A local couple is following their lifelong dream of bringing traditional Vietnamese cuisine to the Little Apple.
Jason and Mai Lê of Manhattan are owners of the new “Pho Viet” restaurant at 405 Poyntz Ave, and have lived in Manhattan for over 14 years as owners of Manhattan Nails.
The couple said opening an authentic restaurant has always been a dream of theirs.
“We were hoping that somebody would open a Vietnamese restaurant, but it never happened so this is our opportunity,” said Jason. “We want to bring the most popular Vietnamese food that I know because of Fort Riley, the university, and contract workers from all over will appreciate it.”
Dishes include Pho, rice with marinated grilled pork chop, rare steak dishes, thinly sliced ribeye, and traditional Vietnamese ingredients and recipes. Lee said they wil also have Vietnamese boba, coffee, and eventually beer.
July 24th is the scheduled grand opening for the restaurant, and Jason says they’re hard at work preparing for the opening.
“I don’t like to disappoint the customers in Manhattan. Over the last couple months so many people have reached out to say they are looking forward to it and showing their interest. Once we open we want to have things run smoothly.”
Both Jason and Mai have Vietnamese backgrounds and have lived in many different places, but say Manhattan is their forever home.
“We just love this area, a smaller community where everyone knows and likes each other. Mai and I moved all over in our younger years, but we won’t leave Manhattan.”
