When MK’s Asian Persuasion—an Asian-fusion restaurant hatched from a food truck—opened its doors for business on June 27, a steady stream of patrons dropped in. Sandwiched between a mattress store and Café Korzo in St. Louis Hills, the 90-seat restaurant features a patio, bar, two comfy conversation areas, and a small stage.
The menu offers such standards as crab Rangoon, spring rolls (pictured above), and egg rolls, as well a bahn mi sandwich, a vegetarian and a beef pho, a steak salad, and a chicken Caesar wrap. Customizable options and a Make Your Own menu are also available.
Customers choose a base style—stir fry, pad Thai, fried rice, or a wrap—then add a protein and customize it with an extensive list of toppings, which are incorporated in the dishes. The pad Thai with chicken (pictured below) was sweet and delicious, even though it lacked the standard ingredient of peanuts.
“We have our secrets, but we don’t add peanuts," explains chef-owner MK Vongnarath. "Too many people have nut allergies. We will use chopped cashews if customers request it.”
Vongnarath came to St. Louis from Laos as a refugee in 1981. “I was a 13-year-old boy who didn’t speak any English and was put right into Hamilton School,” he recalls. “It was culture shock: the language, the weather, the customs. I spent a lot of time cooking with my mom in the kitchen. She would say, ‘When you know how to cook, you will never go hungry.’" After attending Roosevelt High School, Vongnarath landed a job as a freight driver—but dreamed of one day opening a restaurant. He eventually started a food truck, MK's Rolls and Wraps, before deciding to open the brick-and-mortar location in South City.
Today, Vongnarath and his wife, Sheila, work in the kitchen while their two daughters, Lisa Bobo and Maya Vongnarath, manage the front of house and business operations. Lisa’s husband, Domonique Bobo, and Maya’s significant other, Roman Gray, pitch in as well.
“We’re doing karaoke from 9 p.m.–1:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights,” says Maya, noting that MK ran a karaoke and DJ business years ago.
Music holds a special place in Maya's heart as well. “When I was 7, my dad started the karaoke business. I loved the music. When I was upset, he would play music just for me,” she recalls. “I worked and waitressed in bars and always liked karaoke. I’ll sing karaoke even now.”
MK also performs. “My favorite songs are classic rock and oldies," he says. "I especially like songs by Bobby Darin, The Temptations, and Eagles."
