May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, when we celebrate the myriad contributions that generations of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have made to the history and culture of the U.S.
Louisville is home to communities of diverse Asian ancestries and the our cultural landscape is nurtured by their presence here. Here are 14 AANHPI-owned business in Louisville to support this month — and every month!
GOGi 1055 Korean BBQ
1055 Bardstown Rd.The first Korean BBQ in Louisville, GOGi 1055 has been in business since 2020. Manager David Kim recruited engineers from across the country to construct his vision of an open grill that would not leave diners smelling of grease or smoke. “Customers leave without a hint of smelling like a bonfire on their clothes,” he says. And if you crave Korean-style BBQ, from beef brisket to pork jowl cut, alongside a menu that also features savories like mi chin dak chicken wings, GOGi 1055 is your spot. GOGi 1055 via FacebookHeart & Soy
1216 Bardstown Rd.Heart & Soy in the Highlands is owned by Huong “Coco” Tran, a refugee from Saigon in 1975. Coco made her way to Louisville and has since opened Cafe Mimosa, The Egg Roll Machine, and Zen Garden, which was the first vegetarian restaurant in Louisville. She now owns side-by-side restaurants Roots (temporarily closed for construction) and Heart & Soy, who serve some of the best Pan-Asian vegetarian and vegan food in Kentuckiana. Heart & Soy / Roots via FacebookAmerican Nails Salon and Spa
1320 Bardstown Rd.This Southeast Asian woman-owned business in the Highlands is staffed entirely by women. The salon and spa features a full menu of nail services, including acrylics, dip powder, gel, and vinyl, with reasonably priced indulgences like sugar scrubs, collagen gloves (for manicures), or collagen socks (for pedicures). American Nails via FacebookChoi’s Asian Food Market607 Lyndon Ln.Choi’s is a hidden gem on the East End. Just inside the doors of this simple storefront in Lyndon are fresh items like whole jackfruit, jujubes, and duck eggs. And neatly arranged throughout the store are packaged goods from South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Alexander Schimmeck/UnsplashAsian Food Mart
3900 Bardstown Rd.Formerly known as Dixie Oriental Food and Gifts Market, this Buchel-area grocery might look small from the outside, but it is always well stocked with Chinese, Korean, Thai, and Vietnamese imports. Asian Food MartViet Hoa Food Market
7100 Preston Hwy., No. 107Viet Hoa is bursting with fresh produce and packaged goods from all over East and Southeast Asia, and live, fresh, and frozen seafood. For vegetarians and vegans, Viet Hoa also stock delectable meat substitutes made with seitan (pure wheat gluten) and yuba (bean curd skin). After shopping for food, check out their ever-renewing array of kitchenware and tableware. Dang Cong/UnsplashMyTindahan
2240 Taylorsville Rd. Suite 103MyTindahan near the Highlands is owned by Jeramie Cabanban and her husband Amos featuring food, beverages, and homewares imported from the Philippines. They have all the ingredients you need to make favorites like sago’t gulaman (the sweet drink made with brown sugar syrup, tapioca pearls, and almond jelly) or pinangat na pompano (whitefish stewed in tomatoes and tamarind). But MyTindahan is more than a grocery store, it is also a community hub celebrating Filipino culture. Check out their blog for recipes and discussions of Filipino life in Louisville. MyTindahanOriental Supermarket and Gift Shop
1211 Gilmore Ln.Tucked into the parking lot of the Lynnview Shopping Center, The Korean-family owned grocery and gift shop stock Korean brand favorites like Assi, Chung Jung Won, and Haechandle. Their volume of fresh produce varies, but their frozen dumplings and rolls are always dependable. They also sell imported cookware like portable gas stoves, and table ware like spoon and chopstick sets. Oriental Supermarket and Gift ShopKIWA
2235 Frankfort Ave., Ste. 104Soo Young Cho lived in Seoul for almost 30 years before she relocated to Louisville with her husband. She opened her understated yet elegant cafe in the Clifton neighborhood in December 2023, where she shares the diversity of Korean culinary traditions. In addition to a thoughtful menu of sweets, savories, coffees and tea, KIWA also features an art gallery and offer hands-on creative workshops. KIWA via InstagramDistrict 6 Vietnamese Gastropub
3930 Shelbyville Rd.Named for District 6 of Saigon, and located in Louisville Metro District 9 in St. Matthews, this gastropub will take you to a place somewhere both places. The Vietnamese-American owers say they want their diners to feel like family. Their inventive menu features drinks like the Cobra Fang made with Larceny bourbon, lime juice, and jalapeño-ginger syrup, and bites like salmon with pineapple and tomatoes. District 6Pho Ba Luu
1019 E. Main St.Situated in a repurposed truck garage space on the edge of the Butchertown and Nulu neighborhoods, this Vietnamese woman-owned restaurant serves Saigon street food like crispy vegetable rolls and lemongrass tofu banh mi along with more traditional dishes like pho noodle soup. Pho Ba LuuDragon King’s Daughter
1543 Bardstown Rd. in Louisville and 129 West Market St. in New AlbanyOwned by a Japanese-American woman named Toki Masubuchi, who named her restaurant for first woman to attain enlightenment in the Buddhist scripture the Lotus Sūtra. This Asian fusion favorite has an array of creative dishes. Try their Veggie Mazizushi menu for rolls like the Buffaroll with fresh mozzarella and the Coco Caliente with spicy tofu and lime, and pair it with a sake served in a square wooden masu cup. Dragon King's DaughterNami Modern Korean Steakhouse
835 E Main St., Ste. 106This Korean steakhouse opened in NuLu in May 2023 and has already been named one of the “Best New Restaurants in America” by Esquire magazine, who chose only 50 out of 200 restaurants from across the country. Chef Edward Lee offers diners a playful interpretation of traditional Korean food — and brunch on the weekends! NamiCM Chicken
2221 Frankfort Ave.Husband and wife Viet Tran and Soyoung Chon met while in the same degree program at University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy. Some of their favorite memories together are of cooking their favorite childhood dishes — Chon’s being Korean and Tran’s being Vietnamese. They now own the Louisville location of the South Korean CM Chicken franchise in the Clifton neighborhood, serving Korean street food like tteokbokki, savory pancakes, corn dogs, and patbingsu (shaved ice) along with a selection of beer and soju. CM Chicken of Louisville
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Aria Baci is a writer and critic who has been working in print and digital media since 2015 for outlets as varied as Design*Sponge, Geeks OUT, Flame Con, and The Mary Sue. She is passionate about literature,...
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