Madeline Bryce / Daily Nexus

As a Bay Area native, I grew up surrounded by authentic, world-class Asian cuisine. Classic dim sum, delicious pho, fresh sushi and so much more were always within reach. However, I always took issue with these restaurants’ dedication to sharing just one culture’s food—this is where Isla Vista gets it right.

Asia 101, Hana Kitchen and De La Guerra’s “Order Up” station are just a few examples of I.V.’s impeccable—and more importantly, ambiguous—Asian food. This distinct variant of Asian cuisine is typically characterized by undercooked white rice, a lack of resemblance to any culture in particular, and “stir fry” that is just out-of-the-bottle teriyaki sauce and chicken.

In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, Isla Vista has introduced yet another one of these restaurants: Yetz’s Asian Kitchen. The soon-to-be iconic joint got its name from the restaurant’s owner, Chad Charles Kitchen.

The restaurant, set to open in July of 2032 on 69 Trigo Road will feature such dishes as “Teriyaki kung pao naan tacos,” “Potstickers/gyoza/mandu/pork calzones,” and “Bulgogi ramen burrito.”

The news of Yetz’s Asian Kitchen’s opening was well-received by the I.V. community, with many students anticipating dining there.

“I’m so glad we’ll have another place to get teriyaki [INSERT FOOD HERE],” third-year physics major Sophie Michaels said. “Sometimes, it’s really overwhelming when a restaurant wants to really focus on a certain culture’s food. I love the fusion of everything.”

Yetz’s Asian Kitchen wanted to ensure that it stayed true to I.V. Asian standards, so it took specific precautions to achieve authenticity.

“We didn’t want Yetz’s Asian Kitchen to have any connection to any one culture, so we decided to completely remove Asian ingredients from our kitchen,” Kitchen said. “The ‘naan’ in the naan tacos is pita bread, the dumplings are reformed Uncrustables and the teriyaki sauce is actually Sweet Baby Ray’s barbeque sauce.”

Yetz’s Asian Kitchen hopes to expand beyond its starter menu, introducing items such as “orange chicken cake” and “green tea soup.” However, Kitchen really wants people to focus on the symbolic existence of his restaurant.

“It’s important that we use food to celebrate culture—all cultures, at once, and simultaneously, none at all. It’s really beautiful that I can bring these groundbreaking foods to UCSB and I hope that it makes AAPI people feel seen,” Kitchen said.

Joseph R. Biden is excited to try the bulgogi ramen burrito.