Robata owner Thom Chantharasy has reopened Han Lao (7219 Manchester), previously a popular Laotian restaurant in Brentwood, as an Asian mini-mart in downtown Maplewood.
Han lao means “store” in Laotian, and Chantharasy’s new incarnation will deliver on the name, with freshly made grab-and-go Asian dishes, groceries, snacks, desserts, tableware, and eventually boba tea and alcohol. In short, “it’s going to be a little market where you can get everything you need for a meal,” Chantharasy says. Here’s what to know before you go.
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The Menu
Chantharasy was inspired by Asian markets—most famously, the beloved Japanese konbini convenience stores—where busy customers can pick up to-go meals. As a resident of Brentwood, Chantharasy had noticed that the nearest neighborhoods for buying Asian ingredients and snacks were South Grand and Olive Boulevard, neither of which was very convenient.
“The grab-and-go items we will make and package ourselves, plus fresh vegetables and fruit—everything will be Asian-related,” Chantharasy says. That includes foods like Spam musubi, onigiri rice balls, poke, and Chinese pork buns, as well as beverages such as beer, sake, and other spirits (after Han Lao receives its liquor license).
“There will be a little carryover with some prepared items for people who don’t have time to sit down and eat at Robata,” Chantharasy adds. The sushi, for example, will be made every few hours throughout Han Lao’s operating hours. “Everything will always be fresh because we’ll always be cycling through it,” says Chantharasy.
The Atmosphere
Han Lao will not be a restaurant, though hungry customers may be able to find a counter where they can dine. Instead, the 1,500-square-foot space will capitalize on the popularity of quick, portable Asian foods. In fact, Chantharasy’s biggest competition may be 7-Eleven itself, which announced earlier this summer that it is rolling out the konbini concept at locations across the U.S.
Prices will be affordable, especially compared to buying Asian specialty items in nearby grocery stores. Chantharasy says if a staple such as tofu or bean sprouts runs out at Robata, the retail prices can be daunting—and he would like to show Han Lao’s customers that quick, healthy Asian food is not a luxury item.
In addition to Spam musubi and salmon onigiri, on the inaugural menu week are several curries, chicken fried rice, and vegetable yakisoba (lo mein), all priced at $6. Chantharasy says he’s eager to determine what kinds of grab-and-go items his customers prefer. “We’ve just begun this journey,” he says of the five-day old business. “I’m looking forward to experimenting, so expect a changing menu.”
Han Lao’s hours are 11 a.m.– 8 p.m. daily, to give shoppers plenty of time to stop in after work or the gym. (Morning hours will depend on whether customers prefer to pick up items on their way to work or ahead of lunchtime.)
The Backstory
Chantharasy’s enterprises have always been at the forefront of dining trends. The original Han Lao location was the first Laotian restaurant in the area. “When I opened Robata, it was the first ramen restaurant, and now everyone is opening ramen restaurants,” Chantharasy says. “So I’ve thought a lot about what I could do here to get people more interested in Asian food and culture.”
While waiting for delays in the buildout, Chantharasy had plenty of time to survey Robata’s customers and more in the inner-ring suburban neighborhoods about what they like, what they can find at other shops, and what they would like to see him offer. One friend who grew up in Hawaii and whose spouse is from Japan said he misses being able to swing in to a market on his way home and pick up all of the items needed for lunch or a snack.
“People in Maplewood and Brentwood are into different ethnic cuisines,” Chantharasy says. “This area needs a little Asian mart, and I want to be in the middle, so people don’t have to travel far.”
