Legend of the 'Economic Crisis Reverser'

Opening a restaurant based solely on faith amidst tough times – a story bound to draw ridicule, yet the individual behind it is gradually becoming a culinary legend...

The 'Economic Crisis Reverser'

In 2008, as the world grappled with an economic crisis deemed 'once in a century' by experts, Hanoi – the capital of Vietnam – was not spared from its impact.

The 'Iron Man' who opened a restaurant amidst tough times

However, amidst those tough business times, there was one individual quietly 'swimming against the tide' of the crisis, introducing his brainchild – Chen By NamChen.

Where did Chen By NamChen find the faith to continue his challenging journey?

Similar to what Bill Gates once said: 'Sometimes you have to build your own faith, because sometimes people live by that faith!', the founder of Chen By NamChen – Mr. Nam 'Chen' as fondly referred to by Hanoi's culinary community – shared that, at that time, he put all his bets on the faith of the diners – a gamble with 'all or nothing' stakes. But he didn't lose. And neither did Chen By NamChen.

The founder of Chen By NamChen shared that, at that time, he put all his bets on the faith of the diners

At that time, under Nam's watchful eye, Hanoi still hadn't officially seen any large-scale investment in Japanese-style hotpot restaurants. With the goal of making Japanese hotpot more familiar and integrated into the culinary life of Hanoians, Nam boldly invested in everything from modern facilities, standard ingredients, to training a professional team of staff, all dedicated and passionate about their work...

Investing a huge sum of money amidst the crisis, what made Nam confident in the future of Chen By NamChen was this: 'We believe in our approach enough to convince, believe in our product enough in quality, and believe in our customers'.

Sweet fruits reaped from bitter roots

It's no easy feat to navigate through crises and their aftermath, yet Chen By NamChen still 'thrives' and gradually becomes a familiar name to any culinary enthusiast in Hanoi.

At some point, the Chen By NamChen brand not only gained legal protection but also became a representative figure whenever diners thought of the Japanese hotpot segment in Hanoi. Moreover, the restaurant is increasingly renowned thanks to its diligent, quick-witted staff who greatly please the customers...

Dedicated Staff

After overcoming the hardships of the post-crisis era for 5 years, by April 2013, Chen By NamChen marked a new milestone by relocating to 18 Doan Tran Nghiep Street. Following the motto of the 2012 Vietnamese-American MasterChef Christine Ha: 'Cook as if you were cooking for the one you love the most,' Chen continues to gain fame in Hanoi's culinary scene due to the top-notch quality of its products alongside service quality consistently ranking at the top.

Dedicated Chef

After receiving the trademark certification for the Chen By NamChen brand, Nam focused all his efforts on continuously improving both the quality of the food and the service at the restaurant. The restaurant's regular customer base quickly grew, and new customers also kept coming every day.

By June 2016, Chen By NamChen had opened another branch at 43 Giang Vo to meet the needs of customers from afar in Hai Ba Trung district.

The Chen By NamChen brand not only gained legal protection but also deeply penetrated into the hearts of diners

At the same time, Nam also revealed that he is currently implementing plans to open a Chen By NamChen branch on Hoang Ngan Street this winter, with a 7-story space, 1800 square meters floor area, and a capacity of about 500 guests, as the demand from customers continues to steadily rise.

The splendid new establishment on Giang Vo Street of Chen By NamChen

The tree that grew from the 'bitter land' of the last crisis has finally borne sweet and fragrant fruits. Nam always expresses his gratitude, saying: 'From the bottom of my heart, I always appreciate my customers. Without their love and support, I fear Chen By NamChen would have sunk with the crisis, never reaching where it is today!'

Winning over customers with product quality

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