Dining With Denise Neil

Opening day for this new Wichita Japanese restaurant is today

Tiger Rice Japanese Kitchen opens Friday.
Tiger Rice Japanese Kitchen opens Friday.

Opening day for Andy Nguyen and Mike Pham’s new Tiger Rice Japanese Kitchen today.

Nguyen and Pham, who from July of 2021 until August ran the Mr. Miyagi chain of restaurants for owner Henry Son, decided to strike out on their own and are opening their restaurant in the spot at 1735 W. 21st St. that until recently was home to one of Abel Rodriguez’s Uno Mas restaurants.

The menu includes appetizers like egg rolls, crab Rangoon, veggie spring rolls and gyoza. The list of entrees includes garlic fried rice — which will be the restaurant’s specialty — as well as yakisoba and yaki udon. Customers can choose to pay extra and add chicken, beef or shrimp to their dishes.

Mike Pham, left, and Andy Nguyen have left Mr. Miyagi, which they helped open and run, and are opening their own restaurant called Tiger Rice Japanese Kitchen.
Mike Pham, left, and Andy Nguyen have left Mr. Miyagi, which they helped open and run, and are opening their own restaurant called Tiger Rice Japanese Kitchen. Denise Neil The Wichita Eagle

Tiger Rice will be a quick-service place that offers both carryout and dine-in service, and it also has a drive-through. Hours will be 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays.

Nguyen and Pham met when they both worked as chefs at Japanese hibachi restaurants in town, including Son’s Old Tokyo Steakhouse. They were hired as general managers for the new Mr. Miyagi concept, which earned a following and quickly grew into a three-location operation. In addition to the original Mr. Miyagi at 3920 E. Harry, there are now also restaurants at 4041 N. Maize Road and at 3130 N. Rock Road.

For more information on Tiger Rice, follow its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/tigerricejapanesekitchen

Tiger Rice Japanese Kitchen menu

The menu for Wichita’s Tiger Rice Japanese Kitchen
The menu for Wichita’s Tiger Rice Japanese Kitchen Courtesy

This story was originally published October 3, 2022 at 10:49 AM.

Denise Neil
The Wichita Eagle
Denise Neil has covered restaurants and entertainment since 1997. Her Dining with Denise Facebook page is the go-to place for diners to get information about local restaurants. She’s a regular judge at local food competitions and speaks to groups all over Wichita about dining.
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