The owner of Okonomi Asian Grill in Fairfax is letting customers know the reality of making a profit and worries of tariffs affecting his bottom line.
FAIRFAX, Va. — Alex Kang is not one to shy away from expressing his feelings. In a recent email he sent to his customers, the owner of Okonomi Asian Grill in Fairfax candidly opened up about being eligible for SNAP benefits as he finally makes a small dent in his profit margins.
“$18,113. That’s how much I made last year,” the email read. “It’s a really odd juxtaposition to own a restaurant and to qualify for food stamps at the same time. There’s gotta be some comical take about this, but my brain is fried after coming off another 110-hour work week.”
The restaurant opened three years ago and received exposure when popular TikTok food critic Keith Lee positively reviewed Okonomi last year, dubbing the business as the “Asian Chipotle.”
As he mentioned in his email, Kang told WUSA9 the looming threats of tariffs are threatening the progress of his restaurant and bottom line.
In early April, President Donald Trump unleashed sweeping tariffs across many countries, including ones in Asia where Okonomi receives 90% of its supplies and ingredients. Items include everything from bowls to cucumbers, fish sauce and sauce trays.
The Trump administration has since suspended most of the significant tariff threats for 90 days. For now, there’s still the 10% global tariffs and the 145% tax on Chinese imports amid a global trade war.
“There’s volatility and it’s usually not that crazy but the swings are a lot harder now,” Kang said. “Some of my vendors have already raised their prices. The fish sauce, I just bought $3000 worth of fish sauce so that’s my entire year supply. I usually get one to two months’ worth.”
If global trade tensions continue, Kang is expected to raise his prices. What would normally be a $12.50 bowl could go up to $17.
Meanwhile, customers have been showing their support since Kang released his email. He said on two days last week, the business surpassed the average daily sales. For the first time since opening, they even sold out on chicken.
Among the customers showing their support is Richard Yu, who has been visiting Okonomi since it opened.
“I had always wished for a delicious, but quick and affordable Asian rice bowl type of offering,” Yu told WUSA9. “I literally got the email, and my immediate reaction was I want to go eat Alex’s food. If that helps, I think that’s a byproduct of me wanting to go there but it’s legitimately delicious and good.”