Helen Nguyen

Helen Nguyen is the owner and executive chef of Saigon Social in New York City, serving Vietnamese comfort food with a twist. The restaurant opened for full dine-in service in March 2022, after the planned opening on March 13, 2020, was prevented by the pandemic. Nguyen shifted to takeout and delivery as well as providing hospital and community meals, including for Heart of Dinner and More Than a Meal. Prior to this, she served her combination of French cuisine and Vietnamese comfort food at monthly pop-ups. Nguyen began her culinary career at Restaurant Daniel in New York, where she trained for three years. She was named a 2022 James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef, New York State.