Ren has arrived at 623 Grand Street! Ren is a Sichuan restaurant specializing small plates, allowing you to mix and match different bites. This is by design, as owner Jayne He “wants to introduce newer dishes in smaller portions that people might not have had”. Smaller plates include spicy pickled cucumbers, fried golden eggplant, and steamed pork dumplings; more traditional Sichuan foods like Mapo Tofu and Spicy Cumin Lamb come in larger portions.
Jayne opened the restaurant alongside her partners Henry Bao and Kingsley Ye after years of experience in other Chinese fine dining establishments. She decided to open Ren to create a space where people can “share food, happiness and harvest”. The theme of harvest comes from Jayne’s history in food - her grandmother’s farmhouse in Fujian, China has been a major influence on her culinary career. This can be seen in the decor, with hay-like fixtures hanging from the ceiling & woven farm style chairs, and even the name; Ren means “grain harvest” in Chinese. 🌾
Jayne shared with us an idiom that sits at the core of her vision for Ren:
“First, as fefe said, this idiom is “民以食为天" (Mín yǐ shí wéi tiān); it comes from the biography of Li Yiji in the historical record of The Han dynasty. That sentence means "People are the most important to an emperor, while foods are the most important to the people".
Why? Remember in ancient times, foods were not as sufficient as they are now; even now, people in poverty go hungry. Foods are indispensable to life.”
Jayne’s favorite part of running Ren is being able to meet people in the neighborhood, listen to their feedback, and use that feedback to continue growing. She’s described the neighborhood as very supportive and welcoming, and has already had regular customers come back several times.
Swing by Ren at 623 Grand Street for delicious Sichuan Cuisine!
