The AAPISTRONG Restaurant Fund of the National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship (National ACE) provides grants directly to AAPI restaurant owners who have been negatively impacted by Covid-19 throughout the United States. These grants were designed for struggling AAPI restaurants. As restaurants begin to reopen or increase their capacity, unforeseen difficulties, challenges, and costs can accompany this process. National ACE is helping restaurants make this transition by providing them with additional resources. Grubhub’s $2 million donation to the National ACE AAPISTRONG Restaurant Fund is supporting restaurant owners in their efforts to reopen or expand.
"Food really connects our culture, especially the Asian Pacific Islander community. Our culture is very strongly tied with food. I'm very thankful to receive this gift from your association and support from the community. We all love food, and we believe when we share food, we share family. Hopefully I can give back, not only to the AAPI community, but also everybody and anybody who might need help.”
Saki Melius , owner of Kyu Ramen
“It means everything. Our Polynesian culture is something sacred and between family, but times have changed. The world is so big and vast. For our culture to survive, it's important share it. Everyone wants to learn about it and the best way to teach the culture is through food. To me, AAPISTRONG means we can pass down our culture to young people and teach them where it comes from, how it was there, the good uses of it, and negative uses of it, so they understand that it is available to them.”
Tevita Ofahenague, owner of Rekava Cafe
AAPISTRONG means “we are strongly represented, and our voices can be heard. And our cultures can also be instilled into this wildly diverse community.”
Joni Navarra , owner of East Market and Goods
"Sunrise Middle Eastern Deli is a family owned and operated business. It's been in the San Francisco's Sunset District since 1984. It's been owned and operated by my family for all those years. Currently, my father and I run the operation. We've been touched by the recent racist attacks on the Asian American community since the pandemic, really and probably even before that. It that is our community, we're proud to be a part of it.”
Khaled Ramadan, owner of Sunrise Middle Eastern Deli
"We joined Facebook groups and we're supporting restaurants that we really love and especially Asian owned businesses, because at the beginning was really tough. I know people that lost their businesses. I know other people that were struggling, so AAPISTRONG means to me is just coming together as a community. It doesn't matter what race segment, we're all in this together. It's about really supporting what we enjoy and what we love in our community.”
Alan Chan, Sean Xin, and Neil Sabnani, owners of Bubble Egg Garden Oaks
"Pho 95 opened in 2008 and since then we have been serving the southwest Denver metro area for over 13 years. The support from our community was overwhelming and helped Pho 95 get over the economic impact of 2020; therefore Pho 95 partnered with our sponsor like Catalyst Solution to deliver foods for first responders.”
Aaron Le, owner of PHO 95 Vietnamese Restaurant
In Korean, Daol means "All the blessings will come." Sunny decided to name the restaurant Daol with the expectation of all the blessings will come if you work hard and faithfully follow your dream. Until this day, Sunny continues to challenge herself to be the best chef and business owner.
Sunny Bae, owner of Daol Tofu
"It's about community and networking and supporting each other within the Asian community.”
Agustina Lumban Gaol and Eugene Villarreal, owners of Sate Texas
“Like many other restaurants throughout the nation, COVID-19 was one of the most impactful challenges that we've had to face & try to overcome. From a drastic reduction in business to increased harassment against the Asian community/businesses, especially within our International District/Chinatown region of Seattle, we were all greatly affected. For us, we define "AAPISTRONG" as collectively standing up for one another in the face of challenges & hate.”
Jiexia Zhang, owner of Fortune Garden
"We are surrounded by hospitals. After asking some of our customers who are nurses, 'How can we help?' We partnered with a local catering company to provide food to the hospitals. We also have a program that provides food to school children who don't have school.”
Chresna Chandra, owner of Ono Sushi
“As an AAPISTRONG Restaurant Fund grant winner, this means a lot to me and my business. With the grant, I'm able to hire one more full-time worker and 2 part-time workers as we've been suffering a while from short staff during rush hours. It also gives me the working capital to add a new line of Southern Asian featured food items to the menu! And of course, it gives me more confidence to overcome the difficulties this COVID-19 pandemic brings to us even though we are still struggling.”
Zhen Yang, owner of Potstickers Plus 1
“Although there was a lot of hate being directed at us, there was also a great amount of support. Customers patiently lined up for take out and drive thru orders, customers were generous with their tips to our servers who were no longer able to serve tables and we survived the lockdown as a better business than we were before COVID.”
Masaru Torito, owner of Fortune Garden
“The AAPISTRONG movement embodies the gritty relentless perseverance Asians have impressed here in the United States through countless necessary quick pivotal adaptations in order to create lasting legacies for future generations.”
Ming Chou, owner of Nu Ice and Drinks
“COVID forced us to close for two months and once we opened again, traffic was slow. Rent stayed the same and we have to make sure our employees are paid.”
