Elaine Phuong, co-owner of Nong Lá Cafe across West Los Angeles, is a first-generation Chinese-Vietnamese immigrant whose cooking is shaped by watching her mother prepare the meals she grew up eating. Those early lessons—rooted in balance and simplicity—now guide the Vietnamese-Chinese dishes she creates, resulting in food that feels familiar, comforting, and easy to enjoy—food you can return to day after day

Elaine Phuong, co-owner of Nong Lá Cafe across West Los Angeles, is a first-generation Chinese-Vietnamese immigrant whose cooking is shaped by watching her mother prepare the meals she grew up eating. Those early lessons—rooted in balance and simplicity—now guide the Vietnamese-Chinese dishes she creates, resulting in food that feels familiar, comforting, and easy to enjoy—food you can return to day after day