Mama Hieu's is opening its first restaurant in Westminster's Little Saigon

After shedding their jobs throughout the pandemic, Nho Thi Le and her son Jimmy Le thought lengthy and onerous about what their choices is likely to be. Seeing how profitable their Vietnamese-style hen wings grew to become at household gatherings, in 2021, they determined to promote them out of their Backyard Grove house to the general public by means of a enterprise referred to as Mama Hieu's.

For the higher a part of two years, Nho Thi Le (lovingly often called Mama Hieu) and Jimmy have been serving up 1000’s of Vietnamese-style hen wings per week, anyplace from 10,000 to greater than 13,000, out of his Backyard Grove house to a myriad. followers, together with Los Angeles OccasionsFried hen aficionado Jenn Harris, who beforehand wrote about wings for a wider viewers. Now, getting these wings can be so much simpler when Mama Hieu's opens its first restaurant in Westminster on the finish of January within the coronary heart of Little Saigon. The Les are at the moment awaiting an inspection and can open as soon as they obtain remaining approval from town.

This showcase received't be his first foray into the restaurant enterprise. Earlier than shedding each of their restaurant jobs throughout the pandemic, they’d greater than 35 years of mixed expertise in business kitchens. Nho Thi most just lately labored as head chef at Pho 88 in Fullerton and Jimmy was most just lately a chef at Ballast Level Brewing in Lengthy Seaside.

Two men and their mother hold chicken wings in front of their soon-to-open restaurant. — Jimmy Le, Nho Thi “Mama Hieu” Le, and Phu Le of Mama Hieu's.

As for the wings, they're crispy, garlicky, and filled with umami, which means it wouldn't be clever to check Mama Hieu to large chains like Wing Cease or Buffalo Wild Wings. The flavors listed below are steeped in Le's Vietnamese heritage and taste palate.

“What makes Mama Hieu's wings so particular is the care and a spotlight concerned in each ingredient and step within the cooking course of,” Harris defined by way of electronic mail. “From the eight-hour marinade to the precise mixture of starches within the coating, to the best way the peeled garlic with the melted butter sauce is salty, however solely barely, it contributes to those being a number of the most satisfying wings I've had by no means. appreciated,” says Harris.

Mama Hieu's present taste choices embody Authentic Garlic or Spicy Garlic served with scoops of white rice, fried onions, candy chili sauce and marinated greens. Les Les guarantees an expanded menu when the restaurant opens, like a brand new fish sauce glaze, however it received't stray from what has made it profitable up to now. Though they promote 1000’s of wings out of their house now, they may do much more with this business kitchen. “The social gathering trays have been our greatest sellers up to now,” says the younger Le. The 1,300-square-foot house additionally presents 24 seats for folks to take pleasure in wings and different dishes on the premises.

The Les are grateful to take part on this enterprise collectively. “I work with the household and we’re used to working onerous. Six to seven days per week from 9 within the morning to 9 at evening,” says Jimmy. “My mother likes to feed folks, so meaning so much.”

of Mom Hieu is situated at 9090 Bolsa Avenue, Westminster, CA, 92683. The Les will proceed to function out of his house, till the restaurant opens or later this month or in early February, pending permits.