Charles Phan (1962–2025), influential Vietnamese chef
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2 min readCharles Phan was a Vietnamese chef whose restaurant, The Slanted Door, and cookbooks helped spark a nationwide appreciation of his country's cuisine.
- Died: January 20, 2025 (Who else died on January 20?)
- Details of death: Died in San Francisco of cardiac arrest at the age of 62.
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Charles Phan’s legacy
Phan came to love the art of cooking through a familiar outlet: the television. Watching cooking shows as a teen, he picked up on Western cooking techniques and learned how to merge them with traditional Vietnamese cuisine.
The renowned chef was born in Vietnam, where, as a child, he helped run the grocery store his father and uncle opened. His family fled the war-torn country, living for 18 months in the U.S. territory of Guam before finally landing in San Francisco. It was during their time in Guam that he developed his passion for cooking.
Phan set out to establish his place in the world of fine cuisine in 1995 when he opened The Slanted Door, named in order to reclaim a common slur aimed at people of Asian descent. The establishment’s blend of ambiance, high-end ingredients, and fine cocktails, as well as its marriage of authentic Vietnamese cuisine with Western techniques, made it an instant – and influential – hit. In the years to come, more locations followed.
Over the years, Phan’s restaurant became one of the most praised in the country. In 2014, it was named Outstanding Restaurant in America by the James Beard Foundation. Ten years earlier, the same organization had named him the best chef in California.
Phan was the co-author of two books, “Vietnamese Home Cooking” in 2012, and “The Slanted Door: Modern Vietnamese Food” in 2014, both of which won awards from the International Association of Culinary Professionals.
Notable quote
“For the title of chef or cook, I don’t really differentiate. At the end of day, you’re making food for people. I didn’t come from formal training. Yet, we’re all after the same thing -- making amazing food for people.” — interview with KQED, 2012
Tributes to Charles Phan
Full obituary: ABC News
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