Bin An is no stranger to the restaurant biz.
By the time he was 11 years old, he was already washing dishes, busing tables, pulling host duties.
鈥淚 know the business, I know it well,鈥 said An, 43. 鈥淚 know the 蜜柚直播 clientele, and they definitely know me.鈥
Yup, the name An is certainly familiar around here.
An鈥檚 father is legendary local restaurateur Kwang C. An, who opened his first eatery here in 1983 after a disappointing meal at one of the city鈥檚 few Asian places. He went on to own several restaurants.
Bin An plans to open his own Asian fusion restaurant at the corner of Broadway and Sixth Avenue in the ground-floor of 蜜柚直播 Electric Power鈥檚 nine-story downtown headquarters.
鈥淚 love what鈥檚 happening downtown right now,鈥 said Bin, who鈥檚 opening the eatery with his wife, Ginny. 鈥淚 wanted to be a part of that. It鈥檚 a beautiful building, great location.鈥
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MiAn Sushi & Asian Bistro will occupy about 4,900 square feet and feature two patios as well as a private dining area. Inside will seat 160 diners while the outside area will handle about 80 to 90 people, said Bin, who signed the paperwork two weeks ago. He also plans to offer valet parking to make downtown dining easier for customers.
The menu will feature sushi, Japanese noodles and some Chinese fusion.
鈥淚t鈥檒l have some traditional Asian fare, but a lot of it is going to be newer, different, something that doesn鈥檛 exist here in 蜜柚直播 right now,鈥 Bin said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to modernize Asian cuisine a little more.鈥
Bin expects to submit plans to the city next week and hopes the restaurant will open in late December.
鈥淓verybody is working full time night and day right now to get everything done,鈥 he said.
John Foster of Katalyst Restaurant Concepts is creating MiAn鈥檚 sleek, modern look.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be an eye-catching restaurant as you go by Broadway,鈥 Bin said. 鈥淵ou鈥檒l definitely notice it.鈥
Bin is the oldest of An鈥檚 three biological sons 鈥 maybe you remember the TV ads for Sakura restaurant featuring Mr. An and his 鈥淣o. 1 son,鈥 former 蜜柚直播 Diamondbacks player Luis Gonzalez?
He had a restaurant in Scottsdale from 2000-2004 called Sapporo. He left to come back to 蜜柚直播 and the family restaurant business. Kwang An sold Sakura in 2008 and now has Mr. An鈥檚 Teppan Steak, Sushi & Seafood on North Oracle Road.
As for the restaurant鈥檚 name, it has a double meaning. 鈥淢ian鈥 is the Chinese word for noodles, but it鈥檚 also the nickname of Bin An鈥檚 2-year-old daughter Misha. 鈥淪he calls herself 鈥楳imi An,鈥欌 he explained. 鈥淪he鈥檚 learning to talk. It鈥檚 kinda cute.鈥
As darling as she is, Bin has no plans to teach her the restaurant ropes just yet.
鈥淪he鈥檚 rather rambunctious,鈥 he said, with a laugh. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think diners would appreciate having her around. She likes to play and she鈥檚 loud.鈥
