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Mimi's Chūka Diner

Mimi's Chūka DinerMimi's Chūka DinerMimi's Chūka Diner
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Mimi's Chūka Diner

Mimi's Chūka DinerMimi's Chūka DinerMimi's Chūka Diner
  • Home
  • Frozen Dumplings
  • About Us
  • Menu
  • PRESS

About Us

Current Plans

We are actively looking for a brick and mortar space in the Boston area.


Our current home is the kitchen at Artifact Cider's Central Square Taproom, The Station, where we are their resident culinary partner. We're slated to operate here at least until May 2022!

Special Events and Catering

We have our hands full at the moment, but in the future, we will consider private catering for events of up to 60 people on a case-by-case basis.  We will also consider more elaborate private dinners for parties of up to 14.

Meet the Team

Ted Woo, Owner - Operations Manager

Cleo Woo, Board Member - Resident Dog Child

Jon Awerman, Owner - Culinary Director

Ted Woo @teddy_jai

Operations/Attorney (prefers cooking)/Social Media/Events Coordination/Attempts Wood Working/Ethnomusicologist

Jon Awerman, Owner - Culinary Director

Cleo Woo, Board Member - Resident Dog Child

Jon Awerman, Owner - Culinary Director

Jon Awerman @jonawerman

Chef/Leather Worker/Metal Worker/Amateur Carpenter/Graphic Artist/Photographer/ Crochet Enthusiast/Knife Maker

Cleo Woo, Board Member - Resident Dog Child

Cleo Woo, Board Member - Resident Dog Child

Cleo Woo, Board Member - Resident Dog Child

Cleo @miss.bobeeo

Runner/Wrestler/Influencer

Gyoza, crispy, dumplings, dumpling

Our Story

In 2014 Ted and Jon met at B&G Oysters.  Jon joined the restaurant as a Sous Chef, and Ted as an assistant manager. Years passed and Jon became the Chef de Cuisine and Ted the General Manager.  Through those years, the pair became best friends and made an excellent team.  Over many shared meals, late-night kitchen experiments, shifties, and “where are you?” messages from their significant others, the two resolved to open a restaurant together someday.


An adage from Ted’s restaurateur uncle, had long influenced Ted’s opinion on what makes a good restaurant: “good food, good price, good service” - in that order.  Likewise, Jon learned the same lesson about the importance of meaningful, value-driven food from his grandparents who owned diners in New York City - one of the toughest restaurant habitats in the world.  Jon and Ted’s love for preparing everyday ingredients with refined technique naturally led the pair to chūka ryori.


Chūka ryori, literally translated (Japanese) “chinese cuisine,” is a style of cuisine with dishes largely of Chinese origin, done in a distinctly Japanese style. It can be compared to how American Chinese cuisine is distinctly American with Chinese roots. Ted was naturally drawn to the cuisine as his family’s heritage is mostly Chinese, but with deep roots in Kobe, Japan.  Jon immediately noticed the parallels between the service style of chūka restaurants in Japan, and classic diners in America.  While the two don’t seek to create an exact replica of chūka cuisine here in the states, they are excited to offer authentic dishes blended with their own experience in hospitality, food, and cooking.  Afterall, food is culture, and culture is alive.  As all living things grow and change over time, so does cuisine.

What is chuka cuisine? Here are some fun reads :)

Chūka Ryori on Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Chinese_cuisine

Tenshinhan Origins

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2019/09/14/food/tenshinhan-made-japan-omelette-chinese-influences/


https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/food-drink/article/2111129/why-tenshindon-crab-omelette-rice-owes-its-name

An Article from the "Yelp of Japan"

https://gurunavi.com/en/japanfoodie/2012/08/chinese.html?__ngt__=TT10f4a5608005ac1e4a5be7dFBKWXcgW_t9D9Q__cgUL_

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