In this issue, we highlight key developments in the Greater Boston restaurant industry, community activities, and opportunities worth watching in the month ahead. As the holiday season winds down, we hope this newsletter helps you capture the spring rebound in consumer traffic, take advantage of citywide events, and prepare for the next phase of business planning.

On the afternoon of March 12, 2026, the 2026 MARA Lunar New Year Celebration, hosted by the Massachusetts Asian Restaurant Association (MARA), was successfully held at East West Bank in Quincy. Although the event had to be rescheduled twice in advance due to venue and weather-related reasons, it still received strong understanding and support from members, industry partners, and community supporters. Guests gathered as planned to celebrate the new year and engage in meaningful conversations around restaurant industry development, resource sharing, and MARA’s future initiatives.

With the theme of celebrating the new year while strengthening industry exchange and collaboration, the event created a warm and lively atmosphere. At the beginning of the program, the MARA leadership team welcomed attendees and thanked them for their continued support of the association. Several guest speakers then shared their perspectives on restaurant operations, market shifts, industry trends, and the practical challenges facing restaurant businesses today, offering valuable insights for attendees.

During the event, MARA also introduced local resource connections and collaboration opportunities, helping members better understand the support networks and industry resources available to them. 

In the networking session, guests from the restaurant, finance, payment services, and nonprofit/community sectors engaged in active conversations about operational experience, industry trends, resource integration, and future collaboration.

We sincerely thank all guests, members, and partners who joined us, and especially thank the venue host and supporting organizations for making this event possible. MARA remains committed to serving the Asian restaurant industry in Massachusetts, creating meaningful platforms for connection, and supporting the shared growth of the community.

According to a notice from USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), Ajinomoto Foods North America has expanded its recall of certain chicken and pork fried rice, ramen, and other ready-to-eat or not-ready-to-eat products. The notice also includes the scale of the recall, including total product weight. For restaurant operators, the key action is to check whether any of these products entered your supply chain through distributors, isolate affected inventory immediately, and follow the procedures outlined in the official recall notice.

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East West Bank will host an SBA Loan Seminar for small business owners who want to learn more about applying for SBA financing. The session will be led by Cathy Huang, SBA Relationship Officer at East West Bank, and is designed for business owners seeking guidance on the loan process, application requirements, and financing preparation.

The seminar will be conducted in Mandarin, with English translation available upon request. Light refreshments will be provided. Seating is limited, so early RSVP is encouraged.

Date & Time: Monday, March 30, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: 219 Quincy Ave, Quincy, MA 02169
RSVP by: March 27, 2026
Contact: Jimmy Wu | 617.328.8818 | Jimmy.Wu@eastwestbank.com

 

 

Dear restaurant owners and business providers,

MARA is devoted to be the backbone of the Asian restaurant community and maintain a vibrant platform for Asian restaurants and business/service providers alike. We support our members with information on fund-sourcing, policy interpretation, networking opportunities and public advocacy, to name a few. In today's fast changing environment, MARA will be your ally, and you will never have to face challenges alone.

Founded in 2018, Massachusetts Asian Restaurant Association (MARA) is a non-profit corpo-ration registered at Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It formed a partnership with Massachu-setts Restaurant Association (MRA) in 2020.

 

MARA provides Asian restaurant businesses the resources and guidance needed to advance in the industry. MARA is a platform connecting Asian restaurant members with professional service providers as well as relevant governmental entities to enhance the communication collaboration, and mutual benefits. Visit ma-ara.org to join or learn more