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Growing up in a Japanese-American household, the philosophy of mottainai was engrained in me — the idea that waste is regrettable and everything has inherent value. But as I progressed in my career in the restaurant industry, I kept seeing beautiful yet morning-empty restaurants waiting to be brought to life and could only think, "mottainai". I knew we could create a win-win ecosystem where restaurants earn effortless revenue, local artisans find new fans, and you discover extraordinary coffee in spaces with genuine character. And with that ASANO was born.
In Japanese, ASA means morning and NO is short for noren, which are our striking poppy-colored entryway curtains. They're your signal that beyond those curtains await phenomenal coffee, crave-worthy pastries from local bakers, and baristas who remember your name. Through each ASANO cafe, we celebrate local spaces that differ by neighborhood, while keeping our standards consistently excellent.
Welcome to ASANO — your new morning ritual.
- Kate Kaneko (Founder & CEO)
Locally roasted coffee to our standards.
Loose leaf teas direct from Japan.
Locally baked pastries with Asian influence.
Local restaurants well loved in their communities.