Beddy Sonie, owner of MARTABAK OK
AAPISTRONG 2021 Restaurant Fund Winners
Southern California Region:
Arte Cafe
Cafe De Mama
Cafe London Monochrome Coffee & Tea
Choy's Golden Rice Flour
G-gle
Luscious Dumplings
Man Chan Cuisine
Mr. Bossam*
Pho Little Saigon
Super Bowl Express
Super Teriyaki
Sushi Sai
Tatang
Northern California Region:
Bird & Buffalo
Chai Thai Noodles
Co Do Deli
Daol Tofu
GyroStop
Kado's Asian Grill
Kana Sushi
Respectable Bird*
Sobo Ramen
Sunrise Deli
Sweet Maple
Takumi Izakaya Bar
Wonder Cafe & Restaurant
Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, & Kansas Region:
Anise
Bolicious
Homemade Good Morning Donuts
Kokia restaurant
Kokoro Restaurant
Kyu Ramen
Le Gourmet*
pho 95
Saigon Bistro
Seoul K-BBQ & Hot Pot
Tea street
Tibet’s Restaurant and Bar
Twin Dragon Restaurant
North Carolina, South Carolina, District of Columbia, & Virginia Region:
Bo's Cafe
Chi Mc Chicken and beer*
Chinatown Garden*
Duke's pad Thai
Ghin Na Ree Thai Restaurant
Heirloom
Joy Macaron
KOTOBUKI
New China Taste
Rainbow Catering inc
Royal Golden
Social Burger
The Magic Gourd Restaurant
Zamarod
Illinois, Wisconsin, & Minnesota Region:
Chinatown
Dao Thai Restaurant
Hibachi Boy
Honeymoon Cafe
Macku Sushi
Mei's Kitchen
Mom's
Murasaki
Seoul Mama
Shang Noodle Evanston*
Sunny Pho
Tasty Cuisine Chinese Restaurant
Ukai Restaurant
Southwest Texas:
Austin Chai Wala
Deco Cafe Filipiniana
Epic Poke
Fukumoto*
Ichiumi Sushi
Kome Sushi Kitchen
Miyo Yakitori and Sushi
OMG SQUEE
PokiYaki
Sari-Sari Filipino Restaurant Market & Bakery
Sate Texas
Tso Chinese Delivery
Uroko
New York, Connecticut, & Rhode Island Region:
CHIC-HEN
456 New Shanghai
Buddha Bodai Two Kosher Vegetarian
DOMA RESTAURANT
Gentle Perch
JANG DOK DAE
King Wok
PHO 32
Shinsen*
Six Lucky Cafe
STEVE BREAKFAST AND COFFEE
Sushi Ville
Yummy Yummy
Idaho, Utah, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, & South Dakota Region:
ASIAN BUFFET MT
East West Connection
Flavor of Seoul
Ichi Japan Express
Kabob Stop
Koyo restaurant
New China Buffet
Pearl Express
Pho Tay Ho
Potstickers Plus 1
Rekava
Sharlie's Treats
Tosh’s Ramen Holladay
Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, & Tennessee Region:
Blossom Tree
Burger and shake
Estrellita
Foodies Destination
Hello chicken
JuicyDrop
Kuroshima*
Sensational Subs
Thai Shokun restaurantt
Snackboxe Bistro
Tower Newsstand & Deli
WIN Gastrobar - Taste of Bali
Yen Jing Chinese Restaurant
Delaware, New Jersey, & Maryland Region:
CHINA KING PALACE
FRESH GRILL 1968
GAM MEE OK
Hunan Joy
Joy Luck II
Kim Wah Restaurant
Madang Restaurant & Cafe*
New Generation Hot Pot
Oriental Express
S&J POKE BOWL
SHU YA
SUSHI OISHII II
Szechuan Taste
Northeast Texas:
Airi Poke &ramen
Awesome Bites Co.
Bubble Egg Garden Oaks
Deli @ East Market
Khao Noodle Shop
Luvie's Fil-Asian
Northern Pasta
Nu Ice and Drinks
One Dim Sum
Shanghai Chinese Restaurant
Taipei Station Cafe*
Taste Sichuan Bistro
TDY Eatery / Lone Star Cafe
Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, & Massachusetts Region:
An Catering
BEP BUI
Chau Chow
Double Chin
Empire Garden Restaurant*
kaisen
King & I
Le's Restaurant (Cambridge)
Mae Asian Eatery
PAGU
Peach farm restaurant
Station Bistro and KTV
Tanám
Indiana, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Michigan Region:
Asian Legend
DJAKARTA CAFE
HONG HUA FINING CHINESE DINING
Issei Noodle
MARTABAK OK
Mina's Pizza & Restaurant
New country China buffet
New Lee How Fook*
PHO SAIGON
SALT Korean BBQ
Seorabol
Tung's Garden
Waterfront Gourmet
Alaska, Washington, & Oregon Region:
Blossom Vegetarian
Brothers & Co.
Canaan Buffet
Fortune Garden Restaurant
Gan Bei Eatery & Bar
Lemongrass Thai Cuisine
Madras Truck Stop and Cafe
Peking North Restaurant
Red Bamboo Bistro
Renton Countryside Cafe
Taste of Pearl
Tokyo House
Youngwol Noodle*
Nevada, Arizona, & Hawaii Region:
Bab Cafe
Chianti Italian Steak & Seafood
Chow Mein House
Glazers Coffee
Hikari Sushi and Japanese Steakhouse
Jasmine Express*
Noodle King
Ono Sushi
Pho Rose
Pho T
Shang Artisan Noodle
Sherpa Kitchen
Sunville Bakery
*Denotes Runner-Up