New York, NY- On Tuesday, October 8th, Taste of Asia held its third inaugural event in New York’s iconic Madison Square Park, which gathered 40 of New York’s leading restaurants to celebrate the city’s vibrant Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities and its cuisine. The high-profile tasting event raised nearly $1.4 million in support of Apex for Youth and Madison Square Park Conservancy.

Photos of the evening are available here.

Curated by founder and co-chair Simon Kim of Gracious Hospitality Management, the hospitality group behind Michelin-starred COTE Korean Steakhouse and the newly opened COQODAQ, the event featured dozens of hand-selected restaurants serving Asian-inspired bites, honoring the diversity and vitality of AAPI culture and cuisine in New York City and beyond.

“We are so humbled and grateful to everyone who showed up to support Taste of Asia this year, including the 1,000 attendees and 40 restaurants who all represented the true diversity of Asian cuisine. We had Korean restaurants, Japanese, Indian and Southeast Asian, mom and pop shops, eight Michelin starred restaurants, James Beard Award winners, World’s 50 Best Chefs and more, all in support of two outstanding nonprofits, Apex for Youth and Madison Square Park Conservancy” said Kim. “I am also incredibly grateful to Madison Square Park and their efforts to bring new levels of sustainability to this year’s event including a partnership with Common Ground Compost to divert as much waste from landfill as possible.”

Michael Chung, co-chair of Taste of Asia and Global Co-Head of Equities at Millennium Management, a global alternative investment firm continued, “The AAPI community across New York City has come incredibly far with AAPI leaders across many disciplines, and yet there is still a need to combat conflict and vulnerability in the community. I was honored to co-chair Taste of Asia as we brought people together from different walks of life to celebrate diversity and community through delicious Asian food. Thank you to everyone who helped make this year another great success.”

“Apex for Youth is proud to celebrate the vibrant AAPI communities and their invaluable contributions to the rich tapestry of New York City. The funds raised at this event will significantly bolster our ability to enrich Apex’s programs that focus on the health and well-being of underserved AAPI youth and our pursuit of a more equitable future. By indulging in the diverse flavors and culinary traditions showcased at Taste of Asia, we not only nourish our bodies but also fuel the aspirations of Asian American youth from low-income and immigrant backgrounds,” said Jiyoon Chung, Executive Director of Apex for Youth. “Together, we’re unlocking their potential today and opening a world of possibility tomorrow. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone—individuals and organizations—who contributed to making this remarkable event asuccess. Collaborations like Taste of Asia embody the spirit and energy we aim to foster in New York City.”

“Madison Square Park is proud to be both the home and a beneficiary of Taste of Asia,” said Holly Leicht, Executive Director of Madison Square Park Conservancy. “Welcoming 60,000 visitors every day, our park embodies the cultural diversity that Taste of Asia celebrates. We are grateful to our trustee Simon Kim and the other co-chairs for recognizing the importance of supporting New York’s public parks to ensure they remain safe, welcoming spaces for all.”

Participating restaurants for the event, co-chaired by Simon Kim, Michael Chung, Philip Lim & WenZhou, along with this year’s Restaurant Chair, Jenn Saesue, included Atoboy, Báhn By Lauren, Bangkok Supper Club, Chinese Tuxedo, COTE Korean Steakhouse, COQODAQ, Hainan Chicken House, Jungsik, Lula Mae, Lysée, Masalawala & Sons, Naks, Nami Nori, NomWah, Pecking House, Sushi Noz, Win Son and more.

“Throughout the year, we focus mainly on our restaurants and the details that come with fine tuning our food, but through events like Taste of Asia, we get to come together and celebrate the AAPI community while giving back. Together we can accomplish so much more while giving back and building community. I think more and more people are realizing that these days.”Chef Jihan Lee of Nami Nori Notable attendees included fashion designer Raul Lopez, Tina Leung, Fiffany Luu, furniture designer Eny Lee Parker, DJ Vashtie Kola, actor and editor Blake Abbie, fashion designer Kim Shui, DJ Mona Matsuoka, model Ashley Graham, photographer Tyler Joe, Jian DeLeon, Do Kim, writer Delia Cai, Phillip Wong, Felicia Quanning, Jaeki Cho, Laura Kim, Ezra J. William and more.

Key sponsors include Millennium Management and Genesis House and Benefactor Sponsors; Robert and Karen Lee, Stephanie Ng and Richard Li, Tiffany & Co., Irongrey, Amex/Resy, Mike Li, YS Kim Foundation, and SpotOn as Leader Sponsors; Dalio Philanthropies, Bank of America, Ocean X, Kramer Levin, Modellus Novus, The Schulke Inn Family, Kathy Yang and Ray Chan, Ascend Partners, Diageo, Clara Wu Tsai and Joe Tsai, PassKey, Suntory, Goldman Sachs as Ambassador Sponsors; and Akin, BCG, Cargill, Merkley + Partners, Sarah Min & Matt Pincus, Chai Family, Mayer Brown LLP, Fanatics, Simkins Family Foundation, Sinclair Li — CBRE, The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, Blackstone, UBS, Ed Lee And Bilt Technologies as Champion Sponsors.

You can find a PDF version of this press release here.