Order Bamboo Bistro in Corona del Mar Village.
Born into an illustrious third-generation family who owned the famous Hoa Binh French boulangeries in the beautiful coastal town of Nha Trang, Vietnam, Chau Dang Haller was destined to make her mark in the culinary world. After the Dang family emigrated to America in the late 80s, they expanded their culinary expertise into successful restaurants, Brodard in Westminster, and Brodard Chateau in Garden Grove.
Even with her family's distinguished restaurant background, early on Chau never thought she would follow in her mother's footsteps. One sunny day while enjoying her morning walk with a friend, Chau came across a charming diner in Corona del Mar that piqued her interest. The sunlit space appealed to her creative senses and it looked so "adorable and manageable," she recalls.
On a whim, she bought out the failing business with all of her savings in 2001. Within the first six months, things began falling apart. The cooling system broke, the air-conditioning didn't work and the plumbing failed.
Chau felt like giving up. But having seen her mother built their family's famous Brodard restaurants into the most successful dining destinations in Orange County's Little Saigon district, she persevered to make it work. As a licensed dietician, Chau parlayed her nutritional expertise to create healthy menus for the calorie and body-conscious beachgoers of Newport Beach and the local coastal communities.
"As a licensed dietician and mom to two boys, I am very conscious about serving fresh and nutritious foods to my family. Our 'homemade' meals are right from Bamboo Bistro's kitchen," says Chau. "I am proud to share with our guests the delicious and healthy meals that my mom and our family enjoy daily."
When she is not working, Chau could be seen at her sons' sporting events, bringing snack foods from her restaurant. "After their soccer games or practice, I feed the kids our famous Spring Rolls and they love them! They're made fresh and filled with vegetables, and yet the kids eat them like candy," she says, laughing.
Chau's flavorful and healthy cuisine became so popular that customers repeatedly asked her to cater to their private parties and special events. To accommodate numerous requests, Chau formally opened Bamboo Bistro Catering in 2003 so her guests could enjoy fresh Vietnamese cuisine with seasonal menus at their homes or offices for all occasions. Last year, Chau launchedOccasions, a private dining room available for larger groups and private parties, located on the upper level of the building. Chau's dedicated team is on hand to assist in planning your events from menu selection to wine pairing, housemade desserts, flower arrangements, music, and parting gifts for your guests.
