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After more than 30 years slinging popular Vietnamese food on 12th and Jackson, International District favorite Huong Binh looks to be undergoing major changes. Scott Hoang, the son of Huong Binh owner Lien Dang, announced on Facebook yesterday that his mom has sold the business. “I want to take the time to thank all of our friends and family that have supported us over the years,” wrote Hoang. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve ran into random people, as I was older, and have them tell me they’ve eaten there since they were kids. Some of those kids are my best friends today.” When reached via Facebook, Hoang told Eater Seattle that the restaurant will remain open, and that his mom allowed the new owners to keep the name and some of the recipes. We reached out to Huong Binh for more information and will update this post as it comes in.
Huong Binh is among Eater Seattle’s list of most vibrant Vietnamese restaurants (and has been on the Eater 38 in the past), impressing for both quality and value. Writer Jay Friedman praised the “perfectly caramelized” grilled pork, and expanded menu on the weekends, with specials such as duck noodle soup and congee served with blood sausage, pork tongue, liver, and ear.
For those who will miss Dang’s presence, there is a bright spot. Hoang mentioned that his mom will soon be “taking her skills and recipes” to his sister Taylor Hoang’s acclaimed restaurant District One Saigon in Redmond. The menu there includes standout Vietnamese dishes such as cha ca la vong (turmeric fish with dill and a great shrimp paste-based sauce), banh khot (turmeric mini-pancakes), mieng tom (glass noodle, shrimp, and pork belly claypot), and coconut shrimp ceviche.
UPDATED, June 28, 2019, 1:00 p.m.: This piece has been updated to reflect new information from Scott Hoang, including that the restaurant will remain open under new ownership with the same name and some of the same recipes.
