It’s been closed for several weeks, but AnQi restaurant in South Coast Plaza plans to open for Mother’s Day takeout dinners, and soon thereafter for a to-go menu that will of course include their famous garlic noodles.
But AnQi has been busy. For two Mondays in a row, the restaurant gave away a total of nearly 900 boxes containing food and toiletries. Recipients were all out-of-work restaurant employees from throughout the area.
“This situation happened so suddenly, I had a flashback to what it was like being a refugee and losing everything,” said AnQi owner Elizabeth An. “People were hurting. One of my employees was living in his car after we closed. That killed me. I said we have to do something.”
An received donations from local food purveyors including Melissa’s Produce and OC Baking Company, and she purchased other items at a discount.
Next on the agenda: keeping her staff employed with takeout service. Email anthegoAnQi@houseofan.com.
