Michael Mina Restaurants: Key Takeaways
- Michael Mina owns about 40 restaurants worldwide, mainly in the United States with one location in the Middle East.
- His portfolio includes 2 Michelin-starred restaurants, both named Michael Mina in San Francisco and Las Vegas.
- Key restaurant concepts include upscale steakhouses like Bourbon Steak and Stripsteak, Mediterranean-inspired Orla, and the global barbecue brand International Smoke.
- Recent expansion efforts between 2023 and 2025 focus on major US cities including New York, Santa Monica, and Washington, DC.
Chef Michael Mina is a highly regarded restaurateur known for his culinary innovation and diverse portfolio of venues. With a strong presence primarily in the United States, Mina blends fine dining with approachable casual concepts.
This article examines how many restaurants Michael Mina owns globally, covering his Michelin-starred flagships, his various restaurant concepts, and his unique venues across the US and Middle East.
Michael Mina Restaurants: Global Presence and Restaurant Count
Michael Mina currently operates around 40 restaurants worldwide. The overwhelming majority are located in the United States, with a singular location in the Middle East (Dubai).
Within the US, Mina’s restaurants span numerous states including California, Nevada, New York, and Florida, covering fine dining, modern steakhouses, Mediterranean brasseries, and casual concepts. The Middle East venue is a European-inspired brasserie situated within Dubai's luxury market.
Region | Approx. Number of Restaurants | Notable Examples |
---|---|---|
United States | 39 | Michael Mina (San Francisco and Las Vegas), Bourbon Steak (8 locations including Glendale, Aventura, Scottsdale), Stripsteak (Las Vegas, Honolulu), Orla (Las Vegas, Santa Monica), Bardot Brasserie (Las Vegas), International Smoke (San Francisco, Las Vegas), unique venues like Mina's Fish House (Hawaii) and Wit & Wisdom (Sonoma, Baltimore). |
Middle East | 1 | Mina Brasserie (Dubai, UAE) |
The ownership mix includes fully owned and licensed venues, with no franchised locations among Michael Mina’s restaurants. This model allows close control over quality and brand consistency, essential to Mina’s upscale positioning.
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Michelin-Starred Flagship Restaurants
Michael Mina is recognized for two Michelin-starred restaurants that have anchored his reputation for refined luxury dining. Both Michelin-starred venues bear his name and have been celebrated for years by critics and diners alike.
The first Michael Mina restaurant opened in San Francisco in 2004 and earned its Michelin star by delivering an innovative mix of French and global flavors with impeccable technique.
The second location launched in Las Vegas in 2006 and similarly received one Michelin star, elevating fine dining on the Strip by combining upscale ambiance with meticulous cuisine.
- Michael Mina (San Francisco, USA) – 1 Michelin star, opened 2004. A pioneer venue in Mina’s portfolio known for progressive American haute cuisine.
- Michael Mina (Las Vegas, USA) – 1 Michelin star, opened 2006. A flagship demonstrating Mina’s skill in combining luxury steakhouse elements with fine dining craftsmanship.
These Michelin-starred restaurants remain the highest culinary accolades within Mina’s collection and drive his brand prestige among the fine dining elite.
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Notable Michael Mina Restaurant Concepts and Locations
Michael Mina’s restaurant portfolio encompasses diverse concepts spanning upscale steakhouses, Mediterranean fare, French brasseries, global barbecue, and unique local venues. Below are his top branded concepts and their highlights.
Bourbon Steak Restaurants
Bourbon Steak is a modern American steakhouse brand focusing on prime cuts of beef and creative side dishes. With 8 locations across the US, it is one of Michael Mina’s largest concepts.
Locations include Glendale, CA; Aventura, FL; Scottsdale, AZ; Santa Clara, CA; New York, NY; Nashville, TN; Dana Point, CA; and Washington, DC.
The price range per person typically sits between $100–150, reflecting its upscale steakhouse positioning.
Bourbon Steak blends contemporary techniques with classic steakhouse tradition, crafting a luxurious yet approachable dining experience.
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Stripsteak
Stripsteak offers a modern steakhouse experience with a focus on bold flavors and inventive culinary techniques. It runs two locations in Las Vegas, NV and Honolulu, HI.
Priced between $100–150 per person, Stripsteak merges a classic steakhouse atmosphere with fresh and contemporary flavors.
Orla
Orla is inspired by Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine, emphasizing fresh ingredients and bold spices.
Operating in Las Vegas, NV and Santa Monica, CA, Orla sits in a mid-to-upscale range with prices spanning $75–120 per person.
Bardot Brasserie
Bardot Brasserie is a single-location venue in Las Vegas, NV, specializing in modern interpretations of classic French dishes served in a Parisian-inspired setting.
This French brasserie offers a refined yet lively dining experience, priced between $75–120 per person.
International Smoke
International Smoke is a collaboration between Michael Mina and Ayesha Curry, focusing on wood-fired cuisine featuring global barbecue flavors.
With locations in San Francisco, CA, and Las Vegas, NV, International Smoke provides casual upscale dining with dishes like smoked ribs and seafood, pricing between $50–100 per person.
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Mina Brasserie
Mina Brasserie is located exclusively in Dubai, UAE, offering European-inspired dishes with a fresh seasonal focus in an elegant setting.
This venue reflects Mina’s international reach and caters to a luxury Middle Eastern market, priced between $75–120 per person.
Unique Venues
Beyond branded concepts, Michael Mina operates a number of distinctive venues across the US that showcase regional flavors and local hospitality.
Examples include Mina's Fish House in Ko’Olina, Hawaii; The Bungalow Kitchen locations in Tiburon and Long Beach, California; Wit & Wisdom venues in Sonoma, California and Baltimore, Maryland; The Handle Bar in Jackson Hole, Wyoming; acclaimed sushi restaurant PABU in San Francisco, California; Trailblazer Tavern also in San Francisco; Mi Almita in Honolulu, Hawaii; and Cal Mare in Springfield, Massachusetts.
These venues emphasize local ingredients and community connections while maintaining high culinary standards synonymous with the Mina brand.
Given the diverse types of restaurants, having a well-trained staff is important. Resources like the server training manual template can help ensure quality customer service across all venues.
Michael Mina has expanded his portfolio into new US markets such as New York, Santa Monica, and Washington, DC between 2023 and 2025, signaling ongoing growth.
Michael Mina Restaurant Empire: Conclusion
In conclusion, Michael Mina currently owns or operates around 40 restaurants, almost exclusively in the United States with a single marquee venue in Dubai.
His portfolio is a balanced blend of Michelin-starred fine dining restaurants, upscale steakhouse brands, Mediterranean and French-inspired concepts, global barbecue, and richly textured local venues. The two Michelin stars at his San Francisco and Las Vegas flagship locations underline his culinary pedigree.
By partnering with luxury hotel groups like Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, MGM Resorts International, and Regent Hotels & Resorts, Mina has strategically placed his restaurants in affluent and high-traffic locations that amplify brand visibility.
Michael Mina’s restaurant empire stands out for combining high-end culinary excellence with varied formats that appeal to broad customer segments, from connoisseurs of fine dining to casual diners seeking globally inspired flavors.
With continued expansion into key metropolitan areas and an ownership model favoring direct control and licensing, Michael Mina’s culinary influence is positioned for sustained growth.
Owners and managers interested in maximizing staff retention and minimizing turnover can explore effective strategies to reduce restaurant employee turnover for long-term success.