Mimi’s Chūka Diner is Fueled by Fusion Flavor

Published May 2025

A Japanese take on Chinese classics gives a delicious spin to the menu at Mimi's Chūka Diner. While their business started as a dumpling-forward popup out of the South End’s Stir in January 2020, Ted Woo and Jon Awerman brought chūka to the Square in November of 2024 after finding a home inside Aeronaut Brewery. Ted and Jon, Chef/Owners, share their motivations behind Mimi’s and their love for fellow local businesses.

Tell us a little bit about Mimi’s Chūka Diner!

Mimi's Chūka Diner is a cozy owner-operated 36-seat restaurant that serves "chūka ryōri," which is a style of cuisine that adapts Chinese dishes to Japanese palates and cooking methods. Mimi's combines that with traditional American diner influences while providing warm, welcoming service. Our food is designed to be comforting, shareable, and crave-worthy.

Do you have any tips or tricks for folks dining with you?

We've got some nice bottles of wine and sake that haven't made the list yet, so if you're ever in the mood for adventure, just ask!

What inspired you to start a business? How did this feeling grow once you actually started your business?

A love for food and hospitality is what motivated us to develop our concept. Even in our pop-up stages, seeing the happy faces of our guests and hearing all the words of appreciation for our efforts has kept us going. Now that we're open in Union we love to see familiar faces from around the neighborhood become regular guests at our restaurant.

What aspect of your business makes you most proud to be a business leader in our community?

Our genuine efforts to make our food approachable and accessible. Whether it is the plethora of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free options, our warm and inviting space, or our knowledgeable staff, we are committed to making everyone feel welcome at Mimi's.

If you were to plan the perfect outing in Union Square, where would you go and what would you do?

We’d take the Green Line or bike in to have breakfast at Life Alive, head to Bow Market to hang and read and eventually have lunch, beers and more hangin’ at Aeronaut, dinner at Machu Picchu, and cocktails at backbar to finish!

Do you have any "behind the scenes" or fun facts that a customer might not know already?

We did most of the demo work ourselves prior to the buildout and reclaimed some amazing mahogany from the previous space. The history of the old space lives on as a part of the oversized shadow box frames Jon made, which hang on the walls now!

Is there anything else you think a Square customer would like to know?

So many (probably an overwhelming majority) of the businesses in Union Square are independently run by LOCAL business owners. Let's support the Square and keep it as vibrant as ever!

Find Mimi's Chūka Diner inside Aeronaut Brewing at 14 Tyler St. Visit for dine in service Tues-Fri 5pm-Close & Saturday 12-11pm or takeout daily from noon ‘til close.

Connect with Ted, Jon, and the Mimi’s team on Instagram & Facebook.