Menu & food

Celebrate AAPI month with our favorite restaurants

Sara Detrik
Marketing Manager

This week marks the beginning of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, where we celebrate the essential contributions of the AAPI community. The influence of the AAPI community is unmistakable. Although we could write a million blog posts about every cultural touchstone and tradition that makes up our country, we’ll have to settle for what we know best: the restaurant industry.

The Bbot Foodies are at it again, and we compiled some of our favorite AAPI restaurants across the country. So celebrate with us and make sure to support your local AAPI restaurants this month and every month!

Marafuku Ramen (Oakland, CA)

Marafuku Ramen, Oakland CA

Diners can find this Japanese franchise all over California and Texas, with new storefronts opening even in 2021. They’re incredibly welcoming and are always looking for more franchising options as they move their way across the country.

Marufuku proudly serves the authentic Hakata-style Tonkotsu ramen — featuring milky and umami-rich broth made from boiling pork bones for long hours, an ultra-thin artisanal noodles that match perfectly with the broth, and Cha-shu made from specially selected pork.

Rich white chicken paitan ramen with chicken Cha-shu is also featured on the menu along with variety of mini-sized rice bowls, izakaya-style appetizers, and premium beer & sake. - Marafuku Site

Sura Eats (Palor, Kansas City, MO)

Sura Eats, Palor Kansas City

Chef Keeyoung Kim is known for his delicious and innovative pop-ups throughout Kansas City, but in his brick-and-mortar store in the food hall Parlor, he takes pride in Korean dishes and dining. Sura Eats makes history as the first dedicated Korean dining experience in Kansas City through its bright and gorgeous food and a rotating bowl service.

Chef Kim also has his Korean noodle bar in the same food hall, making this a double whammy! However, we’re big fans of his push for more Korean food in Kansas City and bringing Korean dining culture to Missouri.

Bamboo Sushi (Oregon, California, Washington, Colorado)

Bamboo Sushi, Oregon

What makes Bamboo Sushi so good? Well, aside from fresh and delicious fish and innovative flavor combos, they’re doing their part for the environment. In 2008, Bamboo Sushi made headlines as the world’s first certified sustainable sushi restaurant and never looked back.

Outside of their long and prestigious list of sustainability certifications, they’re also re-writing the book on take-out sushi. Their Bamboo at Home option offers sushi boxes as a reduced form of catering made with green packaging.

"At Bamboo Sushi, we make every decision with the highest regard for this world and the people in it. From transparency in how we source our food to reducing our carbon footprint to enriching the communities we live in; our mission is to change the way people eat, inspiring a shift within the restaurant industry and beyond." - Bamboo Sushi Mission Statement

Poke & Sushi Hut (2nd South Market, Twin Falls, Idaho)

Poke and Sushi Hut, Idaho

Nestled in the heart of Twin Falls food hall 2nd South Market, Poke & Sushi Hut brings delicious and bright bowls to Idaho! Made on-site from local ingredients, their expansive range of grab-and-go options makes their poke bowls extremely accessible. Although this is their first location, we look forward to watching this business evolve and expand across Idaho and beyond.

The food hall itself is located in a historic 94-year-old former machining, blacksmith, boilermaker, welding, and hardware building, steeped in history. This is the first food hall to open in Idaho, creating a community space open for diversifying the Twin Falls food-scape.

The amount of varied food and restaurants from the AAPI community is staggering.

We’ll continue to celebrate and bring attention to AAPI movers and shakers in the restaurant and hospitality industry during this month. So go forth! Buy from your local AAPI restaurants and show your support and appreciation this month.