After nearly three years of delays, Mint Desi Craft Cuisine in Laguna Hills is preparing for its grand reopening. The Indian-Pakistani halal eatery, which faced a setback due to a fire in 2022, is now ready to welcome diners back on January 8 at 4 p.m. The reopening celebration will include a complimentary glass of nonalcoholic champagne for guests.
Located at 25381 Alicia Parkway, Unit C in Laguna Hills, Mint is part of a restaurant group led by renowned head chef Jamil Hosseini and chef Imran Ali Mookhi. The group also owns Khan Saab Desi Craft Kitchen in Fullerton and SHOR Bazaar in Hawaiian Gardens.
A Brief History of Mint
Mint first opened its doors in 2016 as a small, family-run business. Over the years, the restaurant expanded its space to accommodate growing demand. In 2020, the group opened Khan Saab, which became a success. This success inspired the team to remodel Mint and elevate it to the same level as their other acclaimed restaurants.
“The family started Mint as a small mom-and-pop restaurant, and after expanding, we were able to open Khan Saab,” said Mookhi. “After Khan Saab’s success, we decided to bring Mint up to that level as well.”
Setback Due to Fire
The restaurant’s renovation was nearing completion when disaster struck in May 2022. An electrical fire in the kitchen forced the restaurant to close just weeks before its planned reopening.
“It was heartbreaking because we were all so attached to Mint. It was the first restaurant we opened, and we had never faced anything like this before,” Mookhi recalled.
The fire required extensive rebuilding, and the team had to work with the city, insurance companies, and fire inspectors to resolve the damage. This process took nearly three years to complete.
Soft Opening and Menu Highlights
Mint has been in a soft opening phase since the holidays, giving staff a chance to prepare for the official reopening. The restaurant specializes in halal Indian and Pakistani dishes designed for family-style dining.
Popular menu items include masala rub French-cut lamb chops, chicken tikka masala, and biryani — a mixed rice dish available with chicken, goat, lamb, or beef. Mint also serves creative appetizers like bandar buns, popover-like buns baked in a cast-iron pot and paired with sweet and spicy mango chutney.
The restaurant is also known for its goat karahi, a dish of braised goat served in a traditional wok, bubbling in spiced tomato sauce with fried chilies.
A Refined Dining Experience
The interior of Mint has been completely redesigned with jewel tones, wood accents, and velour seating. The rustic brick wall features black-and-white Bollywood movie projections, adding to the unique ambiance.
In line with the halal tradition, Mint offers a nonalcoholic bar program led by mixologist Ahmad Hosseini. The bar offers imported 0.0% craft beers and nonalcoholic mimosas in unique flavors like lychee, mango, and blood orange.
The craft cocktail menu features creative beverages, including a “Falsa-tini” made with Grewia asiatica pulp and a “Honey Dew Me,” a drink with honeydew melon, basil, and lime that tastes like a Midori sour.
“We saw how popular the nonalcoholic bar became at Khan Saab, so we decided to extend the concept to Mint and SHOR Bazaar,” Mookhi explained.
Community Support on Reopening Night
As part of the grand reopening, 10% of the evening’s proceeds will go to NAMI Orange County, a local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
“We’re excited to welcome both old regulars and new guests back into our restaurant,” said Hosseini.
Looking Ahead to Future Ventures
For Mookhi, the reopening of Mint is just the beginning. The restaurant group is already planning its next venture: Kabana, a new concept in Huntington Beach that will focus on comfort Pakistani food.
“Kabana will be a little different from what we’ve done with our other restaurants. It will feature quick-serve-style Pakistani food, a nonalcoholic bar, chai tasting, and hookah,” Mookhi said.
Kabana is slated to open later this year, marking the next chapter in the restaurant group’s expanding footprint.
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