Born in De Lat, Vietnam in 1962, Chef Charles Phan and his family left the country in 1975, eventually settling in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Chef Phan’s interest in cooking stemmed from his mother’s consistently elevating simple Vietnamese foods to new levels and he was charmed by the American traditions of Thanksgiving and Christmas feasts.
After several jobs, he opened a small créperie in a hotel before setting out on his own with The Slanted Door. This restaurant has been a phenomenal success with food featuring fresh local ingredients, a relaxed atmosphere, Riesling-driven wine list, full bar with premium brands, fresh squeezed juices, and hard-to-find Chinese teas. It is consistently ranked as one of the most highly esteemed restaurants in San Francisco. Charles recently opened Out The Door, a sister restaurant that is a to-go-only kiosk located next to The Slanted Door.