At Phở & Bún, we celebrate the rich heritage of Vietnamese cuisine, rooted in tradition and crafted with passion. Our dishes tell a story of culture, family, and the love for authentic flavors that have been passed down through generations.

Long before my brother and I ventured into the restaurant business, long before we left behind our well-established IT careers, there was a humble little restaurant in Vietnam that changed the course of our lives. It was my grandmother’s place — a small but beloved spot where locals gathered for the most extraordinary bowls of pho and bun bo hue. These weren’t just meals; they were an experience, a part of her soul woven into each bowl.

My grandmother had a gift — a talent for cooking that was passed down through generations. Her pho was renowned for its rich, fragrant broth, simmered for hours to extract the deepest flavors from beef bones, herbs, and spices. The thinly sliced beef, cooked to perfection, floated delicately atop the broth, accompanied by fresh herbs, lime, and chili. People traveled far and wide just for a taste of her bun bo hue, a spicy, vibrant soup full of tender beef shank, pork, and that unmistakable tang of lemongrass. It was the best, and everyone knew it.

But as the Vietnam War loomed, everything changed. My grandmother’s dream of expanding her restaurant was crushed. With the war breaking out, she had to close her doors, her beloved kitchen silenced, as she fled to America in search of safety and a better future for her family. She carried with her not just memories of her restaurant but also her recipes — her passion, her legacy, which she passed on to my mother.

Growing up, I was lucky enough to watch my mother continue the tradition. She cooked with the same dedication, the same love, and the same attention to detail as my grandmother. The flavors were identical — nothing short of perfection. And in every meal she made, I felt the echoes of my grandmother’s legacy.

But there was a moment of realization, one that changed everything for my brother and me. As we sat down to yet another bowl of pho — a simple family dinner — we thought about how much joy these dishes brought to us and everyone who had the privilege to taste them. We thought about how much my grandmother’s dream of sharing her recipes with the world had been unfulfilled.

We had spent over 20 years working in IT, a comfortable, predictable life, but there was a nagging feeling that we were meant to do more. So, in 2021, we made the bold decision to leave our IT careers behind. We wanted to bring my grandmother’s pho and bun bo hue to a wider audience, to share the flavors of our family’s rich history and culture. And so, Pho & Bun was born in Milpitas, California.

The journey wasn’t easy. We faced countless challenges — from navigating the competitive restaurant industry to managing every detail of a business while staying true to our roots. But with every bowl of pho and every steaming plate of bun bo hue, we saw the passion of our family’s recipes come alive. People loved it. They came for the food, but they stayed for the story — the story of a family’s bond to its heritage, its love for food, and its determination to carry forward a dream that had been interrupted so many years ago.

Today, we’ve expanded to San Jose, and we’re not stopping there. Our dream is to take Pho & Bun worldwide — to show the world the magic of our pho, the depth of flavor in our bun bo hue, and the heart behind every dish. We want to share our story, our family’s history, and the legacy of my grandmother’s restaurant with everyone who walks through our doors.

Looking back, it’s clear that everything — from our family’s cooking skills to the sacrifices made by my grandmother and mother — led us to this point. Pho & Bun is more than just a restaurant; it’s a tribute to the past, a celebration of our culture, and a dream that continues to unfold.

So, if you ever find yourself in Milpitas, San Jose, or wherever we might go next, stop by. Taste the pho, savor the bun bo hue, and know that every bowl is a part of something much bigger than just food. It’s a legacy, and we’re honored to carry it forward.