Ha Long Pho Noodle House comes from the hearts and minds of two siblings, Janice and Paul Nguyen. They grew up in the Kalihi neighborhood of Honolulu, Hawaii. After graduating from Farrington High School, they spent their formative years pursuing different passions. Janice worked in business, obtaining an MBA at Hawaii Pacific University while Paul worked in restaurants such as Bubba Gumps and Shore Bird. The two quickly realized their destiny lied elsewhere: owning and running a Vietnamese restaurant that makes the best pho in Honolulu.
A great pairing, they sought the wisdom and talent of their uncle Thomas, a self-taught chef grounded in the fundamentals of Vietnamese cooking. He passed on a long list of family recipes to fill the menu with delectable dishes. They consulted with leading designers Pia Boone and Tim John to create a fresh, modern, and posh ambience. They built a team of people dedicated to warm and unwavering hospitality. Finally, the duo opened Ha Long Pho Noodle House in 2008, right in the very neighborhood they grew up. In 2011, the restaurant was listed in Honolulu Star Advertiser’s Ilima Awards Guide to Hawaii’s Best Vietnamese Restaurants.
When Janice and Paul are not busy running the ship at Ha Long, they enjoy eating home-cooked Vietnamese food with their family and venturing outdoors. Janice has a love of hiking and traveling, while Paul enjoys tennis and fishing.