Day 168 - Mai’s Restaurant, Houston, Texas
📌APIA Every Day (168) - Mai's Restaurant, Houston's first Vietnamese restaurant, was founded in 1978 by Phin and Phac Nguyen to support their family of eight children. The Nguyen family immigrated to South Dakota in 1975, securing sponsorship from a local family. About three years later, they moved to Houston, seeking a climate similar to Vietnam's. Upon settling in Houston, they opened a pool hall with a buffet but quickly realized that more people came for the food than the pool. This pool hall soon transformed into Mai’s Restaurant.
They named the restaurant after their daughter Mai for its simple pronunciation and significant meaning, "golden flower," symbolizing prosperity and luck. Over the years, Mai's gained popularity for its authentic Vietnamese cuisine. In 1990, ownership of the restaurant was passed to Mai, and a year later, Mai's Restaurant officially introduced Vietnamese cuisine to Houston, receiving local media coverage thanks to its loyal patrons. In 2002. Anthony Bourdain praised its authentic and memorable Vietnamese cooking.
On February 15, 2010, an accidental fire destroyed Mai's Restaurant, prompting a rebuilding effort led by Mai's daughter, Anna Pham. The incident significantly impacted both the family and the Houston community, as Mai's was considered a city landmark. When Mai's finally reopened on April 26, 2011, the mayor declared it Mai’s Restaurant Day.
Today, Mai's remains under family management, blending traditional Vietnamese recipes with updated menu offerings and a refreshed dining environment. Anna Pham now oversees daily operations alongside her mother, Mai Nguyen, navigating the challenges of a dynamic restaurant scene while preserving Mai's legacy in Houston.
LEARN MORE:
CHRON: For Mai's Restaurant, fast-changing Houston could mean tough decisions
CHRON: Phin Nguyen, founder of Mai's Restaurant, has died
Houston Public Media: Anthony Bourdain On Food, Art, And His Favorite Place To Eat In The Bayou City
Houston Chronicle: 4 iconic Houston businesses that have stood the test of time
PAID POST by BMW — Houston: Where Cultural Change Remains Constant (nytimes.com)
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