The Monkey Bridge, a popular Vietnamese restaurant, is aiming to open a second location at 105 1st Ave S in Seattle’s Pioneer Square neighborhood in June, according to owner Hung Nguyen.
“I would like to tell you about the story of my business. About 30 years ago, I traveled from Vietnam, through multiple refugee camps until I came to the United States. I ran into a restaurant named Viet Chi Restaurant, which was located in the Lowman building on Cherry Street, which is now Cherry Street Coffee. Then after three years, the business moved to the Arctic Building on Third Ave. I worked there as a dishwasher and eventually bought the restaurant. Ten years after running it, I lost the lease, and we opened The Monkey Bridge restaurant in Ballard in 2008,” Nguyen tells What Now Seattle. “More than a year ago, after I had been looking for a second restaurant, I finally found the space in Pioneer Square. I was very happy and excited to be back where I started nearby Viet Chi Restaurant. It is thanks to all my friends ( David Schraer, Dan Stutz, David Bolin….) who shared a lot of their time for my dream. Hopefully, the Monkey Bridge II will open soon in June.”
The restaurant draws inspiration from the rural landscape of southern Vietnam, where rivers and waterways are crossed using bamboo bridges called monkey bridges, named for the monkey-like postures travelers make as they traverse them to access local markets for fresh fish, produce, and herbs, according to their website.
The Monkey Bridge is known for its authentic Vietnamese cuisine, featuring dishes made from scratch using fresh ingredients and traditional cooking techniques. From pho to banh mi to spring rolls, the restaurant offers a diverse menu that caters to both meat lovers and vegetarians alike.
