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By Kelly McCarthy

A Vietnamese American-run restaurant in California made it through the throes of the pandemic all while continuing to honor and celebrate its food traditions.

Oakland, California-based "Top Chef" alum Tu David Phu brought "Good Morning America" into the kitchen of one of his favorite local Vietnamese American eateries, Tay Ho, to honor the mother-daughter duo and share a recipe that originated in the heart of San Francisco

Owner Denise Huynh of Tay Ho Restaurant and Bar in Oakland, California says her menu is pretty much the same healthy and delicious Vietnamese food she ate growing up, which isn’t surprising since her mom is the head chef. One her favorite dishes is their turmeric catfish, 

Owner Denise Huynh said they will serve an abbreviated version of the Tay Ho menu with pho, vermicelli bowls, banh mi and coffee, wine and beer. It’ll be the best of both worlds: Those with extra time to kill before their flight can relax with a big bowl of pho, and those on a mad dash to their gate can still stop by to grab a quick banh mi. 

There's no place like Oakland with Chef Tu David Phu

Downtown's 'Tay Ho Restaurant & Bar' Is

'As Authentic As We Can Be'
Neighborhoods
Oakland
Location
344 12th St., Oakland, CA

When it comes to serving Vietnamese cuisine, "we try to be as authentic as we can be," said Denise Huynh, owner of Downtown's Tay Ho Restaurant & Bar.

Tay Ho Is a Vietnamese Treasure in Oakland Chinatown​
With cocktails, a fresh aesthetic, and a focus on unusual regional dishes, the family-run restaurant stands out from the pack.

By Janelle Bitker

Let's set the record straight: Tay Ho is not the same as Banh Cuon Tay Ho. This is understandably confusing. The Oakland Chinatown restaurant Tay Ho was once a location of Banh Cuon Tay Ho, the California Vietnamese restaurant chain. But in 2010, Denise Huynh bought the restaurant from her aunt and started doing things her way. Oakland's Banh Cuon Tay Ho had a decent customer base though, which Huynh didn't want to lose, so she only changed the name slightly, removing the words "Banh Cuon" but keeping the signature dish on the menu.

This stylish Chinatown restaurant serves Vietnamese-inspired cocktails alongside its traditional Vietnamese eats. The menu draws from all over the country, but diners should pay special attention to dishes from central Vietnam and the Mekong Delta regions. Bánh bột lọc (chewy Hue-style dumplings) are delightful, as are the Mekong turmeric cakes, fried turmeric catfish, and fish curry. Northern Vietnamese bánh cuốn — delicate rice noodle rolls — are also a specialty​

Among the future tenants are Brown Sugar Kitchen Counter, a branch of Tanya Holland’s growing soul food emporium similar to what’s coming to the SF Ferry Building; A16 Pizzeria, presumably a pie-focused version of the Italian favorite; Tay Ho Oakland, the second location for the Chinatown Vietnamese restaurant

Diverse voices in film meet diverse small business stories

The pandemic forced Tay Ho owner Denise Huynh to pivot her business model quickly, yet she still gave back to her local community during these tough times. Filmmaker Rafael Gomez, of Diptongo Media Group, captured the story. “I was inspired by the unique anecdotes and magical moments that propelled Tay Ho through challenging times,” said Gomez. “Denise did it all and had an unwavering commitment to frontline workers.”

Tay Ho has a full bar and is verging on hipster - a bike hangs from the ceiling - yet it is still the type of place that people bring their grandma...