Meet Chef Jennifer Nguyen
Jennifer Nguyen, chef/owner of A Saigon Café in Wailuku, Maui, credits her mother for much of her success. She encouraged Jennifer to use only the freshest ingredients, even if it meant visiting the markets daily, as they do in Vietnam.
Recognized as an official supporter of local agriculture with the “2018 Friend of Agriculture Award” by the Maui County Farm Bureau, Jennifer is a familiar face amongst local farmers and farmers markets. She also maintains her own farm where she grows papaya, eggplant, lemongrass, basil and other herbs. A Saigon Café’s reputation for fresh authentic Vietnamese cuisine and friendly service is second to none.
Jennifer opened her first restaurant, A Touch of Saigon, in 1993, and moved it to its present location in 1995, renaming it A Saigon Café.
Jennifer is a repeat participant in Grand Taste at the Maui AgFest & 4-H Livestock Fair held annually on the first Saturday after Memorial Day. Similar to Jennifer’s menu, dishes are prepared with fresh, local and flavorful ingredients.
Originally born in a quiet province in Vietnam, Jennifer Nguyen was smuggled out of the country in a bag during the Vietnam War. She arrived in Ohio without knowing a word of English and learned quickly how to adapt and thrive. After graduating high school with honors, Jennifer moved to the island of O‘ahu in Hawai‘i to find warmer weather. She worked in the banking industry for several years until she moved to Maui.
Most recently, A Saigon Café became a Blue Zone Project-approved restaurant. The restaurant has received national acclaim on the Food Network’s “$40 a Day with Rachel Ray” and rave mentions by travel writers for major publications including Sunset, National Geographic Traveler and the Wall Street Journal.