Michael Mina

Michael Mina
Michael Mina
Born	1969; Cairo, Egypt
Occupation(s)	Celebrity chef, restaurateur, author
Years active	1990s–present
Known for	Founder of Mina Group, executive chef at Michelin-starred restaurants in San Francisco and Las Vegas

Michael Mina (; born 1969) is a renowned American celebrity chef, restaurateur, and author of cookbooks. He is the founder of the Mina Group, which oversees more than 40 dining establishments worldwide. Mina holds the position of executive chef at his Michelin-starred restaurants bearing his name, located in San Francisco and Las Vegas. His debut cookbook was released in 2006, and he has made numerous television appearances.

Early life and education

Born in Cairo, Egypt, in 1969, Mina relocated to the United States during his youth and grew up in Ellensburg, Washington. He started gaining culinary experience at 16 years old by working in a French kitchen. After spending a year at the University of Washington, where he worked at the restaurant atop the Space Needle, he pursued formal culinary training at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York.

Career

Following his graduation, Mina's career included stints at New York City's Tribeca Grill and Aureole before moving to Los Angeles to work under Executive Chef George Morrone at the Bel Air Hotel. In 1990, he accompanied Morrone to Aqua in San Francisco. When Morrone left, Mina stepped into the executive chef role and earned several accolades.

Mina’s cooking philosophy focuses on harmonizing elements such as spice, sweetness, acidity, and richness. Throughout his career, he has had the honor of preparing meals for three U.S. Presidents.

In 2002, Mina collaborated with tennis legend Andre Agassi to establish The Mina Group, developing notable venues including Nobhill Tavern and Seablue in Las Vegas. The opening of RN74 in San Francisco came in 2009, named after France’s Route Nationale 74 that runs through Burgundy.

In 2012, he launched Cook Taste Eat, a digital culinary media platform featuring daily instructional videos co-hosted by Michelle Branch aimed at helping home cooks create dishes with restaurant-level quality.

Mina expanded his global footprint by opening Mina Brasserie in Dubai’s DIFC financial district in 2018.

He is married to Diane Mina, who markets her own Bloody Mary Mix product line.

In recognition of his contributions, he was honored with the Great Immigrants Award by the Carnegie Corporation of New York in 2021. Additionally, one of his recipes was spotlighted during the Super Bowl coverage by the Mercury News in 2024.

Michael Mina (San Francisco)

Michael Mina’s San Francisco establishment opened to critical acclaim; it received two Michelin stars in October 2006—one of only four restaurants in the Bay Area to earn this distinction. The rating changed over time: reduced to one star in 2010, losing its star entirely in 2011 before regaining one star in 2012. In October 2011, it was honored as Restaurant of the Year by Esquire Magazine. By 2018, the flagship venue shifted its culinary focus toward Middle Eastern flavors.

Dishes from International Smoke—his San Francisco restaurant co-founded with Ayesha Curry—have been featured prominently in outlets such as the Mercury News.

Books

Mina’s initial cookbook, Michael Mina: The Cookbook, was published in November 2006 and highlights his "Trio concept" alongside classic recipes.

His forthcoming second book titled My Egypt - Cooking from My Roots (ISBN 9780316429788) is scheduled for release on October 8, 2024.

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 and Long Beach, California
Bourbon Steak. Locations include The Americana at Brand (Glendale, CA), Fairmont Turnberry Isle (Aventura, FL), Fairmont Scottsdale Princess (Scottsdale, AZ), Levi's Stadium (Santa Clara, CA), Midtown New York, JW Marriott Nashville (TN), Waldorf Astoria Dana Point (CA), Four Seasons Washington DC
Clock Bar. San Francisco
Mina Brasserie. Four Seasons DIFC, Dubai
Wit & Wisdom. Four Seasons Baltimore and Sonoma Resort (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
Locale Market. St. Petersburg, Florida
PABU. San Francisco
Mina's Fish House. Four Seasons Ko’Olina, Oahu
International Smoke. San Francisco and MGM Grand Las Vegas
Trailblazer Tavern Salesforce East. San Francisco
Mi Almita. Honolulu, Hawaii
Prime Grill. Dubai, UAE
Cal Mare. MGM Springfield, Massachusetts
Orla. Regent Santa Monica Beach, California

Restaurants no longer in operation

Arcadia, located in San Jose, California (ceased operations in 2019)
American Fish at Aria Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada (closed in 2015)
International Smoke in Houston, Texas (no longer open)
Nobhill Tavern within MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada (shut down in 2013)
PABU at Four Seasons Hotel, Baltimore, Maryland (closed in 2014)
PABU, Boston, Massachusetts (closed its doors in 2020)
Pub 1842 at MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada (ended operations in 2019; transitioned to International Smoke)
RN74 in San Francisco, California (closed)
RN74 located in Seattle, Washington (ceased operations in 2021)
Seablue at MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada (closed in 2012; rebranded as Pub 1842)
Pizza And Burger at Fontainebleau Miami Beach, Florida (shut down in 2022; rebranded as Arcadia Grill)
Stonehill Tavern at Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach, Monarch Beach, California (closed in 2017; rebranded as Bourbon Steak)
International Smoke Del Mar at One Paseo, Carmel Valley, San Diego (closed in 2022)
- Bourbon Steak in Seattle, Washington (closing date: December 31, 2023)

Television appearances

Michael Mina was introduced by Gordon Ramsay—host of Hell's Kitchen—as a master chef and served as a judge on episode 208 of the series. During season 8’s episode 809, Ramsay along with the challenge winners visited Mina’s restaurant XIV, although Mina himself did not participate.
In 2019, Mina showcased his culinary skills on Food Network’s Guy's Ranch Kitchen, where he prepared salmon accompanied by chermoula sauce and labneh.
Mina appeared as a guest judge on the sixth episode of season 11 of MasterChef in 2021.

External links