22 NOVEMBER 30-DECEMBER 6, 2023 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | LETTERS | CONTENTS | That’s a Wrap BY MOLLY MARTIN “It’s true, it’s happening,” says chef An Nguyen, the owner of Savory Vietnam, at 2200 West Alameda Avenue, which will close on December 15 after nearly fi ve years in business. Nguyen grew up helping her parents, Ha Pham and Thai Nguyen, run New Saigon restaurant, which they owned until 2017. After they retired, she continued to operate New Saigon Bakery & Deli with her sis- ter Thoa (now the owner of Banh & Butter Bakery Cafe). In 2019, Nguyen opened Savory Vietnam in the ex- pansive space once home to King’s Land Seafood, serving a pages- long menu of Viet- namese specialties and earning ac- colades, including being named Best Vietnamese Restaurant in Westword’s Best of Denver issue in both 2021 and 2022. Savory Vietnam has been doing well, Nguyen says, but “the lease just got too high. ... I’m the main chef, but I have partners that are older, and we just decided to disperse and go our own way.” The rent spike “caught us off guard,” she adds. “We don’t know why it happened. Maybe the landlord saw we were doing well and they wanted to increase it. But in order to pay more, we’d have to pass some of that cost on to our customers. It just didn’t make sense.” Customers who have heard the news have promised to follow Nguyen wherever she goes — and she’s not leaving the food industry. “I’d rather fi nd a smaller space and focus on cooking what I believe in,” she says, hinting at a project in the works for next year. “Honestly, I’m okay with Savory Vietnam closing, because I’ve always wanted to do something a little smaller to showcase more of my cuisine, my way,” she continues. The recipes she’s been using were passed down from her mom, but “over the years, I’ve elevated them and made them my own.” Her next project will give her even more freedom to showcase her pas- sion for Vietnam- ese cuisine, she notes, adding that she will also have more experience as an owner. “It was definitely a learning process of opening up my fi rst business,” Nguyen says. “Hopefully in the future, I can apply everything I learned here and implement it in my new business.” Ultimately, “I’m excited for this next journey,” she concludes. “It’s not goodbye, it’s see you soon.” Savory Vietnam is located at 2200 West Alameda Avenue and will be open from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday through December 15. For more information, visit savoryvietnam. com or follow @savoryvietnam on Instagram. CAFE FIND MORE FOOD & DRINK COVERAGE AT WESTWORD.COM/RESTAURANTS Make-your-own rice paper roll platter at Savory Vietnam. Hot pot with beef, mussels, squid and fresh vegetables. MARK ANTONATION MOLLY MARTIN 3004 W. 105th Ave Westminster, CO 80031 303-955-0051 8330 Washington St Denver 80229 303-287-4250 7310 N Federal Blvd Westminster 80030 303-650-4030 ................................. ................................. ............ 1967
