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Charles Phan
1962 - 2025
Charles Phan
1962 - 2025
Obituary
Guest Book
BORN
1962
DIED
2025
Charles Phan Obituary
Charles Phan was a Vietnamese chef whose restaurant, The Slanted Door, and cookbooks helped spark a nationwide appreciation of his country's cuisine.
We invite you to share condolences for Charles Phan in our Guest Book.
Read the full obituary in Legacy's headline news section.
(Photo: Robin Marchant/Getty Images for NYCWFF)
12 Entries
Tony
May 3, 2025
To the family, many, many friends and colleagues of this wonderful man Charles Phan fine comfort with you during this difficult time in your lives. There is no greater pain there could be than losing someone you love, especially when it is unexpected. Charles Phan was a Vietnamese chef whose restaurant, The Slanted Door, and cookbooks helped spark a nationwide appreciation of his country´s cuisine. We will miss Charles Phan's presence and his many contributions to his community as a businessman. May the love and the special memory you shared and cherish with him show just how much your life was touched by him. May you find comfort in your wealth of fond memories together with Charles Phan. May the God of comfort bless your grieving hearts with strength, loving kindness and peace as the world copes with the loss of Charles Phan. He will be greatly missed, but not forgotten.
Dan Dole
April 2, 2025
My friend "Dutch" of Oakland fondly remembers meeting Charles and his sister at her studio in the Peerless Building on San Pablo Avenue at a Christmas art reception in 1990. He sends his condolences to Charles´ family and friends.
JP
February 6, 2025
May God give you strength and comfort during this difficult time. I am so sorry for your loss. Sending sincere condolences to his family and friends. He will be greatly missed and touched the lives of so many.
Brian Sadler
January 31, 2025
Charles is the embodiment of finding and Living the American Dream! His well documented journey from a young boy to the notable Chef and business man he became is testament to his well achieved success and career admired by all who knew him.
When a close friend introduced me to Charles per his request at the Slanted Door restaurant, I was immediately taken by his presence and generosity of Spirit. He shared his story with me and I unknowingly said "That´s an amazing story and you should write a book"... Charles laughed and jumped up to retrieve one of his books and handed it to me. After our discussion about my assistance in finding high profile investors for a future restaurant he had planned for Los Angeles, Charles opened the book and wrote a most memorable inscription to me that I have and will cherish even more.
Charles, you have left us too soon but the Angels are now enjoying your smiles and your Heavenly cuisine!
Brian
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Ryan Hubris
January 31, 2025
First and foremost, Charles is good human being.
Without anyone asking, he helped elevated Vietnamese cuisine in America and around the World, along with the A Family.
During the 2000s most people didn´t know that there were 3 top Vietnamse (Asian) restaurants that lined Ghirardelli´s Square and Piers on The Embarcadero with Ana Mandara by Khai Duong at Ghirardelli´s Square, Butterfly (which I was a partner) by Rob Lam at Pier 33 and Slanted Door at The Ferry Building. We shared a great sense of pride that we have made it and taken Vietnamese cuisine mainstream...
The photos included are from a business panel at the Vietnamese American National Gala (VANG) at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills in 2009. Charles was generous with his time and insights. He had a great time and we enjoyed having him as a panelist.
Your presence will be greatly missed Charles. Rest in eternal peace and cook up a feast in Heaven.
Jassamine Velasquez
January 30, 2025
Charles gone too soon. My memory of you is playing basketball with close friends. My sister Jennifer Aquino and You are gone too soon :( Rest in Paradise.
Andrew Ly
January 30, 2025
Charles,
You have gone too soon, my friend. Your passion and vision brought Vietnamese cuisine to the world in a way that was truly inspiring. You had so much more to give, but your legacy will continue to shine through the lives you´ve touched and the flavors you´ve shared.
Rest in peace. You will be deeply missed.
Andrew
Andrew Ly
January 30, 2025
In 1995 when Charles prepared to open his first Slanted Door at 584 Valencia Street in San Francisco, he advertised on Thng Mõ for workers. I called him from my office not too far trying to see what he really needed and the pay range he offered. We did not know each other then but eventually we came to know each other pretty well.
Gina Daler
January 29, 2025
R.I.P Chef
Thank you for the amazing Food and Thank you for the wonderful memories.
U will be unimaginable missed.
Carson Loveless
January 26, 2025
Condolences to his family
Joanne Gomez
January 24, 2025
Charles was a prince of a man, amongst the princes I have known which include my father, my husband and few others.
Yes, that is how highly I thought of him.
Having known Charles and his beautiful family and sisters for decades, I am crushed by his passage.
This amazing human being was a brilliant, highly educated, talented, adventurer and entrepreneur, accomplished, and amazingly kind...
And yet....Charles was still humble and somehow made everyone he touched feel greater.
I cannot render Charles' justice in words, because he is so much more worthy of anything I could ever say.
All I can say is ( to borrow from Dan Brown)...."in this life, we all wish for a common goal to believe that our life has meaning beyond our mere existence".
Yes, I agree that we may make a difference with others.
Charles has had tremendous meaning in my and my family's.
His was bigger than that...
He has tremendous meaning in others' lives, and his donation of his body is so typical of this magnificent spirit.
He donated his body to save others, and did.
This was a magnificent man that broke the mold on so many levels, including Vietnamese cuisine, but also broke the mold of being famous, and just a humble and good human being, in spite of entertaining Presidents and rock stars.
I doubt the world will ever see a man as magnificent as Charles Phan ever.
Mr.Jr.
January 24, 2025
My Condolences.
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