Our journey began more than 8,000 miles away at a small kitchen in Saigon where a young boy would enjoy a bowl of phở every morning. Little did he know, that apart from being the perfect meal, phở, would become a gateway between his two homes – one he was born into and the other that welcomed him with open arms.​​​​​​​​​​​​​

During the Sino-Vietnamese conflict in 1978, this small boy, Trung, and his family were forced to flee Vietnam with nothing, but the skin on their backs. After traveling a perilous journey across the sea and spending a year in a Malaysian refugee camp, they arrived in Batavia, Illinois with the hopes of a fresh start.

Trung has always had a special relationship with Vietnamese food. Phở brought him comfort during cold winter nights and long days he spent reminiscing about the warm kitchen he grew up in. While building his life in Illinois, he spent many evenings helping at his parent's grocery store and restaurant. There he grew a passion for food. He learned how to select top-quality produce, how to balance flavors, and how to cook with love.

In 2008, Trung ventured on his own by opening a restaurant to celebrate the spirit of Vietnamese cuisine.