LAS VEGAS, NV and WASHINGTON, DC, October 2023 – Grubhub and the National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (National ACE) announced that 79 Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI)-owned restaurants were awarded grants of $5,000 – $15,000, made possible with a grant from the Grubhub Community Fund. In addition, three finalists were awarded $50,000 grants each live on-stage at the #AAPISTRONG Annual Conference in Las Vegas on October 13, 2023.

With the industry facing ongoing economic challenges, this funding will allow AANHPI restaurateurs to take their business to the next level through development ideas such as infrastructure improvements, e-commerce and technology, employee benefits, and operations streamlining. Ultimately, this will help AANHPI entrepreneurs to scale their businesses, secure their futures, and also give back to the life of their neighborhoods by fostering safe and enjoyable places to gather.

Shauna & Cornelius Tuilaepa, the owners of No Ke Aloha in Aurora Colorado, shared, “These funds will grant us the amazing opportunity to continue to ensure that our community is represented through the presence of food and culture in Colorado. In expanding our business, we can harness a broader reach to all Pacific Islanders and offer a larger variety of favorites while also growing our workforce and providing jobs to more folks in our community. Mahalo nui loa National ACE, Grubhub, and AAPI Strong for your integral support of the AAPI community!!!”

David Maugaotega, owner of Iced in Chicago, Illinois, shared, “I am so grateful to National ACE for the opportunity and recognizing small business entrepreneurship in the AAPI community. With this grant, I have been given the tools to settle some of the financial debt from my equipment purchases and startup costs of my self-made bakery. This relief will allow me to focus on the bigger picture instead of the day-to-day by investing more in other areas, such as marketing, new equipment, and staffing.”

Rhea Patel Michel, owner of Saucy Chick Rotisserie in Temple City, California, shared, “We are so humbled and grateful for this gift. We are in the midst of opening our very own brick and mortar and were finding ourselves uncomfortably strapped for all the critical opening costs needed: signage, core equipment etc. Additionally, due to delays outside of our control, we are extending our time in which we can start generating revenue. Overhead costs like rent are still due. This is such a needed gift and we can’t thank the organization enough.”

Yanna Guan, owner of Na Na’s Kitchen in Brisbane, California, shared, “Receiving these funds from National ACE would be a game-changer for Na Na’s Kitchen. They will empower us to elevate our culinary offerings, strengthen our community engagement, and lay the foundation for strategic expansion. This support not only secures our business’s future but also enhances our ability to enrich the lives of our patrons and the community at large.”

“Our AAPI-owned restaurants proved their resilience and now are looking to the future,” said Chiling Tong, President and CEO of National ACE. “Grubhub’s ongoing commitment to AAPI-owned restaurants is demonstrated by the continuation of this amazing grant opportunity. The grant support from the Grubhub Community Fund will provide AAPI restaurant owners the opportunity to expand their businesses and reach new peaks.”

“National ACE has been an incredible partner to Grubhub on the AAPIStrong restaurant grant program and working with us on shared business and policy priorities,” said Dave Tovar, Senior Vice President of Communications & Government Relations at Grubhub. “Over the years, this program has supported more than 350 AAPI-owned restaurants across the country to both sustain and expand their businesses. Restaurants play a vital role in their communities, and Grubhub is committed to helping them have a positive impact on the people and communities they serve.”

Full List of Winners:

2d restaurant – Chicago, IL

Adobo – Decatur, GA

Aloha Island Market – Mesa, AZ

Aroy Thai – Chicago, IL

banhkhotlady – Westminster, CA

Bela Vegetarian Restaurant – Northampton, MA

BIG SAI’S HAWAIIAN BARBEQUE LLC – Layton, UT

Bobaloompia – Tyler, TX

Canton Village – Gardiner, ME

Chiu Wu – Midwest City, OK

Cloud and Spirits – Cambridge, MA

Cotra – Brooklyn, NY

Dae Jang Geum – Ellicott City, MD

Dumpling Haus – Houston, TX

East Wok – Orlando, FL

Epic Poke – Austin, TX

Falansai – Brooklyn, NY

Fork & Spoon – Portland, OR

Garden’s Gourmet – Tacoma, WA

Golden Dragon (龙记) – Columbia, SC

Habibi Grill – Salt Lake City, UT

Hao Chi – Baltimore, MD

Hop Bo Chinese – Melbourne, FL

Hot Spots – Denton, TX

Hue Vietnamese Restaurant \ Hue Asian Kitchen – Milwaukee, WI

Iced – Chicago, IL

Island Fiyah Grill – Honolulu, HI

Joyu Tea & Coffee – Virginia Beach, VA

Kabob Stop – Salt Lake City, UT

Kabobi By the Helmand – Herndon, VA

Kai Pops Island Style Popsicles – Spanish Fork , UT

Kandahar Grill – Hicksville, NY

Kin Khao Thai and Sushi – Valparaiso, IN

Korai Kitchen – Jersey City, NJ

KOY – Boston, MA

Krakatoa Indonesian Cuisine – Hollywood, FL

Krapow – Culver City, CA

LAN Hand-pulled Noodles – Seattle, WA

Le Gourmet – Iowa City, IA

Le’s Kitchen – Waco, TX

London Grill & Tavern – Mcallen, TX

Magna Kusina – Portland, OR

Mai’s Deli – Appleton, WI

Milk + Honey – Saline, MI

Muang Thai – Eau Claire, WI

Na Na’s Kitchen – Brisbane, CA

Namaste Cafe – Minneapolis, MN

No Ke Aloha – Aurora, CO

Nomad – Hillsborough, NC

Okonomi Asian Grill – Fairfax, VA

Ono Sushi – Las Vegas, NV

Parachute – Chicago, IL

Parklife – Brooklyn, NY

PB Poke House – San Diego, CA

Pho Saigon 75 – Fairfax, VA

Phuket Thai Restaurant – Redondo Beach, CA

Pink Flamingo To Go – Detroit, MI

Platform Z – Bala Cynwyd, PA

Quick Sub Mini Mart – Trenton, NJ

Ranken Noodle House – Gaithersburg, MD

Roebling Pizza – Brooklyn, NY

Saucy Chick Rotisserie – Los Angeles, CA

Shinsen – New York, NY

Simply Khmer – Lowell, MA

Socola Chocolatier – San Francisco, CA

Steep LA – Los Angeles, CA

Suasday Sandwich Co – Boston, MA

Subo Filipino Kitchen – Chicago, IL

Sunhee’s Farm and Kitchen – Troy, NY

Tang and Java – Woodland Hills, CA

Taste of Pearl LLC – Hillsboro, OR

The Shores Kitchen – Santa Monica, CA

TOKEMOANA’S – San Mateo, CA

Urban Roast – Washington, D.C.

Urbanh Cafe – Chandler, AZ

VietFive Coffee – Chicago, IL

Vui Ve – Los Angeles, CA

What the Fried Rice – Northwood, OH

Wok Star Catering – Encino, CA

Wooly Pig – San Francisco, CA

Yoma Burmese Cuisine  – Allston, MA

YuThaiPa Thai Takeaway – Yucaipa, CA