Originally aired on YPR’s Flavors Under the Big Sky
Owner and chef Dae Shin of Nara Restaurant in Billings serves up food inspired from his Korean roots and Montana upbringing.
In 1996, Dae’s mother, Young Ran, opened the restaurant with her sister-in-law, Mia Settergren. After a couple of years, when Settergren made the decision to leave the business, Dae’s father, Young Soo, joined the business.
While mom cooked in the kitchen, dad took on the duties of making sushi. Soon after, Dae was recruited to wash dishes.
“So when the restaurant was purchased, I was 12 years old. My mom and dad would have me come down and do dishes for a whopping $5 a day. That was a pretty good deal that I had then,” Shin says. “As I got older, my dad needed my help so he started training me on what he knew, which was a great stepping stone for what I am doing right now.”…