Million to Launch Tasty New Menu

Among local foodies, Million Restaurant has long been a source of ono Korean specialties like yakiniku and bi bim bap.

Now, thanks in part to a recent expansion of cooking space — 600 square feet in what used to be a beauty shop next door — owner Angela Park has been able to add even more items to the already impressive menu.

“We just finished the kitchen last week, and next week comes the new food,” says Angela, who runs the tiny Sheridan Street restaurant with her sisters, Diana, Cindy and Kyung Sook Park, and brother Chang Hyun Park.

(Their mother, Yang Ye Park, is retired from the business, but still helps Angela perfect her recipes.)

“(Angela) went to cooking school in Korea where she learned everything,” adds Diana. “She studied with a famous Korean chef for six months, then she came back.”

Customers soon will reap the rewards of Angela’s studying when they feast on bona fide Korean dishes like Kal-Bi Kim Chee Chi Ke, Sul-Lung Tang, Rice Cake Soup, Organic Soft Tofu Soft, Chicken Feet, Wo Mook Ga Sa Li (a Korean jello) and Salty Saba, which is prepared Korean-style with mackerel.

“We have been practicing everything, including the special sauce, and now we’re ready,” Diana says.

“We have everything changing,” adds Angela, “and coming soon is more good food.”

The new menu is set to debut tomorrow, with regular menu favorites like Yakiniku Sets (prices vary), Mahi Mahi Jun, Bul Go Gi and Kal-Bi ($11 each) and the renowned Dol Sot Bi Bim Bap ($12) still available.

On the Side

Million Restaurant has been open since 1989, bringing a genuine taste of Korea to customers who are lucky enough to happen across this hidden dining treasure.

(For those still unfamiliar with “Millions,” as it is commonly called, the restaurant is located near Runner’s Route and Walmart on Sheridan Street.)

But with more than two decades of business under its belt and a growing customer base, the family-run eatery has long been in need of an upgrade.

Well, the times, they are a-changing, and after three months of anticipation, co-owners/siblings Diana and Angela Park are giddy with excitement to show off the results of the restaurant’s recent renovations.

“We just finished remodeling everything, and from next week we have a special new menu going on,” says Diana.

The project included installing new booths throughout the entire dining area — don’t fret, loyal Million diners, those shiny metal table-side vacuums have not been touched — and making the biggest improvement of all, which, unfortunately, most customers won’t see.

“We have a brand-new kitchen,” announces Angela with a beaming smile.

Located in what used to be a next-door beauty shop, the 600-square-foot kitchen is complete with stainless steel fixtures, wall-to-wall cooking capacity and additional prep space, a must-have considering Million Restaurant will be introducing more than a dozen new menu items next week.

“We are going to do the older menu, plus this special menu,” Diana adds. “We still have our old kitchen, but now we can use both sides. We have more room.”

Million Restaurant