In an evolving landscape of culinary ventures, East Austin bids farewell to the Asian-inflected cocktail bar Ah Sing Den, which first opened its doors at 1100 E. 6th St. under a previous incarnation as East Side Showroom back in 2009. According to Eater Austin, Ah Sing Den will serve its last drink on Sunday, June 9, following its eight-year tenure as a hub for well-crafted cocktails and pan-Asian fare. It will be replaced with a new Filipino-focused restaurant, OKO, set to open in the early fall of 2024 at the same address.
The transition from Ah Sing Den to OKO is not a case of new management sweeping in to overtake the old; instead, Trinity Concepts, which owns Ah Sing Den, is working in collaboration with FAM Hospitality Group, led in part by chef Paul Qui, a divisive figure known as much for his storied culinary achievements as for his controversial past. In the closure announcement, Trinity co-owner Donny Padda expressed, "Traffic hasn’t been what it was in the past...So we feel it’s time to breathe new life into this historic Austin space," in a statement obtained by Eater Austin.
OKO promises to bring an exciting mix of Filipino cuisine with an emphasis on the Southeast Asian country's diaspora and Texas takes, says Eater Austin. The restaurant plans to feature a kinilaw bar (Philippine ceviche), oysters with pinakurat, lumpiang sariwa, chicken inasal, and lamb adobo. The bar angle will notably not stray far from Ah Sing Den’s roots with a selection of rum and agave-based spirits. Culinary leadership will include Villarosa and Qui; Villarosa's résumé boasts stints at noteworthy New York restaurants including Per Se and Maison Pickle, as well as the running of his food brand Unkle Harold’s.
Mourning the impending closure, Ah Sing Den's parting words shared on their Instagram account as reported by KVUE, were a solemn thank you to patrons: "Thank you for the wonderful years, unforgettable moments, and the most delicious tipples & morsels we’ve shared." As the bar transitions, so too will its social media presence, set to rebrand as OKO, heralding the new era of Filipino-inspired culinary offerings in a space ripe with Austin history.
Ah Sing Den's team was informed about the closure and has been told that they can reapply for positions with the new establishment, ensuring a degree of continuity amidst changes. The management's decision to retain and offer positions to staff members nods to a growing industry trend towards the more considerate handling of employee transitions.
