At Ling & Louie’s Asian Bar and Grill in Scottsdale, brunch means a lot more than a breezy weekend meal.
The owners are using its dining room to support Hunkapi Programs, a Scottsdale nonprofit known for its equine‑assisted therapy for people navigating trauma, anxiety, illness, and major life transitions.
Ling & Louie’s Asian Bar and Grill at 9397 E. Shea Boulevard, Suite 125, Scottsdale, will host The Big Hearted Brunch every Saturday and Sunday through June, and donate a portion of all brunch sales to Hunkapi. (Ling & Louie’s Asian Bar and Grill at Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino is not participating.)
Ling and Louie’s owner John Banquil said the campaign reflects his restaurant’s mission.
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“When you’re given the opportunity to have any sort of success, it feels necessary to give back,” Banquil said. “Every order we put out matters — to the guest paying for it and to the community we’re supporting.”
Banquil and his family took over the brand in 2019 to feed its neighborhood. When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down dining rooms, the community rallied around Ling & Louie’s — and Banquil felt the responsibility shift.
“The outpouring we received from the people our kids grew up with, the families we knew — it reinforced that the community really cares about us,” he said. “What could we do to give back tenfold?”
During the pandemic, the restaurant prepared hundreds of meals for Child Crisis Arizona and fed Boys & Girls Club staff.
Banquil didn’t choose Hunkapi randomly. Banquil partnered with the organization before through his fast‑casual sister brand, Wings & Wok Shop, and he’s long admired the work of Executive Director Terra Schaad. But the connection deepened when he saw a video of ALS Arizona patients participating in equine therapy at Hunkapi’s farm.
“It really tugged at my heartstrings,” he said. “Equine therapy is such a unique way to deal with anxieties or illnesses. It makes people feel normal — like they can enjoy an activity without worrying about everything else.”
The proximity didn’t hurt either. “It’s literally half a mile up the street from us,” he added.
Hunkapi’s programs range from therapeutic riding to emotional‑regulation sessions, counseling, and team‑building workshops — all built around the relationship between horse and human.
“Our farm is powered by our community of volunteers and community partnerships,” Schaad said in a statement.
“We could not be prouder to be a part of Scottsdale and a neighbor to Ling & Louie’s.”
The brunch menu is a draw. The Korean Fried Chicken Benedict layers crispy chicken, tomato, poached eggs, sriracha hollandaise, and a drizzle of spiced maple syrup.
The Sizzling Steak Hash — diced New York strip with peppers, onions, and Korean chili sauce — arrives under a sunny‑side egg. And the buttermilk pancakes come topped with mango‑coconut syrup, strawberries, fresh mango, and macadamia nuts.
“I look at the menu now and my mouth just starts drooling,” he said with a laugh.
Banquil talks about community impact the same way he talks about hospitality — as something baked into the business, not bolted on.
“Wherever we put a restaurant, we want to make sure we’re adding value to the neighborhood,” he said. “There’s something bigger than just serving food.”
