New eatery opens in Brawley

Imperial Valley Press - May 18, 2024

BRAWLEY – A new eatery opened Friday in this city for the joy of Southeast Asian food enthusiasts.

The Imperial Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday morning for the opening of Hellen’s Family Viet Food, located at 445 W. Main St at the Westgate Shopping Center.

The new restaurant offered customers a complimentary refreshment with the purchase of a meal.

The ceremony included a special performance of a traditional Lion Dance.

According to the restaurant’s website https://www.hellensfamilyvietfood.com/, its menu includes egg rolls, pork skewers, chili chicken dumpling soup, vegan and Vietnamese vermicelli, Vietnamese chicken wings, beef stew, tempura and, of course, pho.

After months of planning, the restaurant opened last year as a house kitchen in El Centro, owner Peter Tran said in a phone interview.

Tran said his mother, who arrived in the U.S. as a teenager, had always had dreams to open a Vietnamese cuisine restaurant.

According to Tran, the online home kitchen was closed to renovate the Brawley site and reopened in the Northend.

Over the years family members have learned the cooking techniques brought to the U.S. for the joy of local clients.

The restaurant owner thanked family and friends for their support.

To read full article, click here.