legal, accounting, career, business, or other professional advice. You should consult your own professional advisors before engaging in any course of action. Restaurant owners were not compensated for their participation in this blog.
