When The Mongolorian closed last summer just a little more than a year after it opened, owner Hoi Nguyen was poised to open a South East Asian-style barbecue concept in the space at 2217 E. Colonial Drive (Map).
But Nguyen reconsidered after observing what he calls “a huge presence of Asian street food in the area and Orlando in general.” The idea was scrapped and Nguyen will now tap into his love of Hawaiian food and culture with a concept called Moa Kai Hawaiian Diner.
The name is in reference to moa — those treasured, feathered, feral cluckers that freely roam about the Hawaiian Islands. Not that it’ll preclude Nguyen from serving chicken when Moa Kai opens in six to eight weeks after a “cosmetic renovation.”
The full-service diner will also serve cocktails — so saimin noodle soup, Spam musubi and loco moco can be enjoyed with mai-tais and passion fruit martinis.
Nguyen, who also runs Poke Hana on East Colonial Drive and Windermere, says he thought about the potential of Moa Kai cannibalizing sales from his fast-casual poke concept and even considered closing and selling the operation, but just didn’t have the heart to do it.
“The cult following with Poke Hana is crazy! We just couldn’t do that to the loyal customers we’ve built a relationship with over the years,” he says. “And, besides, Moa Kai will offer a totally different vibe.”
Nguyen says the landscaping and the restaurant’s exterior will be completed next week. In the meantime, check out Moa Kai’s ono grindz below.
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This article appears in Apr 2-8, 2025.
