Remember this guy??? Duc, our favorite waiter from the old Vietnam Restaurant on S.P.I.D. in Corpus...

Remember this guy???

Duc, our favorite waiter from the old Vietnam

Restaurant on S.P.I.D. in Corpus Christi, Texas is alive and doing very well.

He now owns and operates his very own restaurant.

Duc lives in the small town of Hoi An, just south of Danang in central Vietnam and

has a very successful restaurant called “Mango Rooms”.

We went to visit him in January, 2007.

HoiHoi AnAn

Cuisine Vietnamese, Fusion  

Hours Daily 8am-midnight  

Address 111 Nguyen Thai Hoc  

Location With an entrance on riverside Bach Dang next to the Saigon Times Club and just across from Tam-Tam Café, Around Town

Phone 0510/910-839  

Prices Main courses 39,000 VND-85,000 VND ($2.50-$5.75)  

CreditCards Not accepted

Mango Rooms           Frommer's Review

You found it! The hippest little restaurant between Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi. Owner and chef Duc spent his formative years in Texas before earning his stripes in hotels and fine-dining establishments. He brings to Hoi An his own blend of cuisines, putting words like salsa and Vietnamese nuoc mam (fish sauce) in jarring juxtaposition, and serving up cool combinations of California cuisine, down-home barbecue, and Pacific Rim -- all stylishly presented in a fashion that would make the grade among the finest bistros of New York or San Francisco (he calls it "Vietnamese with a twist served California-style"). Duc runs the show from an open central kitchen and greets guests with a flamboyant, "Oh man, we're rockin' tonight!" as he steps out from behind the grill to see if he can help you find a seat and tempt you with some new idea. Judging by the packed house every night alone, he's doing something right. I enjoyed some light mango spring rolls and a "Buddha's Appetite" of tofu lightly sautéed in lemon grass. Try the likes of La Tropicana, a chicken breast with lemon grass and garlic, the "Asian Sins" of rice noodles pan-fried with vegetables, garlic, onion, and sweet basil, or seared tuna in rice paper. There are fresh-fish specials daily. The drink list is long, and you can't stump the Italian barman. Try the delicious sticky rice with mango for dessert.

http://www.frommers.com/destinations/hoian/D57078.html

Duc’s restaurant is right on the main drag in Hoi An

Of course, getting there is half the fun, as Pam arrives via rickshaw.

Duc and some of his crew were waiting at the door as we arrived. It was great to see his

smiling face!

Duc employs no less than 17 of these young Vietnamese ladies!

Duc is very proud of his little restaurant, which he decorated himself.

Mango Rooms is aptly named – it’s very colorful and cheerful.

Duc offers live cooking demos and nights with special entertainment.

As he says:

Come in and

He has a small but fully featured bar offering many specialty drinks.

Pam catches Duc up on all the latest gossip from Corpus Christi.

Duc and his girlfriend Lý share a toast in this cushy seating area in the back room.

Randy enjoys one of the tropical specialty drinks chock full of fruit.

Lý is from Philadelphia and stopped in for dinner one night. Since then, they’re a couple!

Duc prepares to do his magic. Note his scarf is now wrapped around his head!

The chef in action! He prepares 90-140 meals here each night.

Duc does the majority of the cooking, and his staff helps him plate it up.

Our appetizers, beautifully presented.

Pam smiles knowingly after two cocktails and a glass of wine. The

feast is about to begin!

Our salads had fresh shrimp and mango.

It tasted as good as it looks!

Local fish prepared with mango and other fresh vegetables. Note the garnishing.

Randy’s beef and noodles was excellent – no dog served here!

King prawns in pepper sauce. Yum! Life is good in Hoi An.

Lý smiles as we enjoy our meal on the terrace overlooking the river.

Duc continually came out of the kitchen to make

sure all of his guests were enjoying his creations.

Pam overheard the couple next to us say theirs was the best meal they had in

Vietnam.

Vietnamese aren’t known for desserts – but Duc serves wonderful fried bananas.

Mango Rooms as seen from across the river. The restaurant is 1st on the left with lights.

Duc, the master chef, hams it up!

Randy & Pam give Duc and Mango Rooms a big ‘thumbs up’.

Duc and Lý see us off.

He sends his regards to all his friends and former patrons in Corpus Christi.

He would love for you to come for a visit too!

Pam sports her going away present: a Mango Rooms T-shirt!

Tam biêt (goodbye) from Hoi An, Vietnam. Thanks for everything, Duc!

Many more photos from our trip to Cambodia and Vietnam (January 2007)will soon be available on our website: www.zanefamily.com

You can contact Duc one of these ways. He would love to hear from you!

Tran T. DucMango Rooms Restaurant111 Nguyen Thai HocHoi An, Quang NamVietnam

Phone: +84 (510) 910839Mobile: +84 (903) 840287E-mail: dukesf@hotmail.com (he checks e-mail only occasionally)