Today we’d like to introduce you to Jay Khan.
Jay, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’ve been in the restaurant industry for 37 years and still love every aspect of it. I moved to Dallas in 1982, that is when I first got my start in the industry working as a dishwasher at Texas Tumbleweed. I’ve held almost every job imaginable in the restaurant space, which I believe has made me a better leader. These experiences led me to dream of opening my very own restaurant.
After rising through the ranks, I became the general manager at Landry’s Seafood House. Here I met my friend and eventual business partner, Chef Ron Von Hattan. In 1994, I partnered with Van Hattan to create an upscale Mexican restaurant, just blocks from where Landry’s stood.
We opened RJ Mexican Cuisine in Dallas’ West End and have achieved great success together. In 2018, I decided to open a farm-to-table concept in the same area and named it 3Eleven Kitchen & Cocktails. I have had an amazing experience in the industry and West End district and have plans to open additional concepts in the future.
Has it been a smooth road?
The path I’ve been on to open and sustain my restaurants has not always been a smooth one. I faced a lot of adversity in the restaurant industry and personally because I am an immigrant. I grew up in Durant, Oklahoma, where I was considered a minority. The experiences from my childhood helped thicken my skin and prepare me for what I would eventually face in the working world. I continued to persist through my failures and have opened two successful restaurants.
Please tell us about your business.
RJ Mexican Cuisine is an authentic Mexican restaurant that provides delicious food with imaginative twists to traditional dishes. Co-created by Chef Ron Van Hattan, the menu has everything from simple Hispanic favorites to decadent chef-inspired dishes.
My other concept, 3Eleven Kitchen & Cocktails provides farm to table ingredients and an atmosphere that is perfect for any occasion from grabbing drinks after work to planning a festive get-together. I’m really proud of the restaurant’s cocktails, which are crafted by inventive bartenders who create one of a kind beverages.
It is well-known that the restaurant industry has a high rate of turnover. However, RJ Mexican Cuisine has had the same management since our opening in 1994. I am most proud that I have provided a workplace where people want to stay. I encourage all of my employees to do what is best for them. Sometimes that may be another job, but the real goal is to work in a place where your co-workers feel more like family and I feel that I’ve helped to provide that kind of opportunity.
What sets me apart from other restaurant owners is that I evaluate things differently. Although turning a nice profit is always a goal, it’s not my main objective as a businessman. I am more focused on serving superior meals, working with the best ingredients, hiring hard-working employees and creating an atmosphere where people want to spend their days and evenings. I believe this is why I’ve been able to stay remain successful in an industry where so many others have failed.
I define success by helping my employees achieve success. I strive each day to help them learn, grow and excel in the restaurant industry. I know I am on the right track when my employees ask for new responsibilities, seek out raises and are curious about the industry.
For many people, working in the restaurant industry is a temporary job. I hope my restaurants provide my employees the opportunity to rise through the ranks just as I have.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I’ve loved Dallas since I moved here in 1982. What I love most is the diversity of the people who live here and the competition within the restaurant industry. The competition is also what I like least. Dallas has a thriving restaurant industry with new and innovative concepts opening every day. At times, it can be difficult to keep up with the newest trends, but I enjoy the challenge.
Contact Info:
- Address: 311 N Market St #100 Dallas, TX 75202
- Website: https://3elevendallas.com/
- Phone: 214-744-1423
- Email: 311kitchenandcocktails@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rjmexicancuisine/ and https://www.instagram.com/3elevendallas/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RjMexicanCuisine/ and https://www.facebook.com/3ElevenDallas/?ref=br_rs
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/rj-mexican-cuisine-dallas and https://www.yelp.com/biz/3-eleven-kitchen-and-cocktails-dallas?osq=3+Eleven+Kitchen+%26+Cocktails
- Other: https://www.rjmexicancuisine.com/
Image Credit:
Catie Brown, Social Media Coordinator at The Power Group.
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