"Hanoi House, a Vietnamese East Village restaurant, is co-owned by Sara Leveen and Ben Lowell, and helmed by chef John Nguyen. The restaurant has received numerous accolades since its opening in January 2017. It is particularly known for its clams and congee dish, described as "satisfyingly sticky" by The Times' Ligaya Mishan and "sprightly and oceanic" by The New Yorker. Chef Nguyen's approach is to make dishes Instagram-worthy with a 'wow factor' while ensuring they are flavorful. His pho, in particular, is recognized for its unique touches, including an entire bone marrow add-on. Nguyen's background includes cooking in various locations such as LA, New York, and China, which has influenced his creative culinary style. Despite his success, Nguyen sometimes feels restless but continues to explore new ideas for the menu and potential future concepts for the restaurant." - Stefanie Tuder