PILSEN — A top chef and his wife announced plans Monday to open an authentic Vietnamese restaurant at 18th and Carpenter in Pilsen.
Former Embeya Chef Thai Dang and wife Danielle Dang plan to open HaiSous, a new Vietnamese restaurant, at 1800 S. Carpenter St. this fall. The old bar space was featured in the '90's Richard Gere movie "Primal Fear."
Inspired by the couple's travels and Thai Dang's homeland, the new restaurant — which translates to "Two Sous" or "Two Pennies" — promises fairly-priced authentic Vietnamese dishes in a fun atmosphere.
"We want to respect and preserve the original fabrics of people and culture in Pilsen. There is a thriving arts, food, and social community that we intend to foster and preserve through hospitality," Danielle Dang said.
Although it won't open until later this year, The Dangs will offer a first taste of HaiSous at Sauced Night Market from 6-11 p.m. April 27 at Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St. in Pilsen.
The menu
The restaurant's focused Vietnamese menu will include Chef Thai Dang's signature dishes, including a green papaya salad with house made Vietnamese beef jerky, a whole fish of the day served with fresh herbs and pickled vegetables and seasonal Vietnamese-style curry.
”I'm not holding back, the crowds are getting bold textures and big flavors," Dang said.
The new restaurant will introduce traditional Vietnamese open-flame clay pot grilling to Chicago, too. The wood and charcoal-burning grills impart a unique flavor to Vietnamese BBQ, giant grilled prawns and charred pork cheek dishes. The restaurant will also offer bar snacks like grilled clams and spicy pork belly with roasted cashews, bold dishes, including stewed fish in a sweet, salted, caramelized sauce, and Vietnamese shrimp, spicy crab and sweet crawfish boils.
Danielle Dang will curate the "sophisticated and focused" beverage menu will signature cocktails and a selection of ciders, beer and wine.
Also a designer, Danielle Dang's design firm Den of Lions Design designed the "street chic" HaiSous space.
An interior rendering of HaiSous, a new Vietnamese restaurant slated to open this fall at 1800 S. Carpenter St. in Pilsen. [HaiSous]
The restaurant, open for dinner and weekend brunch, will seat about 115 guests.
Chef Thai Dang, a Jean Bachet "Rising Chef of the Year" award recipient, opened the award-winning progressive Asian restaurant Embeya in 2012. He was fired from the West Loop restaurant in March 2015 and is suing the majority owner of the restaurant for breach of contract, according to Eater Chicago.
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