JA's Favorite AAPI Culinary Businesses

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In Part 2 of JA’s celebration of AAPI-owned businesses, we share with you a condensed list of our favorite culinary masters in the Seattle region.

We are fortunate to have such a great variety of Asian cuisine available to us in our community, but it’s not uncommon for Americans to lump all AAPI foods together under one umbrella without appreciating the diversity of people, place, and ingredients that go into different AAPI cuisine.

Some culinary traditions have been handed down from generation to generation, for hundreds, or even thousands, of years. Did you know the Chinese noodle originated almost 4,000 years ago? Imagine the family recipe that evolved over those four millennia!

The diverse array of food in Asian and Pacific Islander cultures is beloved by Americans of all backgrounds. Unfortunately, due to racist stereotypes, some non-Asian Americans expect AAPI restaurants to serve larger portions for less money, ignorant to the monetary and cultural value of foods they enjoy.

As AAPI allies, we should be prepared to pay fairly for the ingredients and the artistry involved in this cuisine. We invest in what we value, and as consumers we can empower the small and local businesses of our neighbors and communities. There’s never been a better time than now to seek out AAPI-owned businesses to support with your words and your dollars.

Here is just a tiny collection of the AAPI culinary talent in our area, and we encourage you to share with us your favorites in the comment section!

FOOD

Hand-Pulled Noodles: Biang Biang Noodles / Alison Deng, Sia Zhang & Yuming Xu
Now that we’ve started talking about noodles, we can’t stop thinking about them! Women founded and owned, Deng, Zhang, and Xu opened this restaurant in June 2020 — in the midst of the pandemic. Specializing in Xi’an style hand-pulled noodles, Marketing Specialist Jasmyn couldn’t resist trying this restaurant when they opened in a mixed-use building where a friend lives. Trying only the Cumin Lamb Dry Mix Noodles and Mala Spicy Beef Fried Noodles so far, she recommends giving these thick and chewy noodles some of your attention the next time you’re in Capitol Hill.

Japanese, Sushi: Nishino / Tatsu Nishino
JA Principal Alison has dubbed Nishinos the best sushi in town! She has a hard time choosing a favorite dish, but the agedashi tofu, oshinko maki, nasu dengaku, and hamachi kama sansho yaki (broiled yellowtail collar served teriyaki style), are among her favorites. Chef Nishino was born in Kyoto, Japan, attended Nihon Chorishi Gakko (The Japanese Culinary School) in Osaka, and opened his Seattle restaurant in 1995 near Washington Arboretum Park, where it remains today. And if you’ve ever wanted to cook like a Japanese chef, Chef Nishino created a downloadable tasting menu cook book available on the restaurant’s website here. In Alison’s opinion, the second best sushi in Seattle is a tie between Maneki’s (Seattle’s oldest Japanese restaurant, celebrating it’s 117th anniversary this year!) and Sushi Kappo Tamura. Give all of them a try and let us know your favorites!

Image credit: Biang Biang Noodles / Facebook

Image credit: Biang Biang Noodles / Facebook

 

Japanese, Izakaya & Ramen: Yoroshiku / Keisuke Kobayashi
Izakaya is the Japanese equivalent to a Spanish tapas bar, however, what brings JA Architect Kameron here is the amazing ramen! Kobayashi came to Seattle with a dream to bring a piece of Japanese culture to the Emerald City. When he learned that the fastest way he could get a residential Visa in the United States was to open a restaurant, he moved back home and took on a four year cooking and management apprenticeship. Kobayashi opened Yoroshiku with his wife and friend in Wallingford in 2012 where it still stands today, but now doubled in size. Stop by and let us know if the ramen wins your heart too!

 
 
 
Image Credit: Musang / Facebook

Image Credit: Musang / Facebook

Filipino: Musang Seattle / Melissa Miranda
Chef Miranda never intended on opening up a Filipino restaurant, but when she came back to the Beacon Hill neighborhood she grew up in to find her favorite Filipino landmarks gone, she knew that Seattle needed a straight-up Filipino restaurant.

Using techniques learned while cooking in Italy and New York, Miranda elevates traditional Filipino dishes with beautiful plating while maintaining the familiar flavors loved by Filipinos. Last November Seattle Met named Musang (named after Miranda’s father’s nickname) its Restaurant of the Year, not only for the food, but for the community and cultural focus Miranda has embedded into the restaurant’s framework.

Through the pandemic, Miranda opened up her dining room for Filipino cooking classes, instituted four-day work weeks for employees to give them a better work-life balance, and organized a kitchen collective with a group of like-minded chefs to provide meals for food insecure community members. If you’re not sure what to try first, Interior Designer Elly suggests ordering the Sinigang and Pork Sisig!

 
 

Restaurant Group: Relay Restaurants (Revel & Joule ) / Rachel Yang
Rachel Yang, alongside her husband, co-owns these restaurants which were built around their love of bold and unexpected Asian flavors combined with classic and rigorous technique. Both restaurants are a favorite of JA Interior Design Principal Leah, who’s favorite dish at Revel, a Korean-American restaurant, was the Corned Lamb Mizuna Salad with Spicy Nuoc Cham dressing, before it was rotated off the menu. She says, however, “There are so many other tasty dishes on the menu. I also love the Crab Noodle with red curry sauce and crème fraiche.”

