Located at 1110 E Colonial Drive in the space formerly occupied by Tien Hung Market, one of the oldest Vietnamese markets in Orlando, Mills Market is set to become one of the most anticipated major additions to the Mills 50 district.
The multi-phase development, unfolding over the next few years, promises to offer locals, visitors and food enthusiasts plenty to look forward to. Led by restaurateurs Jimmy and Johnny Tung, the project is now poised to announce its next stage of progress.
The second phase of Mills Market launched this summer with the introduction of UniGirl, a casual Japanese shop dedicated to freshmade onigiri along with the revamp of existing Vietnamese cafe and bakery, Bánh Mì Boy. UniGirl is Orlando’s First Onigiri Shop.
UniGirl’s menu and operation will be spearheaded by ZARU’s Chef Partner William Shen. The shop’s namesake is a playful nod to the word onigiri. In naming the concept, Shen, who is a proud dog parent, found inspiration in his pet Shiba Inu named Uni whom he affectionately refers to as “Uni girl.”
“It’s her world. We’re just living in it,” says Chef William.
UniGirl’s menu will consist mainly of made-to-order onigiri, which are Japanese rice balls formed into a triangular shape, and wrapped in seaweed with savory fillings. Traditional offerings include ume shiso (pickled plum), tuna mayo, and mentaiko (spicy cod roe). Guests can also look forward to original creations, such as the Edamame Goma with shiitake mushroom and sesame, and Uni’s Unigiri, which is filled with Hokkaido sea urchin and marinated salmon roe. The small shop, which will also offer Japanese snacks and beverages, is inspired by the konbini, or convenience store, where onigiri is a popular staple. UniGirl will directly neighbor Bánh Mì Boy, which is here to stay.
Recently featured on season 7 of Netflix’s food travel series, Somebody Feed Phil, Bánh Mì Boy has since gained an influx of new patrons, many traveling from across the world due to the show’s popularity. The cafe and bakery will undergo a brand refresh – with plans to introduce dine-in seating, delivery options, and a brand new menu debuting this summer. In keeping with the idea of old generation meets new, Bánh Mì Boy 2.0 aims to stay true to the shop’s roots and evolve to meet modern tastes all while honoring the culture of Mills 50.
“We want to bring fresh experiences to Orlando, and the city, especially Mills 50, happens to be a place where people are very welcoming to new ideas. We’re hoping to attract locals and visitors alike,” says Johnny.
Bánh Mì Boy’s refreshed menu will feature sandwich classics with a Vietnamese spin – think “pho” French dip, Viet-Cajun oyster po boys, and Saigon beer-battered crispy fish with chili jam. Signature items from the original menu, like the Bánh Mì Boy Classic with homemade pate and cold cuts, and the Crispy Pork Belly Bánh Mì, will remain. Vietnamese coffee and fresh-pressed sugar cane juice along with daily prepared grab-n-go snacks like housemade fried tofu, fresh summer rolls, and bánh giò (Vietnamese steamed savory rice cakes) will also stay on the menu. The sandwich shop will also introduce a Breakfast Bánh Mì, and will be open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The new Asian barbecue shop, Kai Kai, featuring traditional Cantonese barbecue and housemade dumplings has also found a home at Mills Market.
The menu and operations at Kai Kai are led by husband-and-wife team, Chef Jerry and Jackie Lau, who bring 35 years of experience in Cantonese cuisine from New York City’s Chinatown. The Laus most recently ran a food truck business, and previously had an outpost at iFresh.
Kai Kai’s offerings will feature traditional dim sum, assorted BBQ rice boxes, and classic Cantonese rice and noodle dishes. Menu highlights include freshmade dumplings, turnip cakes, crispy roast duck, honey BBQ pork char siu, Singapore rice noodles, and Chinese sausage fried rice. A variety of grab-and-go Asian drinks will also be available.
“We are excited to bring Chef Jerry’s famous roast duck and crispy pork to Mills Market to complement Bánh Mì Boy and Unigirl. It’s really coming together, and we’ll be announcing more concepts soon,” says Johnny.
Inspired by the Tungs’ travels to Asia where they discovered unique experiences down every alley, Mills Market promises to preserve the original charm of the old market, but with a touch of the new generation. Anchors like Tien Hung Jewelry will continue to operate while the rest of the space undergoes transformation.
Mills Market is still far from completion. Phase 1 saw the opening of ZARU. Phase 2 of the project includes Kai Kai, UniGirl and Bánh Mì Boy. Phase 3 will introduce a hidden Japanese whisky bar while the fourth and final phase will unveil over 10 new micro eateries and shops.
“Future Mills Market concepts will be teased and tested through pop-up events held throughout the year, and there will be a dedicated space in the market serving as an incubator for local chefs to experiment before going to brick and mortar,” explains Johnny.
“Mills Market is an important legacy project for me because of the market’s impact on Mills 50 for the past 30 years. My wife grew up in this market, and my hope is that our kids will do the same. Each new concept that finds its home here will be very curated and interconnected.”
UniGirl and Bánh Mì Boy will be open daily for dine-in, takeout and delivery. Follow @UniGirlFl and @Banhmiboycafe on Instagram for updates! Kai Kai will be open daily for dine-in, takeout, and delivery. Follow @kaikai.bbq on Instagram for updates and opening announcements!
