
Photo by Stacey Windsor
From an email:
“Brother-and-sister owners Ken and Aki Ballogdajan will open their new concept AKO by KENAKI at The Roost early 2020. Chef Ken and his sister Aki opened their first restaurant, KENAKI Sushi Counter, in Gaithersburg last year. While Ken touts a 25-year career in the industry (which includes time spent at Raku, VOLT, and with Chef Ryan Trevino in San Juan, PR), his sister Aki left her career in software in 2018 to open KENAKI as its GM. Though this will be the second concept for the Ballogdajans, the siblings are third-generation restaurant owners and got their start in the industry as teens. Their sushi counter at The Roost is named for their late mother, Ako (her nickname). (more…)