 
IMAGE CREDIT: 45th Stop & Shop

IMAGE CREDIT: 45th Stop & Shop

Poke: 45th Stop & Shop Poke Bar / John Chung
Another popular restaurant among the JA team is an unassuming poke bar tucked away inside a convenience store. Despite it’s unusual location, this poke is not to be underestimated! According to co-owner John Chung, their fish is sustainably harvested and delivered daily by a confidential local distributor. Team members Sarah and Jack have made 45th a regular part of their lunch rotation - go check it out!

 

Pho: Pho Bac Sup Shop(s) / Yenvy, Quynh & Khoa Pham
Owned by the Pham siblings, Pho Bac has arguably the best Pho broth in all of Seattle and many JA team members would agree. Submitted several times as a favorite at the firm, enough great things cannot be said about this authentic Vietnamese soup (and more) shop! If you’ve yet to try Pho Bac, JA Associate Lu recommends her favorite item, the Pho Suon Bo (short rib Pho).

 

Thai: Bangrak Market / SangDuen Auesiriwong & Ott Jaicharoensook
Seeking to create an authentic Thai street market dining experience, co-owners and chefs SangDuen and Ott took inspiration from their home country’s colorful, festive, and fun atmosphere for the interior of the space. They offer small plates on the menu that are best for sharing, so try a bit of everything! Bangrak opened in 2019 and was named Seattle’s best Thai street food by JA Designer Lu.

Farm: Kamayan Farm / Ariana de Leña
Located outside of Seattle, Kamayan Farm gets its namesake from a Tagalog word meaning “with hands.” This refers to the ancestral and sacred way Filipinos eat food, which serves as a reminder that we are inherently connected to the land that feeds us. Through her farm, de Leña links culture, land, and medicine in the same story, and explores the impact each have on the other. Kamayan Farms practice’s carefully honor the spirit of the land, disregarding a focus on monetary profit, and instead prioritizes providing Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) boxes to community members most in need.

 
 

Dessert: Macadons / Donna Chan
”We’re just trying to make cookies and spread joy and make people happy with sweets, so it really hurts us,” said Donna Chan, about the repeated vandalism of her macaron and ice cream shop. Located in White Center, Chan’s shop has been hit by vandals five times since December 2020, with the most recent occurring at the beginning of May 2021.

By visiting Macadons you can help Donna, who happens to be a good friend to JA Principal Cindy, recover some of her losses while enjoying her delicious sweets. If you feel moved to further support Macadons, as well as the other nearby businesses who’ve also been affected by vandalism, the White Center Business Alliance has organized a fundraiser to help offset the cost of damages done.

 

BEVERAGES

Coffee: Hello Em Viet Coffee & Roastery / Yenvy Pham & Nghia Bui
Located inside Little Saigon Creative in the International District, Hello Em is the first Vietnamese coffee roaster in the country’s self-proclaimed coffee capital, Seattle. Founders Pham (who you may recognize from a previously mentioned business, Pho Bac) and Bui have known each other since they were children and bring Vietnamese coffee directly from the source. They specially picked out their coffee beans in Đắk Lắk, where Bui was born, and coincidentally, in the province where his family grows coffee beans.

Opening their doors only in early 2021, Bui says, "More than a coffee shop, we want to help the community out. We could just go out and buy any coffee beans but we choose to go and buy Vietnam coffee beans to help our culture and our people.” So, what are you waiting for? Support them, their culture, and head on over to enjoy a delicious cà phê lá dừa (espresso, pandan condensed milk) with egg cloud, Cindy’s coffee of choice.

 
 

Boozy: Chuck’s Hop Shop / Chuck Shin
Offering a wide selection of microbrews and craft beers, Shin created a space for beer lovers, their dogs, and their families to gather, taste new beers, and enjoy the rotating schedule of food trucks at his hop shops in Seattle’s Greenwood and Central District neighborhoods. Luckily for JA Marketing Director Liz, she lives just around the corner from the CD location, where covered outdoor seating allowed her to keep up with her “bubble friends” throughout quarantine. Liz explains, “Chuck is so well-known around the Northwest for his incredible beer shops that breweries create special beers just for his shops to sell,” so be sure to ask for any exclusive beers on tap! And before you head over to sample some brews, remember to sign up for a table online, because seating at both busy locations is by reservation only.

 

Boba: Drip Tea / Justin Nguyen,
My-Lai Phan, & Paul Kwon
Part bubble tea shop, part concept store, Drip Tea has only been open for little over a year and has already gained widespread popularity in Seattle. Most recognized on Instagram for their adorable Bear bottles and “Bearyaki” soft serve ice cream, Drip Tea offers more than just delicious and cute treats. It also includes a curated selection of clothes, sneakers, and other items for purchase, as well as a showcase/pop-up area in the picture worthy shop. Cindy recommends the Heart Eyes (Matcha with strawberry milk and strawberry bits) but assures that you can’t go wrong with any choice as they’re all fantastic.