Nam Dae Moon gives away 500 meals, cooks more for those left in line

The popular Korean restaurant Nam Dae Moon distributed up to 500 meals to the community last April 28 in the wake of Super Typhoon Sinlaku, then continued cooking to feed residents who remained in line after supplies ran out.

“Around 400 to 500,” said Hellena Kim, the restaurant’s secretary, through staff Yong Zheng, when asked how many meals were prepared and handed out.

Kim said the meals consisted of rice, radish, and Korean-style chicken teriyaki, prepared in partnership with World Central Kitchen as part of relief efforts for residents affected by the storm. The effort was initially intended as a one-time distribution, though the restaurant may consider doing more depending on need.

“Right now, we’re out of chicken teriyaki, so we’re trying to make kimchi fried rice … to give out more to the community,” Kim said, explaining that staff immediately began cooking additional food after the first 500 meals were exhausted.

The extra batches ensured that those who had lined up but were unable to receive the initial meals were still fed.

Kim said the outreach was driven by a desire to help during difficult times following the typhoon, noting many in the community continue to struggle with its aftermath.

Despite sustaining only minor damage—including a leaking kitchen roof and a broken generator—the Garapan restaurant has been operating on reduced hours. Kim said they are aiming to reopen on May 1, though not at full capacity.

“For now, it’s one time, but we might do more later on depending on how things go,” she said of the food distribution.

Kim, who has lived on Saipan for 30 years, described the recent storm as among the worst she has experienced and expressed hope the community remains resilient.

“She hopes everyone’s able to stay strong, be healthy, and keep moving forward positively,” said Zheng.