Title: Managing Member
Company: MDK Noodles
Education: BS in Finance, UCR School of Business, Riverside, CA (2012)
Career History: Managing Member, MDK Noodles (2019-Present)
Stella J. Shin, Managing Member at MDK Noodles, has been recognized as a Marquis Emerging Leader for their contributions and achievements in the field of food services.
Since 2019, Ms. Shin, the daughter of two Korean immigrants, has utilized her years of experience in the restaurant business to excel as a managing member of Myung Dong Kyoja Noodles, or simply MDK, an establishment in Los Angeles founded by her father under the original name Myeondong Giza. MDK specializes in authentic Korean cuisine, including its homemade hot soups, noodles, dumplings, kimchi, and several hot grilled items—from Kimchi Pancake to Vegetarian Bibimbap. With expertise in business operations and marketing, she handles all administrative work related to the restaurant, including accounting work, as well as social media marketing and overall translation. Under her leadership, the restaurant has expanded into a second location in Anaheim, California, and a third in Houston, Texas.
While pursuing a Bachelor of Science in finance from UCR School of Business, which she ultimately earned in 2012, Ms. Shin helped her father with the restaurant. Later, when he told her he couldn’t manage it himself anymore, she assured him she was willing to take it over—much to his satisfaction. She attributes much of her success to her previous career in the sales industry, which has allowed her to envision things differently than her father and implement a unique perspective on how to manage and operate her business. She has previously held a membership with the Asian Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce and prioritizes giving back by donating fresh dumplings to the Monterey Park Hospital.
Looking toward the future, Ms. Shin wishes to expand her business location and bring her food products across the United States.