Asian Box is a Bay Area-based fast-casual Vietnamese street food restaurant founded in 2011 by chef Grace Nguyen and her partners, restaurateur Frank Klein and chef Chad Newton.
The concept is a fully customizable, gluten-free menu, and it has proven its popularity with eight locations opening over the last 15 years, including one at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco.
This weekend, we can welcome Asian Box number nine, the first Marin County outpost that will be opening at Town Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday followed by a public grand opening celebration at 11am, Saturday, Sept. 19.
Chef Nguyen brings her personal and professional paths together at Asian Box, a culmination of a childhood in the kitchen as well as a career in San Francisco fine-dining restaurants. One may get a taste in all eight of her signature sauces on offer at each Asian Box location.
Amber Turpin: How did you get into this work?
Grace Nguyen: I wanted to become a chef after I finished high school and was debating whether to go to college and, if so, what to study. I grew up in a very traditional Vietnamese household in Houston, Texas, where I would cook all of the time with my grandmother, mother and aunts. I loved food and eating, so it made sense for me to pursue a future that focused on food.
I went to culinary school in San Francisco and started working at different restaurants around the city. After my experiences cooking in San Francisco, I knew this was the right life choice.
What is your favorite thing to cook (or eat) and why?
Crunchy tacos. We typically cook these at home weekly. We make our own salsas, usually use a low-fat protein and keep it as healthy as possible. We try to incorporate as many fresh vegetables as possible and use yogurt instead of sour cream. Such a satisfying meal.
What ingredients do you use or eat the most?
Salsa and hot sauces; I like my food spicy. Whatever we cook at home generally includes some kind of spice. I even keep fresh jalapeños or serrano peppers on hand to add to most things we cook.
What are some of your go-to places to go out for a sit-down meal? What about take-out?
My first choice for a sit-down meal in San Francisco would be dim sum at Yank Sing. It’s such a fun experience, and the food is so delicious and satisfying. For take-out, we love to get a few pizzas and a salad or pasta from Pizzeria Delfina. Their food is always so simple yet consistently solid.
Last meal on Earth?
A big bowl of pasta pomodoro or a smoked salmon pizza with caviar.
Asian Box, 147 Corte Madera Town Center, Corte Madera, asianbox.com.
