Toronto chefs behind iconic Vietnamese restaurant Phở 90 dish on their legacy

If you’re a Toronto food lover who enjoys authentic cultural dining, you might already be familiar with Vietnamese restaurant Phở 90.

What you might not know are the stories of how Chef Hung and Chef Sang immigrated from Vietnam, bringing with them family recipes and culinary traditions to share in their new community.

Now, the dynamic duo are honouring the past while evolving for the future with a refreshed identity and renovation happening in March, and here’s everything you need to know.

A perilous journey

Sang Nguyen and Hung Ton-that both grew up in Vietnam under the communist regime. Sang describes himself as "boat people", explaining that he could not accept life under a communist regime and fled in 1984 at the age of 19.

Freedom came in the form of an 11-metre wooden fishing boat that carried 51 people, from newborn babies to elderly women.

“We drifted at sea for six days, facing moments when the engine stopped working, and rough waters left everyone fearful and hopeless,” Sang recalls. “Against all odds, we eventually reached the shores of Malaysia, and from there I was granted refugee status in Canada as a political refugee.”

Hung, on the other hand, arrived in Canada as a refugee in the late '80s. He had also made the decision to leave Vietnam due to discrimination his family faced under the communist regime.

Culinary heritage

Both men pursued post-secondary education, but not in the culinary arts. Sang studied Landscape Technology and started a small business while also working part-time in real estate, and Hung became a mental health worker.

However, Sang had a natural talent for cooking that was nourished by his grandmother’s influence. Although his mother warned him against the demanding profession that "has to please everyone", his friends would continuously praise his "golden palate" and encouraged him to open a restaurant.

In 1999, he did just that, opening the original Phở 90.

Hung was still working in mental health when he partnered with Sang to open Phở 90’s Weston Road & Saint Clair West location in 2019. He was looking to change careers in a way that would preserve authentic Vietnamese cuisine – particularly in an era that sees so many fusions.

“My recipes and cooking techniques are those that have been passed from many generations in my family,” says Hung.

“The world out there doesn’t know that the Hue Hot Sauce produced by Phở 90 was once the best choice in the mealtimes of King Bao Dai and Queen Nam Phuong, Vietnam’s last royal couple that ended the monarchy in 1945.”

Authentically Vietnamese

Sang’s philosophy is simple: “If it’s Vietnamese food, it must be authentic – no fusions, no shortcuts.”

Similarly, Hung believes that authenticity can be found in flavours that have stood the test of time, remaining familiar across multiple generations.

“Being a chef making authentic food, I have to first be a good student in history and be able to do some research about culture,” he says.

The result is a menu that blends heritage, resilience, and tradition with a modern vision in order to honour the past while evolving for the future.

From fragrant phở to duck bamboo noodle soup and crispy lemongrass tofu, each dish reflects a commitment to time-honoured Vietnamese flavours.

Over the years, this commitment to authenticity hasn’t gone unnoticed. Phở 90 has earned multiple industry recognitions, including being named Best Vietnamese Restaurant by the Canadian Choice Awards for three consecutive years — most recently in 2026.

A new era

There's no better time for guests to experience everything Phở 90 has to offer, with its planned renovations set to elevate things even further.

The new look at its Weston location is inspired by Saigon in the 1970s and marks a true return to the roots. It's all about conjuring the atmosphere and flavours the two chefs experienced during their childhood, allowing guests to step into a nostalgic Saigon setting thoughtfully reimagined with the support of a well-known design team.

Head on down to Phở 90 at 90 Weston Rd., or visit the second location at 500 Queen St. W., Toronto, to experience delicious Vietnamese cuisine. Plus, be sure to follow them on Instagram to stay updated on the renovations.