This week Gary & Shannon welcome co-founders & sisters of Aria Kitchen Mahta & Anna Ariarad, located in Irvine. Aria Kitchen, opened its doors at the end of August introduces a new fusion to Orange County’s elaborate dining landscape as it melds Mexican and Persian cuisine. The visionaries behind Aria Kitchen are sisters Mahta and Anahita Ariarad, second-generation restaurateurs with deep ties to the Irvine community. With the opening of their second restaurant, the Ariarad sisters draw inspiration from their Persian heritage to create dishes that embrace their love for Mexican cuisine.
Aria Kitchen is located off Jamboree in Irvine (2626 Dupont) and is open daily for breakfast at 8 a.m. and will also offer lunch, and dinner. Weekend brunch is served on Saturdays and Sundays beginning at 9 a.m. For more information on Aria Kitchen, please visit the website and connect on Instagram at @AriaKitchen_
In 2020, the Ariarad sisters opened their first restaurant Irvine Grill, which focuses on Persian dishes and heirloom recipes their family has passed down for generations. However, their involvement in the restaurant industry stems back to early childhood. For as long as they can remember, the sisters have worked in her father’s iconic Super Irvine, a market dedicated to sourcing Persian and international ingredients since 1996. Before Super Irvine closed in 2022, the famed market served as a pillar of community for Persian immigrants for more than 25 years, many of whom did not speak English.
“It was magical to see how my father’s market gave both immigrants and locals a sense of belonging and connection. That feeling of connecting people became the driving force behind our desire to get into the restaurant industry,” comments Mahta Ariarad, who began operating the café inside of her father’s market in 2016. “With the opening of Aria Kitchen, we aim to foster that sense of connection, while expanding cultural horizons.”
The menu at Aria Kitchen offers a fusion of Mexican and Persian cuisines. While the concept is the first of its kind in Orange County, the menu is nothing new to the Ariarads.