Grand Reopening Of Laguna Hills Eatery Delayed After Fire

LAGUNA HILLS, CA — A well-loved Laguna Hills eatery that was slotted to reopen June will not reopen for at least another six months, after a fire erupted inside of the restaurant May 5.

Mint Indian Restaurant, an Indian-Pakistani restaurant located at 25831 Alicia Pkwy., postponed its grand reopening after a fire destroyed months of extensive renovations to the restaurant's space.

Residents can support Mint's staff and reconstruction by visiting the restaurant's sister concept, Khan Saab Desi Craft Kitchen, located in Fullerton. The sister restaurant has pledged to donate 10 percent of all ongoing sales to Mint's staff, according to a release.

The fire was reported to Orange County firefighters at 3 a.m. May 5 after smoke was seen coming from the building, according to a previous Patch report. The flames were isolated to one part of the restaurant, and no one was inside the restaurant at the time of the fire, authorities said.

RELATED: Firefighters Douse Flames At Laguna Hills Eatery

“We want to express our utmost appreciation and gratitude to the Orange County Fire Authority for acting swiftly and courageously to avoid the fire from spreading further throughout the restaurant and neighboring businesses,” Mint’s head chef Jamil Hosseini said. “We are incredibly grateful that there were no injuries sustained by any of our staff or neighbors and while this has been a truly devastating time, we look forward to rebuilding Mint and serving our Laguna Hills and greater Orange County community again.”

The rebuild is expected to anywhere from six months to eight months. During this time, revenue from Khan Saab's monthly sales will be directly donated to the Mint team during the closure.

“We were devastated by the unfortunate fire at our sister restaurant, Mint, and we are dedicated to supporting the staff and team throughout the rebuild,” Khan Saab’s Executive Chef Imran “Ali” Mookhi said in a statement. “Mint was a Laguna Hills mainstay for many loyal guests, especially those who practice Halal in Orange County. Until Mint reopens, we hope to offer a place for Mint’s community of fans to enjoy familiar, high-quality Desi Halal cuisine in its absence.”

Khan Saab Desi Craft Kitchen is located at 229 Commonwealth Ave. Unit A, open seven days a week from 4 p.m. through 11 p.m. during weekdays, and 2 p.m. through 11 p.m. on weekends.