Hip-Hop Rapper Fabolous and Sei Less Founder Dara Mirjahangiry at Sei Less
Oftentimes, finding success along the intersection of entertainment and entrepreneurship can be arduous, but for New York restaurant Sei Less? Not so much. Specializing in Asian Fusion cuisine, the New York City staple has quickly picked up steam over the last year since its inception. From being the inspiration behind the hit song Say Less by hip-hop stars Fabolous and French Montana to hosting A-List celebrities such as Cardi B, James Harden, Future, and more, its reputation as a cultural hub has proliferated among elite circles in the world of entertainment. As Sei Less recently celebrated its first anniversary, the founder Dara Mirjahangiry reflected on how it all started.
“It's been a dream of mine to open up my own restaurant, and last year, I was able to put all the pieces together and launch Sei Less. The idea started when I realized there was a need to create a membership-type vibe and concept for the culture. So what we really tried to build was an ecosystem for like-minded individuals to be able to go somewhere where you know they're comfortable. A place where people want to be there rather than somewhere where people feel that they have to be.”
It’s no secret that New York City is home to many fine dining establishments. Still, when asked what sets Sei Less apart from its competitors, Mirjahangiry’s answer is simple — the authenticity permeating behind the scenes.
“I think we're genuine in what we do; we're not forcing it, and I think a lot of these people see that very quickly,” Mirjahangiry told For(bes) The Culture. “Sei Less is built on bringing good people together that enhance each other. We make a lot of introductions to the restaurant with different people in various fields, and I think that's really what has helped Sei Less become what it is, and it's who we are.”
Those sentiments aren’t just shared by the all-star team on the backend of Sei Less, as billionaire entrepreneur Adam Weitsman praises Mirjahangiry and his team.
“I’ve built some of my best relationships from meeting individuals at Sei Less. At any given night, you can walk into the restaurant and see the who’s who of New York City,” Weitsman said. “ To watch that business quickly grow into what it’s become today is truly amazing, and Dara has all my respect.”
With the success that Sei Less has amassed in such a short time, Mirjahangiry assures that there are plans for expansion in the near and late future.
“We're launching a merchandise line that we've been working on for a few months, and we're finalizing the samples and the rollout. In terms of expansion, we have a lot of conversations going on with different people, domestically and internationally. We're just evaluating the best partners and situations for the brand, but while we decide that, we're going to be doing pop-ups at several events, including NBA All-Star Weekend.”
