Meals being prepped at Musang’s Community Kitchen. Photo credit: Musang Seattle.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, restaurants all over the nation are struggling to keep their doors open. In spite of it all, Seattle’s restaurants are still saying, #WeGotThisSeattle. In celebration of AAPI Heritage Month, we’re highlighting ten AAPI-owned businesses who continue to give back to the community and remind us of the many ways that small businesses are so much more than the products and services for sale.
Your continued patronage and support of these businesses keeps their doors open and supports their community giving.
WHO THEY ARE: Owned by chef Melissa Miranda, this mission-driven, Flipinx restaurant strives to cultivate a symbiotic relationship with the community and meet its needs. In addition to their delicious menu of homestyle Filipinx offerings, Musang celebrates and works to preserve Filipinx culinary traditions, supports rising chefs, and more.
HOW THEY GIVE: Per their mission, Musang quickly transitioned to meet the needs of the community. In March, they pivoted to open their Community Kitchen Meal Program which offers free meals (no questions asked) three days a week. The meals are designed for take-and-go reheat, but folks can pick up hot meals, too.
HOW YOU CAN HELP: The restaurant accepts donations of non-perishable food items during business hours, and you can contribute to the Community Kitchen and the Musang Staff Relief Fund on Venmo, @Melmir! Wednesday-Saturday, order from their Lutong Bahay menu and enjoy a delicious home-cooked meal. Read more here.
WHO THEY ARE: This popular Korean-comfort food restaurant is a relaxed place to grab kimchi fried rice and a craft cocktail. It’s named “anju” for a reason, because that’s the Korean term for “food eaten with alcohol!” After years in construction, owner Sam Jo opened the restaurant in 2018 and never looked back.
HOW THEY GIVE: Anju Bar and Eatery has been regularly delivering hot lunch meals to healthcare workers at Harborview Medical, VA Puget Sound, and community health clinics! Checkout their drop offs here.
HOW YOU CAN HELP: Support Anju Bar and Eatery by ordering dinner from their curbside pickup menu! Bonus: Pick up curbside alcohol! They’re offering a selection of soju, wine, and beer.
WHO THEY ARE: Inspired by her passion for animal welfare and her desire to share her family’s Vietnamese recipes, Tanya Nguyen opened Chu Minh Tofu in 2011. Vegan foodies delight in her delicious meat-free banh mi, pho, and buffet dishes.
HOW THEY GIVE: Chu Minh Tofu has opened its doors every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. to distribute meals for folks experiencing homelessness. Every weekend, over 50 individuals arrive to receive food from the restaurant!
HOW YOU CAN HELP: Tanya asks that people continue to spread the word about her Sunday meals. Additionally, you can order delicious vegan Vietnamese takeout for lunch or dinner Tuesday-Saturday! Check out their schedule here.
WHO THEY ARE: The experimental menu at this restaurant is largely inspired by owners Uyen Nguyen and Chris Cvetkovich’s passion for travel. Their eclectic, rotating menu has gained Nue neighborhood popularity since it opened in 2015.
HOW THEY GIVE: Owners Uyen Nguyen and Chris Cvetkovich make trips to local hospitals and clinics multiple times each week to drop off meals! In addition, Nue eliminates food waste by offering pay-what you can produce pick-up to their community! All donated funds go to their nonprofit fund, Nue Planet, which funds their meals for health care first responders in Seattle.
HOW YOU CAN HELP: Buy a produce basket, or make a monetary donation to Nue Planet to feed health care workers at clinics and hospitals. Order from their special menus and gift boxes to support the restaurant. Follow Nue on Facebook to stay up to date!
WHO THEY ARE: Rachel Yang and Seif Chirchi were eager to bring their menu of flavorful comfort foods to the Seattle area. Since it opened in 2010, Revel has “wow-ed” Seattleites with its inventive Korean-fusion street food dishes that include dumplings, noodle bowls, and more!
HOW THEY GIVE: With support from food supplier, Niman Ranch, Revel has launched their Fremont Family Meal (FFM). This rotating menu item is offered on a pay-as-you-wish scale, and intended to be free for all who need it. Any donations for this menu item will directly support Seattle hospitality industry workers.
HOW YOU CAN HELP: Donate directly to Revel’s Relay Relief Fund or pay-as-you-can for the Fremont Family Meal to support Seattle hospitality workers. Alternatively, order from their standard take-out menu, all tips go to the Relay Relief Fund.
