SVL: Where did you grow up?
TT:  Saigon, Vietnam

SVL:  Who or what inspired you to enter the restaurant industry and when?
TT: Watching the original Japanese Iron Chef show, and then the American Iron Chef version – my favorite Iron Chef is Morimoto.

SVL: What do you love most about what you do?
TT: Ability to serve and meet satisfied customers. In addition, I love making difficult customers happy with the JINYA experience.

SVL: What advice would you give to someone thinking about a career in the industry?
TT: Have a passion before you start a career in the food industry. Although wonderful, it’s long, hard work every day.

SVL: What is your favorite meal to prepare?
TT: Any Asian food with a twist of fusion and a touch of fish sauce – because I grew up with Vietnamese food.

SVL: Do you like to eat out at other restaurants and see what’s cooking with them?
TT: All the time, we like to see new creative tastes and how different chefs prepare and present a new dish. My co-owner Alan and I lived in Las Vegas for two years to open our new restaurant there and it was a foodie capital. We got to check out all of the restaurants from famed and notable chefs.

SVL: What is your favorite item on JINYA’s menu?
TT: Everything, but if I do have to make a decision, I would go with Jinya Bun. It’s a small plate but it carries so much taste of pork charsiu in its special sauce and Taiwanese steam bun.

SVL: If you weren’t doing your current job, what would you be doing?
TT: Be back at my old job as a Software Database engineer. It’s a life in a cubicle.

SVL: If they made a movie of your life, who’d play you?
TT: Meryl Streep. She is very good in various roles and she is not afraid of speaking out.



JINYA Ramen Bar San Jose (408.281.9888) is open for lunch and dinner daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the Westfield Oakridge Center (925 Blossom Hill Road, Suite 1637, San Jose, CA 95123).

Happy hour is offered from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. daily. For more information, please visit www.jinya-ramenbar.com, Facebook, or Instagram.