Michael Mina

Michael Mina (; born 1969) is an American celebrity chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author. He is the founder of the Mina Group, a restaurant management company operating over 40 restaurants worldwide. He is the executive chef at his two namesake restaurants in San Francisco and Las Vegas, which each have earned a star in the Michelin Guide. He authored his first cookbook in 2006 and has made numerous television appearances.

Early life and education Michael Mina was born in 1969 in Cairo, Egypt.

Mina started working in a French kitchen in his hometown when he was 16. After high school, Mina attended the University of Washington and worked in the restaurant at the Space Needle, where he received his first exposure to working in a busy restaurant. He left after one year to attend Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York.

Career After attending the Culinary Institute of America, he worked at Tribeca Grill and Aureole restaurants in New York City.

In 2002, Michael Mina met Andre Agassi in Mina's restaurant in San Francisco; they partnered to start The Mina Group and open concept restaurants such as Nobhill Tavern and Seablue in Las Vegas.

In 2009, Mina opened RN74 in San Francisco, which was named for Route Nationale 74, the highway that passes through France's Burgundy region.

In September 2012, Michael Mina launched Cook Taste Eat, a digital culinary media company that delivers video content through daily emails and videos. Alongside co-host Michelle Branch, Michael Mina teaches viewers how to prepare restaurant-quality meals in their kitchen. Through daily emails and videos, viewers learn each meal one dish at a time, along with useful behind-the-scenes culinary tips and tricks.

In 2018, he opened Mina Brasserie in the DIFC financial district of Dubai.

Michael Mina is married to Diane Mina, who has her own line of Bloody Mary Mixes

In 2021, Mina was named by Carnegie Corporation of New York as an honoree of the Great Immigrants Award.

In 2024, Mina had one of his recipes highlighted in the Mercury News as a Super Bowl recipe.

Michael Mina (San Francisco) In October 2006, Mina's San Francisco restaurant, Michael Mina, was awarded two Michelin stars, one of only four restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area to be a two-star recipient. For the 2010 San Francisco Bay Area Michelin Guide, Mina's San Francisco restaurant, Michael Mina, was demoted to one Michelin star, then it was excluded altogether from the starred list in 2011. For 2012, it returned to the starred list with one Michelin star.

In October 2011, it was awarded Esquire Magazine'''s Restaurant of the Year. In 2018, the Michael Mina flagship restaurant shifted to include more Middle Eastern food on its menus.

Recipes from International Smoke, his restaurant in San Francisco which he opened with Ayesha Curry, have been featured in publications such as the Mercury News.

Books In November 2006, Michael Mina released his first cookbook, Michael Mina: The Cookbook. The book presents a number of recipes with his "Trio concept" as well as his "classic" dishes.

Mina's second cookbook My Egypt - Cooking from My Roots Hardcover (United States), 10/8/2024.

Restaurants Active restaurants

Taleed. Bab Samhan Hotel, Diriyah, Saudi Arabia Michael Mina. Bellagio. Las Vegas, Nevada Stripsteak. Mandalay Bay. Las Vegas, Nevada Stripsteak Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii Bungalow Kitchen. Tiburon, California Bungalow Kitchen, Long Beach, California Bourbon Steak. The Americana at Brand. Glendale, California Bourbon Steak. JW Marriott Turnberry Isle Resort & Club, Aventura, Florida Bourbon Steak. The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess. Scottsdale, Arizona Bourbon Steak. Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California Bourbon Steak. Midtown, New-York. Bourbon Steak. JW Marriott, Nashville, Tennessee Bourbon Steak. Waldorf Astoria, Dana Point, California Bourbon Steak. Swan and Dolphin Resort, Walt Disney World, Olrando, Florida Clock Bar. San Francisco Bourbon Steak. Four Seasons Hotel, Washington, DC Bourbon Steak. The Westin St Francis, San Francisco Mina Brasserie. Four Seasons Hotel DIFC, Dubai Wit & Wisdom. Four Seasons Hotel, Baltimore, Maryland Wit & Wisdom Sonoma. The Lodge at Sonoma Resort, Autograph Collection, Sonoma, California The Handle Bar. Jackson Hole, Wyoming Michael Mina Stripsteak. Fontainebleau Hotel, Miami Beach, Florida Bardot Brasserie. Aria Resort & Casino. Las Vegas, Nevada Mina Test Kitchen, San Francisco, California Locale Market, St. Petersburg, Florida PABU. San Francisco Mina's Fish House. Four Seasons Hotel, Ko’Olina, Oahu International Smoke, San Francisco, California International Smoke, MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada Trailblazer Tavern San Francisco, Salesforce East, San Francisco, California Mi Almita, Honolulu, Hawaii Prime Grill, Dubai, UAE Cal Mare, MGM Springfield, Massachusetts Wit & Wisdom, Sonoma, California Orla, Regent Santa Monica Beach, Santa Monica, California Orla, Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, Nevada

Closed restaurants

Arcadia. San Jose, California (closed, 2019) American Fish, Aria Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada (closed, 2015) International Smoke, Houston, Texas (closed) Nobhill Tavern, MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada (closed, 2013) PABU. Four Seasons Hotel, Baltimore, Maryland (closed, 2014) PABU. Boston, Massachusetts (closed, 2020) Pub 1842. MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada (closed, 2019 and rebranded as International Smoke) RN74. San Francisco, California (closed) RN74. Seattle, Washington (closed, 2021) Seablue, Borgata, Atlantic City, New Jersey (closed, 2014) Seablue, MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada (closed, 2012 and rebranded as Pub 1842) Pizza And Burger, Fontainebleau Miami Beach, Florida (closed in 2022 and rebranded as Arcadia Grill) Stonehill Tavern. Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach, Monarch Beach, California (closed 2017, and rebranded as Bourbon Steak) International Smoke Del Mar, One Paseo, Carmel Valley, San Diego (closed in 2022) Bourbon Steak. Seattle, Washington (closed 12/31/2023)

Television appearances Introduced by Hell's Kitchen show host Gordon Ramsay as a master chef, Michael Mina appeared in episode 208 as a food competition judge. Later, in episode 809, Chef Ramsay and the challenge winners visited his XIV restaurant, but Mina did not appear. In 2019, Mina appeared on the "Meze Fete" episode of Guy's Ranch Kitchen (season 2, episode 14) on the Food Network. At Guy Fieri's ranch Mina prepared salmon with a chermoula sauce and labneh, as well as melon with rosewater and pistachios. In 2021, Mina appeared as a guest judge in MasterChef (American season 11)'' in Episode 6.