WHO THEY ARE: At Ba Bar, sibling duo Sophie and Eric Banh approach the traditional ingredients of Saigon street food with a collective genius. Their unique approach to Vietnamese flavors, house cocktails, and freshly made pastries has earned the restaurant neighborhood acclaim.
HOW THEY GIVE: In partnership with the Seattle Science Foundation, Ba Bar is working tirelessly to feed healthcare workers on the front lines of the crisis. The restaurant is turning out 100 meals per day during a 90-day initiative.
HOW YOU CAN HELP: You can learn more about the 100 Meals a Day initiative by clicking here. You can support Ba Bar by ordering a cocktail kit or delicious Vietnamese meal for pickup!
WHO THEY ARE: The idea for Bellden Cafe transpired after Claire Sumadiwirya’s son was hospitalized in China. During his recovery, she found herself yearning for the comforts of a hospital coffee shop. Today, her cafe serves the “creature comforts” of delicious coffee and gives back to the community regularly by donating leftover food and featuring a rotating charity item on their menu!
HOW THEY GIVE: In alignment with their origin story and philanthropic mission, Bellden Cafe has supported nearby Overlake Hospital and the Seattle Police Department by delivering coffee, pastries, and medical masks. Additionally, the cafe makes donations to organizations like Vision House, Jubilee REACH, Bellevue Farmers Market, and more.
HOW YOU CAN HELP: Order your usual coffee, breakfast sandwich, or delicious avocado toast off of Bellden Cafe’s drive-up or curbside contactless pick-up! Also, check out their menu section that says “Support a Farmer/COVID-19 Worker/Barista” and choose from their various donation options. Check out the menu here.
WHO THEY ARE: Sweet Alchemy is the innovative brainchild of former art student, Lois Ko. Her ice cream shops are both beautiful and eco-friendly, sourcing only local, organic ingredients.
HOW THEY GIVE: To sweeten UW Virology’s day, Sweet Alchemy partnered with Salumi Salami and Seattle Chocolate to donate 100 servings of ice cream and other delicious goodies! They’ve also made drop offs at Overlake Medical Center and Harborview Lab! Check out their drop-offs on their Facebook page.
HOW YOU CAN HELP: Is your sweet tooth calling? Be sure to order delicious ice cream, soft pastry, or a custom cake for store pick-up or delivery!
WHO THEY ARE: Chef Mutsuko Soma isn’t just a connoisseur of soba noodles, she’s also a Level 3 Sake Sommelier! When she found out that Washington State is one of the largest producers of buckwheat, the staple soba ingredient, she opened her beloved restaurant, Kamonegi in 2017.
HOW THEY GIVE: Kamonegi launched their #mealsforheros initiative and donates hot meals to front line workers at Swedish Cherry Hill and UW Medical Center.
HOW YOU CAN HELP: Donate to the #mealsforheros initiative and follow their progress on Facebook here. Also, order takeout from their updated takeout menu here.
WHO THEY ARE: This Vietnamese fusion restaurant quickly gained fame for its amazing beef ong choy salad and festive ambience. While its upstairs karaoke bar and banquet room are currently on hold, owner Stacey Van is still making delicious Vietnamese-fusion dishes with fresh, organic produce and locally sourced seafood!
HOW THEY GIVE: Rainier Restaurant and BBQ has made regular donations to local hospitals including Holly Park Clinic, Harborview, Swedish, and Seattle Children’s Hospital. They’ve also been dropping off food to the residents of local Kin On Nursing Home! Follow their drop-offs here.
HOW YOU CAN HELP: 100 percent of donations made on Venmo to @Stacey-Van1 will go to efforts to feed healthcare workers! You can also order from their menu for pick-up.
We’d love to know about local businesses that are making a difference in your community. Tag us when you shout them out on social media or send us a note and let us know why they inspire you to #SpendLikeItMatters!
Thanks for all that you do to #SpendLikeItMatters! Discover awesome brick + mortar small businesses in your community, suggest your favorites, and be sure that you’re following us on social media (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter).
Intentionalist is your local guide to small businesses and the diverse people behind them. We believe that where you spend your money matters, and we’re sure glad you do too! Whether you identify as a localist, activist, or just a good neighbor, we make it easy for you to connect with, learn about, and support small businesses in your community through everyday decisions about where you eat, drink, and shop.